June 24, 2002
When a program makes four consecutive appearances in an NCAA national championship, the phrase "successful season" can take on a much different meaning following repeated years of achievement. A season that once was viewed as a program goal is now considered the norm.
Northwestern men's golf Coach Pat Goss understands how a program's expectations rise with continued prosperity. Though the Wildcats came up short in their quest for a fifth NCAA national championship appearance since 1997, Goss says the 'Cats' season should be viewed as a success.
"We saw some striked improvement at the end of the year," said Goss. "Unfortunately, some of the improvement and success came later than I hoped. Overall, we knew this season would be a transition year after losing two pro tour golfers, Luke Donald and Jess Daley, the past two years.
"To have contended for the Big Ten title, qualified for the NCAA regional championships and to have an individual advance to the national finals is a positive."
Sophomore Tom Johnson (Fair Oaks, Calif./Del Campo), who led NU with a 72.92 stroke average, had a solid season, but not as consistent a year as he would have liked. After placing 27th at the Big Ten Championships, Johnson responded with one of his season's best efforts-a fifth-place showing at the NCAA Central Regional Championships, which earned him one of the six individual berths at nationals.
"With the exception of a couple rounds in the NCAA tournament, Tom played some great golf at the end of the year," said Goss. "If he had finished better at nationals, he was probably in line for All-America honors."
Two other players, juniors Scott Harrington (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) and Bjorn Widerstedt (Vasteras, Sweden), also turned in strong play at the end of the season and were catalysts in helping the Wildcats make an eighth straight NCAA regional appearance.
Harrington placed second at the Kepler Intercollegiate and second at the Big Ten Championships, before a 17th-place showing at the NCAA regional championships. Widerstedt finished in the top 40 in six of NU's last seven tournaments. Widerstedt ranked second on the squad with a 74.88 average while Harrington was third at 75.21.
"I was impressed with the end-of-year play of those three," said Goss. "With that group (Johnson, Harrington, Widerstedt) returning next year, we have a great nucleus to lead us."
Northwestern's only graduation loss is Chris Thayer (Richmond, Va./Godwin). Thayer joined sophomore T.C. Ford (Covington, La./Mandeville) as members of the Big Ten All-Academic golf team. Thayer, who recorded a 75.44 stroke average, also was tabbed a Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Scholar All-America.