Scott Harrington teed off on the 18th hole Tuesday feeling pretty good about his chances, having just birdied No. 17 to regain a two-stroke lead over Missouri’s Chris Happ.

But then things started to go awry.

Harrington’s second shot on the par-5 18th landed in a bunker short of the green, while Happ stuck a 3 iron to within 20 feet of the pin. And right after Harrington’s blast from the sand stopped eight feet from the hole, Happ sunk his eagle putt to tie the match.

Harrington took a deep breath and rolled in his eight-foot birdie putt to win his first college tournament with a seven-under 209.

Harrington’s effort helped the No. 14 Northwestern men’s golf team win the Rice Intercollegiate Championship in Cypress, Texas. Second-place North Texas finished 18 strokes behind the Cats

Harrington attributed his solid play to an improved putting game. He said he spent most of the off-season trying to make his stroke more consistent, and his effort was rewarded this weekend.

“I’ve never had a putting day like I had (Monday),” he said. “It really re-affirmed what I’ve been doing.”

Harrington also had a few bounces go his way — he sunk two shots from sand traps on Monday.

“Unexpected things like that are a nice bonus to your round,” he said.

Several other Cats had good rounds, with five players finishing in the top 15. Junior Tom Johnson finished third with an even-par 216, and freshman Bryson Young finished ninth in his first collegiate tournament.

Johnson said he was disappointed with his play despite his third-place finish. He didn’t feel good about the way he struck the ball or putted.

But he said being able to finish well despite those problems was a big confidence boost.

“I’ll be able to recognize when I am playing well,” Johnson said, “and when I do have it I’ll play more aggressively and maybe win again.”

Coach Pat Goss said he was glad the team got a win under its belt, but the golfers have plenty to work on in the two weeks before they play again in the NCAA Puerto Rico Classic.

Although the Puerto Rico Classic features several elite teams, Harrington said the Cats have the talent to win it. He thinks this squad has the potential to be as good the 2000 team, which featured current PGA Tour pros Luke Donald and Jess Daley.

“This team is capable to be at least as good as the team my freshman year,” he said. “Everybody’s gradually getting more talented. … The sky’s the limit.”

The Cats are looking forward to working on their games over the next few weeks, but they will miss the Texas weather. The temperatures were in the 60s for part of their rounds, and even when it cooled off, it wasn’t that cold.

“The 40 degree temperatures in the morning felt like a heat wave,” Harrington said.