Here’s something for the Northwestern men’s golf team to think about: In his six years as coach, Pat Goss has never had a team place worse than second at the Kepler Intercollegiate.

Talk about pressure.

The Wildcats posted two of their best rounds of the spring season at the PING-U.S. Intercollegiate Championships in Tucson, Ariz., last weekend. Now they’re riding a wave of confidence they hope will carry them to a strong finish when they come back north for their first Big Ten event of the season.

“This is our time to prove to the rest of the teams in the Midwest where our team stands,” Goss said.

Often criticized by other Midwest teams for their lack of district play – NU traditionally plays more national tournaments so it can face more top-20 opponents – the Cats need to assert their dominance in the Big Ten, Goss said.

“(Playing against top-20 teams) helps us believe that we can compete against them,” Goss said. “Because of that, I think we can and should be the best team in the Big Ten.”

This weekend, the Cats play at Ohio State’s Scarlet Golf Course in Columbus, Ohio, a difficult course known for tough hole locations and small greens.

“We’re used to playing hard golf courses,” Goss said.

NU will rely on patience and an ability to think its way through holes, Goss said.

“I like playing on these (northern) courses,” said NU golfer Chris Thayer, who placed 13th at the 2001 Kepler. “These courses fit our team the best.”

The Cats should have an advantage because of the similarities between the Chicagoland courses where they practice and the Scarlet Course, Thayer added.

Goss will send a starting five of Scott Harrington, Tom Johnson, Casey Strunk, Chris Thayer and Bjorn Widerstedt, which is the same squad that posted the two low rounds in Arizona.

Last spring at the Kepler Intercollegiate, Johnson placed ninth and Strunk placed 52nd. Widerstedt, who transferred this year from Flagler, did not compete last year, nor did Harrington.

The next three tournaments, beginning with the Kepler, will be crucial for the Cats, who are in search of an NCAA bid.

Because they have not played any district events, Goss said, they are ranked seventh in the 10-team district. The NCAA picks the top six teams for the Central Regional championships.

Goss will be looking for Johnson, who shot a career-best 67 in the first round at Arizona, to maintain his solid play. The coach said he is also expecting Thayer, who has historically performed well at this time of year, to come on strong in the next few tournaments.

With such pressure on his shoulders, Thayer only had one thing to say.

“No worries.”