Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
NCAA National Championships
Wildcats Conclude Play at NCAA National Championships
6/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 2, 2006
NCAA National Championships Results (Round Three)
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SUNRIVER, Ore. -- Northwestern's postseason magic came to an end Friday at the Crosswater Golf Club as the 17th-ranked Wildcats shot a 14-over 302 to finish with a 25-over 889, 15 strokes off the team cut. After today's rainy and windy round, only the low 15 teams and low six individuals will compete in Saturday's final 18 holes.
The Wildcats' 25-over left them in 25th place. Washington remains the team leader (7-under 857) with 18 holes to play, but the Huskies are being pressed by Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Arizona State, who are all tied for second, three strokes (4-under 860) behind the first-place Huskies.
Minnesota, the only other Big Ten team in the 30-team field, is tied for fifth place with a 1-over 865.
Northwestern began the third round four strokes back of the 15th-place team. The Wildcats, however, were unable to produce any individual round better than a 2-over 74. David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) and Kyle Moore (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) both recorded 74's on Friday. Moore finished his first NCAA National Championships as the Wildcats' top golfer with a 6-over 222 (74-74-74).
Dillon Dougherty (Woodland, Calif./Woodland), NU's lone senior, played his final round for the Wildcats and shot a 6-over 78 to finish with a 7-over 223 (71-74-78).
Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek) closed championship play with respective scores of 7-over (72-74-77=223) and 9-over (75-73-77=225). Merkow finished at 12-over (75-79-74=228).
In addition to what promises to be an exciting team race, several golfers are in the hunt for the 2006 individual title. Two Oklahoma State players -- Jonathan Moore and Pablo Martin -- hold down the respective first and third spots at 9-under and 7-under. Wake Forest's Kyle Reifers is second at 8-under. Last year's national champion, James Lepp of Washington, is in fifth place, four strokes off the lead.
Northwestern's national championships appearance was its 22nd in school history, and the fifth under head coach Pat Goss.
Live scoring for the event is available at NCAA Men's Golf National Championships.
