May 19, 2007

Final NCAA Central Regional Championships Results
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SUGAR GROVE, Ill. -- Northwestern came up just short in its quest for a second straight NCAA National Championships berth Saturday, finishing two strokes back of the cut line (54-over 918) after firing a 23-over 311 for the final round. The Wildcats, seeded 13th, finished the 54-hole tournament with a 56-over 920 (316-293-311) and in 13th place.

Northwestern was attempting to earn its sixth trip to NCAA nationals under 11th-year Head Coach Pat Goss.

Minnesota and Texas A&M both finished at 54-over and in 10th place, which resulted in a playoff to determine who would receive the NCAA national berth. The Gophers won the playoff on the first hole, giving the Big Ten two teams in the finals. Michigan State, one of five Big Ten teams in the Central Regional, placed eighth. Wisconsin finished 12th, one stroke back of the cut line, while Purdue placed 20th.

For the second straight day, junior Kyle Moore (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) led the Wildcats. After opening the tourney on Thursday with a 10-over 82, Moore came back with a season-best 4-under 68 on Friday and a 3-over 75 on Saturday. He finished 9-over (82-68-75=225) and in 17th place.

Northwestern's two seniors -- David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) and Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) -- saw their illustrious collegiate careers come to an end on Saturday. Merkow, the 2006 Big Ten Player of the Year, fired a 6-over 78 for the final round and finished 63rd with an 18-over 234 (82-74-78). Wilson, the 2006 Big Ten Championships medalist and a 2007 Byron Nelson Award finalist, placed 44th with a 14-over 230 (73-80-77).

Freshman Jonathan Bowers (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) shot a 10-over 82 and finished 82nd with a 20-over 236 (82-72-82). Junior Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek), who was 1-over for the front nine on Saturday, carded a 9-over 81 and finished 95th at 23-over (79-79-81=239).

Tulsa, the second-round leader, shot a 22-over on Saturday, but it was enough to hold off Alabama and help the Golden Hurricane finish as Central Region champions. In the individual race, Lamar's Dawie Van Der Walt and Wisconsin's Dan Woltman both finished at 1-under (215) and earned co-medalist honors.

Western Illinois' Tim Streng, who placed third, and Woltman earned automatic berths into the NCAA Championships, by virtue of being the top two individuals at the tourney, not on advancing teams.

For final results and other information on the NCAA Central Regional Championships, visit the NIU Huskies' Central Regional web site.