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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Coming off a strong final two rounds in Puerto Rico, the No. 33-ranked Purdue men's golf team looks for its first team title of the season this weekend at the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate, held at Desert Mountain's Outlaw Course in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Boilermakers are one of the highest-ranked teams in the field as 12 squads will compete for the team title. In addition to Purdue, Alabama (61), Kansas (32), Indiana (95), Marquette (103), Michigan (47), Northwestern (40), Saint Mary's (58), San Diego (167), Tennessee (62), Utah (131) and Washington State (91) round out the field.
After struggling in the first round of the spring season in the Puerto Rico Classic, the Boilermakers played outstanding golf in rounds two and three, two weeks ago in Puerto Rico. The strong finish helped Purdue surge to a seventh-place finish.
Leading the charge was sophomore Timmy Hildebrand, who fired a 5-under par 211 to finish tied for third and earn Big Ten Golfer of the Week status. Hildebrand has now recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes, the first of his career, after also placing eighth at the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate. Four of his last six rounds have been 70 or lower.
Fernando Barco also had the best tournament of his senior season, placing tied for 12th at 1-under par 215. Barco shot a final-round 3-under par 69 for his 11th career top-20 finish.
Hildebrand and Austin Eoff share the team lead in stroke average at 72.71 strokes / 18 holes, tied for the sixth-best average in school history. Brian Carlson averages 72.88 strokes per round, the 11th-best average in school history and Barco averages 73.21, the 19th-best average in Purdue history.
As a team, Purdue is averaging 289.76 strokes per 18 holes, the second-best team stroke average in school history. The Boilermakers have produced six team rounds under par (out of 17), recording an even-par or better round in 35.3 percent of their rounds -- currently the best percentage in a year in school history.
Purdue has finished second (2015) and fourth (2016) in its previous trips to the desert, shooting 9-over par 873 in 2015 and 7-under par 857 in 2016. Brian Carlson has posted a pair of top-10 finishes in the event, placing ninth in 2015 and second a year ago. During the final round in the two events combined, Carlson has shot 13-under par 131 (66-65).
Purdue will take three weeks off before competing in the Hootie at Bull's Bay Intercollegiate in Charleston, South Carolina.
