Ping/Golfweek Preview

Led by Luke Donald and Scott Harrington, the Northwestern men’s golf team finished in a tie for fourth place Tuesday at the Ping/Golfweek Preview in Durham, N.C.

The Cats — who won last year’s Preview — posted a 14-over par 590 in the 36-hole tournament, which was shortened from 54 holes because of heavy rain. The tournament was held on the same Duke Golf Club course where the NCAA championships will be contested in May.

Donald, the defending Big Ten champion, fired rounds of 72 and 73 to finish at 1-over and in a tie for eighth place. Harrington, a sophomore, ended up in a tie for 17th at 2-over and freshman Tom Johnson claimed 19th at 3-over.

Georgia Tech’s Bryce Molder won the Preview with a 4-under 140. Auburn’s Kevin Haefner took second at 2-under.

Entering Tuesday’s final round, the Cats sat in fourth place at 7-over. They had finished their first round and seven holes of their second round before rain came Monday and forced the tournament to be shortened. As a result, NU played only 11 holes Tuesday.

Georgia, the defending NCAA champion and No. 1 team in the country, took first place with a 7-over 583. Brigham Young came in second at 11-over and Clemson posted a 12-under. Sixteen teams competed in the Preview.

Last year, NU rallied from three strokes down on the final day to win the Preview. Coming off his 1999 NCAA individual title, Donald took first place in the tournament with an 8-under 208.