Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats in 12th Place at Puerto Rico Classic
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 25, 2007
RIO GRANDE, P.R. -- Playing in arguably the toughest regular-season tournament of the 2006-07 collegiate golf season, 25th-ranked Northwestern sits in 12th place after the first round of the 18-team Puerto Rico Classic.
Led by senior David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) and junior Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek), the Wildcats posted a 1-over 289 and are within just five shots of climbing into the upper third of teams. The 'Cats are one shot back of Minnesota and Texas, and two strokes back of Georgia Tech and Kent State.
East Tennessee State, ranked 14th in the latest coaches' poll, is leading the tournament by six strokes. ETSU's Rhys Davies and Cian McNamara both fired 7-under 65's and are the tourney's individual co-leaders. They are leading the field by three shots apiece.
Merkow is four strokes off the lead and in seventh place after firing a 3-under 69 to pace the Wildcats. Doyle, who was among the tourney leaders at the onset, finished with a 2-under 70 and is in 12th place.
Freshman Jonathan Bowers (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) is in 38th place after shooting an even-par 72. Senior Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and junior Kyle Moore (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) carded a 6-over 78 and 10-over 82, respectively.
Florida, the nation's top-ranked team, is in 13th place, five strokes behind the Wildcats. Purdue, Illinois and Michigan, the remainder of the Big Ten entrants, trail the 'Cats as well.
The three-day tournament continues with its second round on Monday.
Official and live results can be found at Puerto Rico Classic.
Puerto Rico Classic
Rio Mar Country Club Rio Grande, PR
Dates: 02/25 - 02/27 (Today:02-25-2007)
Par: 72
Yardage: 6902
Fin. School Scores
1 East Tennessee St. 273 -15
2 Georgia, U. of 279 -9
3 Stanford University 281 -7
4 Oklahoma State U. 282 -6
5 Clemson University 283 -5
6 Duke University 284 -4
Alabama, U. of 284 -4
8 Georgia Tech 287 -1
Kent State 287 -1
10 Minnesota, Univ. of 288 E
Texas, Univ. of 288 E
12 Northwestern 289 +1
13 Florida, U. of 294 +6
Purdue University 294 +6
Virginia Tech 294 +6
16 Illinois, U. of 297 +9
North Carolina State 297 +9
18 Michigan, U. of 304 +16
