Feb. 24, 2002
RIO MAR, Puerto Rico -- Led by newcomer Bjorn Widerstedt, Northwestern's men's golf team is off to a 12th-place start at the prestigious Puerto Rico Classic. The 15-team field is being played at the Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort and Country Club, a 6,945-yard, par-72 course.
Georgia Tech, the nation's top-ranked team and defending Classic champion, holds a four-stroke advantage over Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson. Tech's Kris Mikkelsen leads the individual field by one stroke after shooting a 5-over-par 67. The Wildcats (299) are 24 strokes behind the Yellowjackets.
A transfer from Flagler College, Widerstedt shot a 1-over-par 73 to lead NU. That effort was good enough for 25th place in the 78-player field. Sophomore Tom Johnson (Fair Oaks, Calif./Del Campo), NU's top golfer, finished 3-over-par after the first round.
Second-round action continues at 8 a.m. EST Monday.
2002 Puerto Rico Classic Rio Mar, Puerto Rico Place Team 1st Rd. 2nd Rd. 3rd Rd. Total 1st Georgia Tech 275 275 2nd Clemson 279 279 T-3rd Texas 289 289 T-3rd Colorado 289 289 T-5th Purdue 293 293 T-5th Florida 293 293 T-5th Georgia 293 293 8th Minnesota 294 294 T-9th East Tenn. St. 295 295 T-9th Oklahoma 295 295 11th Duke 296 296 T-12th Northwestern 299 299 T-12th Virginia 299 299 14th N.C. State 303 303 15th Kent State 308 308NU Individual Results T25 Bjorn Widerstedt 73 T39 Tom Johnson 75 T39 Scott Harrington 75 T48 Chris Thayer 76 T61 T.C. Ford 78