'Cats Stay in the Hunt at NCAA Central Regional Championships
May 18, 2007
NCAA Central Regional Championships (Round Two)
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. -- Fueled by Kyle Moore's (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) 4-under 68, Northwestern shot a 5-over 293 in Friday's second round of the NCAA Central Regional Championships to stay close to the cut line for a NCAA National Championships berth. The conditions on Friday were significantly better than Thursday, and the Wildcats' score reflected it. Friday's team score of 293 was 23 shots better than the Wildcats' 316 total on Thursday, and the 'Cats' 36-hole total of 33-over 609 places them in a tie for 11th, only two shots behind the cut line for a nationals berth. Some familiar foes, Big Ten rivals Michigan State and Wisconsin, are tied with the 'Cats for 11th place. Texas A&M currently holds the all-important 10th-place spot, but anything can happen on Saturday, as the fifth- through 15th-place teams are separated by only 11 shots. Tulsa shot the best team score of the day -- an 8-under 280 -- and leads the Regional with a 36-hole total of 9-over 585. Moore took advantage of the better conditions on Friday, besting his previous season-best round of 70 by two strokes. After a bogey on No. 10 to open the day, Moore reeled off seven birdies and made only two more bogeys to earn his 4-under 68 and tie three other golfers for the best round of the day. The junior's round propelled him up the leaderboard, as he is now tied for 23rd at 6-over 150 (82-68) after beginning the day tied for 87th. Lamar's Dawie Van Der Wait, the highest ranked player in the field according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Index, leads the field with a 4-under 140 after 36 holes.
Freshman Jonathan Bowers (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) also turned in a solid round for the 'Cats, making five birdies en route to an even-par 72 that leaves him tied for 57th at 10-over 154 (82-72) with one round remaining.
Besides Moore and Bowers, senior David Merkow (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead Union) also rebounded on day two, firing a 2-over 74. The second-team All-Big Ten selection is currently tied for 74th at 12-over 156 (82-74). Dan Doyle (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek) provided the fourth score for the 'Cats, shooting his second-straight 7-over 79. The junior is tied for 89th at 14-over 158 (79-79). After leading the 'Cats on day one of the Regional, senior Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) struggled on Friday, shooting an 8-over 80. The Byron Nelson Award finalist is still the second-highest 'Cat on the leaderboard, one shot ahead of Bowers in a tie for 48th at 9-over 153 (73-80). For more information on the NCAA Central Regional Championships, visit the NIU Huskies' regional web site. |
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