Northwestern
Big Ten Championships
Wildcats in Fourth Place at Big Ten Championships
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 27, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northwestern, the defending Big Ten champion, is in fourth place after the first 36 holes of the 88th Big Ten Conference Championships, which are being played at Ohio State's par-71 Scarlet Course.
Led by their two seniors -- David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union), the 2006 Big Ten Player of the Year, and Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman), the 2006 Big Ten medalist -- the Wildcats are 10 strokes back of 49th-ranked Purdue, the first-day leader.
Northwestern, gunning for its fifth Big Ten crown since 1999, is ranked No. 33 in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin index and seeded third among conference teams. The Wildcats notched rounds of 298 and 303 for a 33-over 601, and are tied with Wisconsin and the host Buckeyes for the fourth spot. Purdue, led by first-round leader Pariya Junhasavasdikul, carded a 23-over 591 (299-292). Michigan State, which won the 2005 Big Ten title, is in second place at 25-over. Minnesota, ranked 29th, is a stroke ahead of the 'Cats in third place.
Midway through the 72-hole event, Merkow is sitting eighth with a 6-over 148 (73-75), while Wilson is a stroke back at 7-over (74-75=149) and in ninth place. Junior Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek) is also among the top-20 golfers. He is in 13th place with an 8-over 150 (75-75).
Junhasavasdikul is the only golfer in the field who is under par after 36 holes at 1-under (69-72=141).
Northwstern's other two golfers, freshman Jonathan Bowers (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) and junior Kyle Moore (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto), are in 34th and 46th place, respectively. Bowers carded rounds of 76 and 78 for a 12-over 154 and Moore is 16-over (78-80=158).
The teams will play just 18 holes on Saturday, as well as Sunday, with the first group off the tee at 8 a.m. CT on Saturday.
This is the ninth time that Ohio State has played host to the Big Ten Championships. It last hosted the event in 1997.
For more information on the 2007 Big Ten Men's Golf Championships and first-day results, visit Big Ten Men's Golf Championships or Ohio State Men's Golf Championship site.
Players Mentioned
