Feb. 27, 2007
RIO GRANDE, P.R. -- Paced by Jonathan Bowers' (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) 3-over 75 on Tuesday, Northwestern, ranked 26th in the latest Golf World/Nike coaches' poll, finished 14th at the Puerto Rico Classic.
This year's 18-team tournament included the nation's top-five-ranked teams and 10 top-25 clubs overall. No. 5 Georgia, which held a seven-stroke lead after the second day, held off No. 2 Stanford and No. 10 Clemson to win this year's tournament by a single stroke. Among Big Ten teams, Northwestern finished second -- behind seventh-place Minnesota, and in front of Purdue (15th), Illinois (16th) and Michigan (17th).
Bowers finished the three-day tournament with a 6-over 222 (72-75-75) and placed 47th to lead the Wildcats. Senior David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) and junior Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek), who began the tournament near the top of the leaderboard, both placed 50th. For the final round, Merkow shot a 6-over 78 (69-76-78=223) and Doyle carded a 10-over 82 (70-71-82=223).
Senior Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and junior Kyle Moore (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) placed 73rd and 86th, respectively. Wilson finished 13-over (78-74-77=229) and Moore was 21-over (82-76-79=237).
Stanford's Joseph Bramlett and Georgia Tech's Roberto Castro shared tourney medalist honors, shooting 7-under 209's.
Northwestern returns to action next weekend at the Seminole Intercollegiate in Tallahassee, Fla.
Final results can be found at Puerto Rico Classic.