Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Head to the Caribbean to Begin the Spring Season
2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 24, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern opens its spring season this Sunday (Feb. 26) at the Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, P.R. Purdue University is hosting the event on the 6,945-yard River Course at Westin Rio Mar Country Club.
Northwestern, ranked No. 13 in both Golf World's men's coaches' poll and the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings, last competed on Nov. 1, 2005. After almost a four-month layoff, the 'Cats are eager to get onto the course to see how they measure up against other teams.
NU will certainly be in for an early test this week. The 18-team field is likely the strongest field the 'Cats will face in the regular season and is one of the toughest in all of college golf. The top five teams in the country according to the Golf World men's coaches' poll -- Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Florida and Duke -- will be in attendance. Ten teams are ranked in the top 20 of the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings and all but two are ranked in the top 50.
NU, which is 7-0 against Big Teams this year, is joined by Big Ten foes Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue.
Georgia Tech is the defending champion. Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State was the medalist last year.
NU is competing in a tournament in Puerto Rico for the eighth-consecutive season.
"We're better prepared than we've been the last few winters for this event," said Goss. "I think we've had enough experience at this course. Most of the players playing this year have played it a few times before."
The Puerto Rico Classic is a 54-hole event with 18 holes scheduled to be played each day beginning Sunday. Tee times start at 6 a.m. CT the first two days and commence half an hour earlier at 5:30 a.m. for the final round.
Puerto Rico Classic Field (Golfweek/Sagarin Rating / Golf World's men's coaches' poll):
Alabama (31/NR), Arizona State (11/9), Clemson (15/19), Duke (10/5), East Tennessee State (16/20), Florida (4/4), Georgia (1/1), Georgia Tech (2/2), Illinois (39/NR), Kent State (30/29), Michigan (73/NR), Minnesota (12/14), N.C State (40/NR), Northwestern (13/13), Oklahoma State (3/3), Purdue (44/NR), Texas (29/17) and Virginia Tech (59/NR)
