Boilermakers Aim to Continue Late-Season Surge at Ohio State

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men's golf team heads to Ohio State for its final tuneup before the Big Ten Championships for the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate on Saturday and Sunday at the Ohio State Golf Club's Scarlet Course.  
 
Sixteen teams will head to Columbus, highlighted by 11 Big Ten teams in a preview of the Big Ten Championships coming next week at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. The Boilermakers are looking to solidify their Golfstat ranking, which determines NCAA Regional qualifiers when announced in early May.
 
The teams will play 36 holes on Saturday, followed by 18 holes on Sunday on the par-71, 7,455-yard layout. Tee times on both teams will start at 10:30 a.m. ET, from hole Nos. 1 and 10.

THE FIELD (Golfstat Rankings)

• (8) Illinois
• (14) Liberty
• (39) Iowa
• (40) Kent State
• (47) Indiana
• (58) Purdue
• (70) Ohio State
• (76) Michigan State
• (77) Northwestern
• (92) Rutgers
• (101) Penn State
• (105) Maryland
• (128) Toledo
• (157) Dayton
• (165) Michigan
• (177) Northern Illinois

 
PURDUE LINEUP

• Joe Weiler, Senior / Bloomington, Indiana
  • Continues to lead the Boilermakers, owning a 72.07 stroke average with a pair of top-5 finishes.
  • Finished T-4th at the season-opening Timuquana Collegiate (-8; 208).
  • Was T-4th at the Boilermaker Invitational (-3; 213).
  • Has eight rounds of even-par or better and has 14 counting rounds (out of 15), including eight straight.
  • Now owns seven top-20 showings in his last 12 events (six top-10s).
  • Recorded a 72.05 stroke average last season – good for fourth in school history.
  • His 73.52 career stroke average is sixth in school history.

 

• Cole Bradley, Senior / West Lafayette, Indiana
  • Ranks second on the team in stroke average (72.33).
  • Posted a top-10 finish at the Hootie Intercollegiate at Bulls Bay (T-10) and owns two top-20 showings.
  • Team leader in rounds of even-par or better (9).
  • Has had a counting score in all 15 rounds this season.
  • Ranks ninth on the school's career stroke average list (73.62).
  • Played his 100th career round at the Hootie Intercollegiate (now has 106 rounds). Is one of 28 players in school history to have played 100 rounds.

 

• Herman Sekne, Freshman / Oslo, Norway
  • An outstanding talent, Sekne placed fourth at the Kiawah Invitational.
  • Recorded second career top-20 showing at the Calusa Cup (T-15).
  • Has six rounds of even-par or better.
  • Team leader in birdies made (51).  
  • At his current pace, Sekne would rank fourth on the freshman single-season stroke average list (73.20).
  • His 206 in the Kiawah Invitational tied for the lowest 54-hole score by a freshman in school history.

 

• Peyton Snoeberger, Sophomore / Williamsport, Indiana
  • Owns a 74.67 stroke average through five events this season.
  • Has had a counting score in 14 of 15 rounds.
  • Has five rounds of even par or better.

 

• Nick Dentino, Sophomore / Carmel, Indiana
  • Recorded one of the best freshman seasons in Purdue history a year ago, setting the school record for stroke average by a freshman (73.05).
  • Rallied for a strong finish at the Boilermaker Invitational (T-17th; 216) – marked his fourth career top-20 finish.
  • Second on the team with 175 pars.

 

• Andrew Farraye, Junior / St. Augustine, Florida (Individual)
  • Ranks third on the team in stroke average (73.08).
  • Had six rounds of par or better (12 total rounds).
  • Has five career top-20 showings (16 events).

 
THE COURSE
In 2005 and 2006, the Scarlet Course underwent a major restoration project overseen by former Buckeye legend Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus concentrated on restoring the course to the way Alister MacKenzie originally intended it to play. The bunkers were redesigned to appear more like the classic MacKenzie designs at his numerous other courses. The course was also lengthened to play more than 7,400 years and par was changed to 71. The course has hosted numerous NCAA Regional Championships, including one coming next year in 2022.

WEATHER FORECAST
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then chance of showers in afternoon; 60 degrees; South wind 5-8 MPH  
Sunday: Partly sunny; 61 degrees; Northwest wins 9-13 MPH  

ROBERT KEPLER INTERCOLLEGIATE HISTORY
This year's event marks the 49th year of the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate and Purdue's 40th appearance in the event. The Boilermakers won in their last appearance in 2018 – their only title in tournament history – by posting the second-lowest, 54-hole score in tournament history at 3-under par 849. The final-round 273 (-11) was the lowest 18-hole score in tournament history by four shots. Lee Williamson (2002) and Jarle Volden (2018) are Purdue medalists in the event, with Volden posting the 54-hole tournament scoring record (-9; 204).
 
LIVE STATS
Will be available on Golfstat.com.