Northwestern University Athletics
14th-Ranked Wildcats Begin Spring Season This Saturday
1/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Jan. 29, 2003
It is business as usual for Northwestern's men's golf team, which opens the 2003 spring season this Saturday with an exhibition match in Tempe, Ariz.
The Wildcats, who begin the spring ranked 14th in the Golfweek/Sagarin index and 24th in the Golf World coaches' poll, are seeking their ninth straight NCAA postseason appearance and their fifth national championship trip under head coach Pat Goss. With several top players returning, the outlook is bright for 2003.
"Our expectations never change," says Goss, who is in his seventh year at NU. "We start every year with the same goals. We want to win the Big Ten Championship, we want to play on the final day of the national championships with a chance to win the national title. Those are the only goals we have set for the program and those are our only expectations."
Much of the enthusiasm going into 2003 stems from the fact that the team returns five of its six top golfers from a year ago.
"We are a more experienced team," says Goss. "We played a relatively young lineup last year, so to return those five guys is a great advantage."
That experience has already paid dividends for Northwestern, which had a successful fall campaign. For the first time in school history, the Wildcats captured the team championship at their own Windon Memorial. They followed that up with a second-place finish at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational. The team wants to carry that momentum into the spring.
"Our fall success gives us a lot of confidence, something we needed," says Goss.
Leading the charge for the Wildcats this season are a potent top-three: Tom Johnson, Scott Harrington and Bjorn Widerstedt.
A junior, Johnson has shown flashes of brilliance during his NU career. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades in 2001 and then earned an individual berth to last year's NCAA National Championships.
This past fall, Johnson continued his ascent in collegiate golf, winning the Windon Memorial title with a tournament-record total of 206. He begins the 2003 spring season ranked sixth in the Golfweek/Sagarin index. He was ranked as high as second in the fall.
"I have always told Tom he should be a first-team All-America and one of the nation's best college players," says Goss. "This fall he stood up and played at that level." Adding to the Wildcats' firepower is Harrington. A senior, he posted his best showings late last season with second-place finishes at both the Kepler Intercollegiate and the Big Ten Championships.
Last fall, Harrington matched his best tournament finish, securing second-place at the Windon Memorial. In addition to his prowess on the course, Harrington provides valuable leadership and experience to the squad.
"Scott is a great success story," says Goss. "He is someone who has a chance to challenge Tom, to win some tournaments, to compete at that level and be an All-American."
In 2001-02, Widerstedt had the second-best stroke average for Northwestern (74.88) in his first year with the team. His best finish was an eighth-place result at the Fossum/Taylor Made Invitational. Last fall, the senior added two top-20 results, including a career-best fourth-place finish at the Windon.
"Bjorn is by far the most physically talented player on our team," Goss says. "Now Bjorn is coming into his own as a whole golfer, not just a ball striker."
Johnson, Harrington and Widerstedt comprise an imposing force at the top of the Wildcat lineup. All three bring experience and a proven ability to score low and contend for tournament titles.
"At the top three positions, we are as good as any team in the country with Tom, Scott and Bjorn," Goss says. "I would take those three and go play any team in the country right now. I also believe we've yet to see the best from them."
That trio does not have to look far for competition. In fact, they do not even have to leave home. Goss expects steady competition all year long for the remaining lineup spots. The 'Cats are counting on these additional battles to give them an edge over their opponents.
A pair of juniors contending for the final two positions are T.C. Ford and Casey Strunk. Ford played in eight events last year. His best result came at the beginning of the fall campaign with an 18th-place finish at the Wolverine Invitational.
Strunk played in four of the Wildcats' last five events last year, which included the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Regional Championships.
"T.C. and Casey are guys who have enough experience behind them to step up and, not only be competitive in our top five, but help make us a top-10 team," Goss says.
Northwestern has some promising youth on its team, in the forms of sophomore Dillon Dougherty and freshman Bryson Young. Although young, these golfers will compete for playing time and add depth to the squad.
"Dillon is probably the most improved player on this team," Goss says. "He was in the lineup for three of our four fall tournaments. And Bryson has shown a great ability to shoot low numbers throughout his career. He is going to help us."
With tournament-tested players who know what it takes to compete at the highest level, the Wildcats are focused on the ultimate prize.
"This team has already shown great commitment to what they are trying to achieve," Goss says. "They have some goals they really want to achieve.
"In addition, Big Ten golf is at a high right now. It has really made it a lot of fun for us because now, if you can compete and win a Big Ten Championship, you can win a national championship."
That is where Northwestern's golf team expects to be, contending again for a Big Ten and national title.
