March 17, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern sophomore men's golfer Luke Donald (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England) is currently the top collegiate mens golfer in the country, according to the latest Golfstat Cup rankings. Donald holds a stroke average of 70.20, with Texas David Gossett ranked second followed by Clemsons Jonathan Byrd. The Golfstat Cup is awarded to the men's and women's collegiate players with the lowest stroke average at the end of the season.
Donald's stroke average would be the lowest ever for a Golfstat Cup winner. Tiger Woods won the award in 1996 with an average of 70.61. Arizona States Chris Hannell won in 1997 at 71.44 while Georgia Techs Matt Kuchar won last season with a stroke average of 70.80.
In other Golfstat rankings, Donald stands third in the country in par-4 scoring, averaging 3.95 strokes per hole. Oklahoma States Edward Loar, ranked No. 1 in that category, holds a slim lead at 3.94. Donald ranks seventh in the country in par-3 scoring at 2.96 strokes per hole. Memphis Colin Wright is tops at 2.89.
Donald is also among the national leaders in other rankings, placing fourth in the Mastercard rankings, released by the Collegiate Golf Foundation, and fifth in the Golfweek/ Sagarin rankings. He has shot at-or-below par in 17 of his 20 competitive rounds this season.
Donald has won two of seven tournaments this season, shooting an eight-under-par 205 to win Stanford's The Nelson by one stroke on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. He next earned medalist honors at the Aldila Collegiate Classic, hosted by San Diego State on March 8-9, posting a three-under-par 213 to win that event by two strokes. Donald also has three tournament runner-up finishes to his credit this year.
Northwestern, as a team, is 11th in the country in the Mastercard rankings and 13th in the country according to Golfstat and Golfweek. The Wildcats won their last tournament, earning a 10-stroke victory at the Aldila Collegiate Classic. NU's next tournament will be the Dr. Pepper Invitational, scheduled for March 26-28 in Pottsboro, Texas.