Sept. 23, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The final round of the PING/Golfweek Preview was 15th-ranked Charlotte's first over-par score of the tournament, but a 291 on Sunday was enough to win the championship on Purdue's Kampen Course, site of the 2008 NCAA Championships. Playing in near-perfect conditions under a sunny sky, the 49ers finished three-over par with a team total of 867. They were led by Stefan Wiedergruen, a junior from Waiblingen, Germany, who won medalist honors by finishing seven-under par (209; 70-71-68). He was one of only four golfers to record a below-par final score.
Tenth-ranked Oklahoma State held the lead after the second round, but its 10-over final round dropped them to second place with a three-round score of 871 (+7). Southern California finished third and managed the only below-par round of the day with a 287 (-1) and a team total of 873. The Boilermakers entered the tournament as the only team ranked outside the top 30, and after shooting a 305 in the final round, finished in 14th place with team total of 903.
Purdue junior Michael Randle fired a final round 73 to finish three-over par 219 and tied for 11th. Tom Oliver carded a 76 on Sunday, tying for 37th with a total score of 225.
Freshman Nakarintra Ratanakul finished tied for 53rd with a final round 79 and a total score of 229. Freshman Erich Johnston had his best score of the weekend with a 77, placing him 72nd with 238 for three rounds. Maximo Kopp, a freshman from Brazil also fired a 79 on Sunday and finished tied for 63rd with a total of 232.
Minnesota finished fifth and Gopher junior Victor Almstrom tied for second place with a five-under 211 (70-72-69). Charlotte's Jonas Enander Hedin tied Almstrom for second after carding a 71 in the final round. Oklahoma State freshman Rickie Fowler was the only other golfer below par for the tournament. He finished fourth with a one-under par 216 (73-69-73).
Golfweek was on hand to broadcast live streaming of the event. Lance Ringler and Jay Coffin called the action from the 18th hole for the entire final round of the Preview.
Purdue is back in action Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill. The tournament is hosted by Illinois.