Aug. 3, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Former NCAA National Champion and Northwestern All-America Luke Donald claimed his first victory on the PGA's European Tour Sunday, Aug. 1 in the Scandinavian Masters at the Barseback Golf & Country Club in Malmö, Sweden.
Donald's impressive five-shot victory over Peter Hanson and Henrik Stenson increased his chances of making a Ryder Cup debut in September. The 26-year-old Donald also made a significant climb up the Official World Golf Ranking, advancing 12 places to No. 51.
Donald's last victory came at the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic, but he has four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season, including a second-place finish at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in February.
Former Northwestern golfer Scott Harrington, meanwhile, finished in a second-place tie Sunday at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open.
Harrington birdied the final three holes to earn a spot in a Nationwide Tour record-tying four-player playoff. Entering the playoff on a high note, Harrington was unable to sink a birdie putt and opened the door for Bradley Hughes to earn his first tour victory since the 1998 Australian Masters.