Oct. 10, 2005
Coca-Cola Duke Golf Classic (Final Team Results)
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DURHAM, N.C. -- Paced by a career-best 6-under 66 from sophomore Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek), No. 15 Northwestern nearly pulled out a second straight team victory at the Coca-Cola Duke Golf Classic Monday.
The Wildcats, coming off their Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge championship, began Monday's final round 10 strokes back of the host Blue Devils and Coastal Carolina. Led by Doyle, Northwestern charged back with a 5-under 283 and finished at 9-under (288-284-283=855), but it was one stroke short of seventh-ranked Duke (283-279-292=854).
Duke's Jake Grodzinsky birdied No. 17 and knocked home a downhill 8-foot putt on No. 18 to secure the win and hold off the Wildcats.
Northwestern did defeat sixth-ranked Minnesota for a second straight week. The Golden Gophers placed fourth, five strokes behind the Wildcats.
Doyle, who began the third round in 21st place, fired the tournament's low 18-hole score with his 66. He finished in sixth place (70-74-66=210) at 6-under, nine strokes back of Coastal Carolina's Dustin Johnson who carded three straight 67's for a 15-under 201.
Junior David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) shot a 2-under 70 on Monday and finished 12th at 3-under (75-68-70). Senior Dillon Dougherty (Woodland, Calif./Woodland) finished 20th with an even-par 216 (74-69-73).
Junior Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and senior Bryson Young (Reno, Nev./Galena) placed 25th and 70th, respectively. Wilson closed at 2-over (71-73-74=218). Young was 12-over (73-74-81=228).
The Wildcats maintain their busy pace, playing this weekend at the Bank of Tennessee Ridges Intercollegiate in Johnson City, Tenn. Competition is set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16.