David Merkow Explained

David Merkow
Fullname:David Bartos Merkow
Birth Date:May 5, 1985
Birth Place:Boston, Massachusetts
Weight:210lb
Residence:Hartland, Wisconsin
College:Northwestern University
Status:Professional
Award1:Gold Medal
Individual Golf Competition
(Open Division)
Pan American Maccabi Games
Year1:2008
Award2:Gold Medal
Team Golf Competition (U.S.)
Pan American Maccabi Games
Year2:2008

David Bartos Merkow (born May 5, 1985) is an American golfer.[1] [2]

He won the World Junior Masters tournament boys 14–15 division as a youth in 2000, and the American Junior Golf Association's SLI Junior Classic boys division two years later. In June 2005 he and a former high school teammate won the Wisconsin State Golf Association Best-Ball title.

For college, he attended Northwestern University. There, he won the individual title at the Second Annual Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge in 2005, was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 2006, and finished his college career 6th in Northwestern's all-time stroke average, at 74.27.

In 2008, playing in Argentina in the 11th Pan American Maccabi Games, he won two gold medals; both in the individual competition, and with the U.S. team in the team competition. In 2010 he was playing in the NGA Hooters Tour. As of 2020, he was training to be an orthopedic surgeon.

Early life and high school

Merkow was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Hartland, Wisconsin, 30miles from Milwaukee.[3] His grandfather taught him how to play golf.[3] In August 2000, he won the World Junior Masters tournament boys 14–15 division with a 227.[4] [5] In August 2002, he won the American Junior Golf Association's SLI Junior Classic boys division in New Seabury, Massachusetts, with a 212 (2 over par).[6]

In Arrowhead Union High School in Hartland,[7] he was co-Captain of the golf team in his senior year,[8] and was a two-time all-state honoree (as a junior and senior, in 2002 and 2003).[9] [10]

He was one of only three Jewish students at the high school. Speaking about being Jewish, Merkow observed: "It does drive me. When I make it on [the PGA] Tour, I'd like it to be known that I'm Jewish. Whether it's wearing my Star of David [around his neck], or having a Chai on my [golf] bag, I want to show that there are good Jewish athletes."[11]

College

He chose to attend Northwestern University,[11] where he was an economics major.[3]

Merkow won the individual title at the Second Annual Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge in October 2005, and led his team to the team title.[12] [13] [14] [15] He beat 2005 NCAA Champion James Lepp, with a 54-hole career-best score of 209 (7-under).[15] [16] [17] In April 2006, at the 36th Robert Kepler Intercollegiate he took third place, with a 1-over 217.[18] He was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week on March 2, 2006.[19]

In 2006, he was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Year.[1] He was the first golfer from Northwestern to win the award since Luke Donald in 2001.[12] He was also ranked number one in the Golfweek/Sagarin Big Ten Player Ratings for the year.[12] During 2005–06, he was in the top 20 in a total of six tournaments.[12] [20]

In April 2007, after he finished tied for 4th at the Kepler Intercollegiate, he optimistically said: "We've significantly underachieved this year. But no one will remember this if we win another Big Ten championship."[21] [22] In May 2007, however, his team narrowly missed the cut for the NCAA Championships which it had participated in the prior year, by a mere two strokes at the NCAA Central Regional Championship.[23] [24]

His teammate Kyle Moore said that: "It's hard to gauge how long he hits. If he [were] on the PGA Tour, he'd be one of the longest drivers out there."[3] His coach Pat Goss observed that his skill at hitting iron shots into the wind distinguished him from other golfers.[3] Speaking of Merkow in 2007, Goss predicted: "He is someone who is on the cusp of really doing something spectacular. He has a lot of talent."[25]

Merkow graduated in June 2007, and ended his career 6th in Northwestern's all-time stroke average, at 74.27.[26] [3] [11] In addition to his Conference Player of the Year honors, he was twice named All-Big Ten,[27] [28] was named to the Ping All-Midwest Region team,[29] and was Academic All-Big Ten.[26] [30]

International career

Merkow, playing in his first Maccabi Games, won a gold medal in the individual competition in the 11th Pan American Maccabi Games (which ended on January 2, 2008) at Hacoaj Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[11] [31] [32] He had a score of 282 (−10), competing in the age 18-and-up open division, winning with a 67 in the last round.[11] He also won a second gold medal as the U.S. bested second-place Argentina in the team competition.[11] [31] For the first time he met cousins of his who lived in the city, and said: "It was absolutely unbelievable. It could not have been more special. I gave them one of my gold medals."[11]

U.S. career

In June 2004, at the age of 18, he was a semifinalist at the Wisconsin State Golf Association Match Play Championship.[33]

In June 2005, he and former high school teammate Charlie Delsman won the Wisconsin State Golf Association Best-Ball title.[34] [35] In the 2005 Wisconsin State Golf Association Match Play Championship's last match, he lost 3 and 1.[36]

In July 2006, he tied for fourth with a 289 at the Wisconsin 105th State Amateur Championship.[37]

Merkow also played in the U.S. Amateur. In 2006 he played at the 7473yd Hazeltine National Golf Club course in Minnesota, with his 71 being the second-lowest score in the 312-player field after the first day of stroke play.[38] [39] He was a quarter-finalist. He beat Malaysian golfer Ben Leong 5–3 in the first round.[40] [41] [42] But he lost in the second round of match play to stroke-play medalist Billy Horschel, 3 and 1.[42] [43] [44] [45] [46]

Merkow won the August 2007 U.S. Amateur qualifier at Hartland's Chenequa Country Club with scores of 66 and 64, for a 12-under 130.[44] [47] Later than month he played at the 107th U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, where he shot two back-to-back under-2 rounds of 69 to make the round of 64,[48] and was one of just four golfers to put up sub-par numbers in stroke play, but was eliminated in the first round of match play.[26] [43] [49] [50] [51] Because stroke play totals don't affect match play results, Merkow had observed: "There are two tournaments this week. Anybody who's in the top 64 can win. It starts over tomorrow."[51] In 2007 he lost to Brendan Gielow 3–2.[52] Making the match play both years, Merkow finished 21st and 2nd in the stroke play portion of the event.

CBS College Sports reported in May 2007 that in a qualifier at North Shore Country Club in Mequon, Wisconsin, Merkow shot a 2-under 70.[7] That score was good enough for a tie for medalist honors,[53] [54] and afforded him a spot in the sectional qualifying round for the U.S. Open.[7] [55] He said: "My goal is to miss my graduation. It's June 15, which would be the Friday of the U.S. Open."[54] In June 2007, however, he failed to qualify in the sectional qualifying at Scioto Country Club.[56]

He has full status on the Hooters Tour, after winning the 2008 NGA Hooters Tour Ranking School by 4 shots. He has also played on the Gateway Tour.[57]

In May 2010, Merkow advanced to the U.S. Open sectionals with a 69 at a local qualifying round at Illini Country Club.[58]

In July 2015 he married Jordan Scher.[59] [60]

Coaching

He was named assistant men's golf coach at Marquette University in August 2010.[61] He joined the staff of Steve Bailey, his former assistant coach at Northwestern.[30] [62]

Post-golf career

, Merkow was training to be an orthopedic surgeon at New York University.[63]

Awards and honors

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan Hallett . A Conversation With ... David Merkow. Greater Milwaukee Today . June 2, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  2. Web site: David Merkow – Tournament Results – Gateway Pro Tour 2010 . Gatewaytour.bluegolf.com . January 18, 2011.
  3. Web site: Player Profile: Decorated Merkow Eyes Pros . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221830/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/uwire/050907aac.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports. May 9, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  4. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/MWSB/lib00252,0EB82DF2E72E60BE.html "Sorenstam leads at LPGA major"
  5. Web site: Sports Scoreboard . . August 11, 2000 . January 19, 2011.
  6. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CT&p_theme=ct&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F6EB8B349F0B7EB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Merkow claims 2-shot victory at AJGA tourney"
  7. Web site: Three 'Cats Qualify for U.S. Open Sectionals: Chris Wilson and David Merkow win their respective local qualifiers . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221737/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/051507aax.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . May 15, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  8. https://archive.today/20120719030440/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RCwqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RUQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6398,3178738&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "Golfers Get the Message; Arrowhead Storms Back on Back 9"
  9. Web site: All–State Teams: 2002–03 School Year . Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association . 2003 . January 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091216191740/http://www.whsgca.com/All%20State%20Years/2003%20Boys.htm . December 16, 2009 . dead .
  10. Web site: All–State Teams: 2001–02 School Year . Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association . 2002 . January 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091216190733/http://www.whsgca.com/All%20State%20Years/2002%20Boys.htm . December 16, 2009 . dead .
  11. Web site: Wisconsin trio brings home gold medals, fond memories. Austin Greenberg. Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. January 11, 2008. January 18, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220121/http://www.jewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=6578. July 16, 2011. mdy-all.
  12. Web site: Big Ten Men's Golf Postseason Honors Announced; Northwestern's Merkow and Indiana's Campillo and Mayer Earn Individual Honors . Big Ten Conference . May 2, 2006 . January 18, 2011 . August 23, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100823005701/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/050206aab.html . dead .
  13. Web site: No. 13 Wildcats Eager to Return to Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221928/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/022306aag.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . February 23, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  14. https://archive.today/20120722000935/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bDIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YkUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6468,6793543&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "Driving for Passing Grades; State Well Represented at PGA Q School"
  15. Web site: Northwestern Wins Big Ten/Pac 10 Challenge . . October 7, 2005 . January 18, 2011.
  16. Web site: Season Recap: Wildcats Capture Big Ten Title; Grab First NCAA Championships Berth Since 2000: Chris Wilson wins Big Ten individual crown; David Merkow named Big Ten Golfer of the Year . https://archive.today/20120723001054/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/062306aaf.html . dead . July 23, 2012 . CBS College Sports . June 23, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  17. Web site: Northwestern captures Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge . . October 5, 2005 . January 18, 2011 . November 5, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121105090126/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/906909591.html?dids=906909591:906909591&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+05,+2005&author=Tribune+news+services&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Northwestern+captures+Big+Ten%2FPac-10+Challenge&pqatl=google . dead .
  18. Web site: Wildcats Capture Kepler Intercollegiate Title . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221935/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/041606abf.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . April 16, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  19. Web site: Big Ten Men's Golf Championships Preview . https://web.archive.org/web/20120606141923/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/042706aac.html . dead . June 6, 2012 . Big Ten Conference . April 27, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  20. Web site: Big Ten Announces Spring Academic All-Big Ten . Big Ten Conference . June 1, 2006 . January 18, 2011 . January 5, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100105203839/http://www.bigten.org/genrel/060106aab.html . dead .
  21. Web site: NU Snares 4th Place In Columbus . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221839/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/uwire/041907aae.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . April 19, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  22. Web site: Northwestern Finishes Fourth at Weather-Shortened Kepler Intercollegiate: David Merkow and Jonathan Bowers finish with second-round 76's . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221848/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/041507aav.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . April 15, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  23. Web site: NCAA Cut Line Barely Escapes NU . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221816/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/uwire/052207aaa.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . May 22, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  24. Web site: Six Men's Golf Squads Invited to NCAA Regional Play . https://web.archive.org/web/20120606141858/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/050807aaa.html . dead . June 6, 2012 . Big Ten Conference . May 8, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  25. Web site: Wildcats Ready To Start Spring Season With the Always-Challenging Puerto Rico Classic . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221900/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/022307aaf.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . February 23, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  26. Web site: Northwestern well-represented at the 107th U.S. Amateur: Merkow and Dupont qualify for Match Play . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221745/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/082307aag.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . August 23, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  27. Web site: Ryan Hallett . Golf. Greater Milwaukee Today . May 12, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  28. Web site: Men's Golf Postseason Honors Announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221834/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/050207aab.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . May 2, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  29. Web site: Random Thoughts: NU's Amazing Women of Spring . Roy Lamberton . Scout with FoxNews.com . June 8, 2006 . January 18, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716021255/http://northwestern.scout.com/2/538033.html . July 16, 2011 . dead .
  30. Web site: Former Radford Men's Golfer Named Head Coach at Marquette . Ruhighlanders.com . July 27, 2010 . January 18, 2011 . January 2, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110102211421/http://ruhighlanders.com/news/2010/7/27/MGOLF_0727103320.aspx?path=mgolf . dead .
  31. Web site: Golf Results – 07 PanAm Games . Maccabi USA . January 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012921/http://www.maccabiusa.com/2007-pan-american-games/225-golf-results-07-panam-games.html . July 14, 2011 . dead .
  32. Web site: Thousands Welcomed by Argentine Jewish Community for Athletic Games . Tamar Runyan . . January 17, 2008 . January 19, 2011.
  33. Web site: Tour Talk; By the Numbers. Gary D'Amato . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . June 23, 2004 . January 18, 2011.
  34. https://archive.today/20120714220847/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1gEdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VY4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4125,639755&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "WSGA State Amateur"
  35. Web site: WSGA Bestball Championship; Familiarity breeds prosperity: Delsman, Merkow combine to win state golf competition. John McNally . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . June 6, 2005 . January 18, 2011.
  36. Web site: WSGA Match Play; Johnson Gets His Revenge at State Match Play . Rick Pledl . Wisconsin Golfer . July–August 2005 . January 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718070953/http://www.wisgolfer.com/tournament-news-j-a-2005.html . July 18, 2011 . dead .
  37. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CuQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6772,104359&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "State Amateur Championship; Snappy Comeback Wins It"
  38. Web site: Yip, Horschel claim second-round victories at U.S. Amateur . . August 25, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  39. Web site: Horschel Shoots USGA Record 60 In First Round of U.S. Amateur . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221905/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/082206aac.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . August 22, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  40. Web site: Ben falls to American . . August 25, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  41. https://archive.today/20120724031012/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oywqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lkUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6591,2155482&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "Noteworthy in Sports"
  42. Web site: U.S. Amateur; Merkow ousted in Minnesota . Wisconsin Golfer . August 25, 2006 . January 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718071002/http://www.wisgolfer.com/merkow-ousted.html . July 18, 2011 . dead .
  43. Web site: 2007 US Amateur Championship . Anthony Powter . iseekgolf.com . August 23, 2007 . January 18, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927162049/http://www.iseekgolf.com/news/6515-playoff-blues-see-kulacz-out-of-us-amateur . September 27, 2011 . dead .
  44. News: Golf: Koszarek first alternate . The Journal Times . Racine, Wisconsin . August 6, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  45. Web site: Yip, Horschel advance to third round at U.S. Amateur . ESPN . August 25, 2006 . January 18, 2011.
  46. https://archive.today/20120722031720/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fwsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qq0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1362,5613973&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "3 Share Lead at Tradition"
  47. Web site: U.S. Amateur Qualifying; Merkow makes return trip . Wisconsin Golfer . August 7, 2007 . January 19, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718071012/http://www.wisgolfer.com/8.7-u.s.-am-qualifying.html . July 18, 2011 . dead .
  48. Web site: Murphy in Fifth at U.S. Amateur after Two Rounds . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221749/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/082207aac.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports. August 22, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  49. Web site: Stanford-bound Kim is home at Olympic . Ron Kroichick . . August 23, 2007 . January 18, 2011 .
  50. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qL88AAAAIBAJ&sjid=GS4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1104,1762265&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "Scoreboard; MSGA"
  51. Web site: Kokrak holds lead as darkness delays field at U.S. Amateur . ESPN. August 22, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  52. Web site: Gielow advances at U.S. Amateur with Match Play Victory . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221812/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/082307aae.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . August 23, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  53. https://archive.today/20120712094553/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NOMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rEUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3535,507249&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "Catching up With ... Golfer John Turcott"
  54. https://archive.today/20130124150220/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uXY0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=m44EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3525,3500444&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "US Open Qualifying; MU Sophomore Survives Playoff"
  55. Web site: Wildcats Begin Regional Action Today . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221822/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/051707aaa.html . dead . June 28, 2011 . CBS College Sports . May 17, 2007 . January 18, 2011.
  56. https://archive.today/20120714083227/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MuMqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rEUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5248,2965715&dq=david-merkow&hl=en "Kelly to Play in Open"
  57. Web site: Merkow Tabbed Assistant Men's Golf Coach; Wisconsin native is former Big Ten Player of the Year . Gomarquette.com . August 18, 2010 . January 19, 2011 . September 1, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100901095815/http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/081810aaa.html . dead .
  58. News: Local golfer DQ'd at U.S. Open qualifier. Dave. Kane. State Journal-Register. May 18, 2010. February 22, 2011.
  59. https://www.glamour.com/gallery/elegant-san-francisco-ballroom-wedding-at-bently-reserve
  60. http://www.duncanreyesevents.com/uncategorized/jordan-david-tie-the-knot-at-the-bently-reserve/ Jordan & David's Glamorous Wedding At The Bently Reserve
  61. Web site: Gary D’Amato . Merkow joins MU coaching staff . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . August 18, 2010 . January 19, 2011 .
  62. Web site: Baker . Liana B. . SAC Capital's golf pro has got game . Reuters . November 18, 2010 . January 18, 2011.
  63. David Merkow's lineage leads him to fighting battle he never saw coming. Dave. Radcliffe. Kol Emanu-El. 1-2. July-August 2020.
  64. Web site: Wildcats Finish Strong, Place Third at Big Ten Championships. https://archive.today/20120714044707/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/recaps/050805aab.html . dead . July 14, 2012 . CSTV . May 8, 2005 . January 30, 2011.
  65. Web site: David Merkow Garners All-Big Ten Honors. https://archive.today/20120729233120/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/stories/050107aao.html . dead . July 29, 2012 . CBS College Sports . May 1, 2007 . January 30, 2011.
  66. Web site: Big Ten Men's Golf Postseason Honors Announced; Northwestern's Merkow and Indiana's Campillo and Mayer Earn Individual Honors . Bigten.org . May 2, 2006 . January 30, 2011 . August 23, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100823005701/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/050206aab.html . dead .

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