Sept. 25, 2006
Fighting Illini Invitational Final Results
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OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. -- Northwestern's 24th-ranked Wildcats shot their lowest round of the year on Monday, firing a 9-over 289 to climb up the leaderboard and finish fourth (293-293-289=875) at the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational.
The 'Cats shot Monday's fourth-best round to move past Minnesota and 2006 NCAA champion Oklahoma State. Northwestern finished 11 shots behind tournament-winner Duke, five shots behind Stanford, four shots behind Big Ten rival Purdue and one shot ahead of the Cowboys, who are ranked No. 1 in the Golf World preseason poll.
Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) shot the fourth-lowest round of the day -- an even-par 70 -- to jump from a 13th-place tie at the beginning of the day into the top-10 and a seventh-place finish.
Merkow's 5-over par, 54-hole total of 215 (73-72-70) was highlighted by 10 birdies, the most by any player on a course that hosted the U.S. Open only three years ago.
Freshman Jonathan Bowers (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) began the day in 10th place, and maintained that position by shooting a 2-over 72 to finish 10th with a 6-over 216 (74-70-72). Bowers' finish was his second top-10 in as many collegiate tournaments.
Junior Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek) rebounded from a second-round 77 to shoot a final-round 73, the third-best Wildcat score. Doyle finished the 54-hole event in 24th place at 12-over (72-77-73).
Kyle Moore (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) came through for the 'Cats final score, shooting a 4-over 74 on a day where the scoring average was 75.25.
Northwestern returns to action on Oct. 8, when it begins its quest for back-to-back Windon Memorial Classic titles. The 'Cats host the 54-hole event this year at the Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Ill.