WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 25 Purdue men's golf team heads to the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana, for the 2022 Big Ten Championships, starting Friday at the prestigious Pete Dye Course.
The 14 Big Ten teams will play 18 holes each day with tee times off Nos. 1 and 10 tees. The final round will be held Sunday and admission is free to the public. This marks the first time the Big Ten Championships will be played at the Pete Dye Course since 2014. The Boilermakers finished fifth in that event, finishing the 72-hole tournament in 53-over par, 19 shots behind champion Minnesota.
All 14 teams will descend on French Lick with the goal of improving their Golfstat ranking in hopes of advancing to the NCAA Regional Championships. Purdue enters the event ranked 29th in the rankings, firmly in the rankings for an NCAA Regional bid, and will enter the Big Ten Championships as the No. 2 overall seed behind Illinois.
Purdue owns a 20-4-0 head-to-head record against all Big Ten teams losing once to Illinois (1-1), once to Wisconsin (4-1) and twice to Indiana (1-2). Purdue is 4-0 against Minnesota, 3-0 against Iowa, 1-0 vs. Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and Rutgers.
Purdue is looking for its first Big Ten Championship since 1981 and its first individual champion since Pariya Junhasavasdikul in 2007. The Boilermakers finished seventh in last year's event after finishing second in 2019 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
THE FIELD (Golfstat Rankings)
19 Illinois
25 Purdue
29 Ohio State
45 Michigan State
46 Northwestern
60 Indiana
69 Iowa
80 Penn State
105 Wisconsin
109 Rutgers
111 Nebraska
117 Michigan
141 Minnesota
175 Maryland
LAST TIME OUT
Purdue and Illinois waged a strong battle at the Boilermaker Invitational three weeks ago, eventually won by the Fighting Illini by eight shots. The two teams were the only squads under par and Purdue defeated the third-place Eastern Michigan squad by 27 shots. Cole Bradley finished second by one shot, Herman Sekne tied for fourth and Andrew Farraye was 11th for the Boilermakers.
TEAM NOTES
PURDUE LINEUP
CURRENT PLAYERS IN THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
THE COURSE
Sketched on a napkin and carved into history by Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye, this course hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2015. Senior PGA champion Colin Montgomerie called it "one of the iconic courses" in America and one that golfers all over the world will want to play. This championship golf course on one of Indiana's highest elevation points has narrow, immaculate fairways and rugged, intense terrain. The Pete Dye Course has gained national acclaim for its 40-mile panoramic views of the southern Indiana countryside, three man-made lakes, "volcano" bunkers and a variety of elevation changes. A robust 8,100 yards from the professional tees punctuate Dye's signature sting from vista to vista.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
The 102nd Big Ten Men's Golf Championship gets underway Friday as Purdue is looking for its 13th all-time team title, but its first since the 1981 campaign. The Boilermakers have finished as the runner-up just five times since winning its last title, last finishing second in 2019 in Philadelphia by just five strokes to Illinois. Individually, Purdue has won 14 medalist honors, the last coming in 2007 when Pariya Junhasavasdikul won the title in Columbus, Ohio, with a 72-hole tally of 285. Purdue has finished in the top five in three Big Ten Championships during the Rob Bradley era.
WEATHER FORECAST
Friday: Cloudy, chance of showers, 63 degrees, ESE wind 5-10 MPH
Saturday: Rain, 71 degrees, SE wind 5-10 MPH
Sunday: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, SW wind 10-15 MPH
LIVE STATS
Will be available on Golfstat.com.
The 14 Big Ten teams will play 18 holes each day with tee times off Nos. 1 and 10 tees. The final round will be held Sunday and admission is free to the public. This marks the first time the Big Ten Championships will be played at the Pete Dye Course since 2014. The Boilermakers finished fifth in that event, finishing the 72-hole tournament in 53-over par, 19 shots behind champion Minnesota.
All 14 teams will descend on French Lick with the goal of improving their Golfstat ranking in hopes of advancing to the NCAA Regional Championships. Purdue enters the event ranked 29th in the rankings, firmly in the rankings for an NCAA Regional bid, and will enter the Big Ten Championships as the No. 2 overall seed behind Illinois.
Purdue owns a 20-4-0 head-to-head record against all Big Ten teams losing once to Illinois (1-1), once to Wisconsin (4-1) and twice to Indiana (1-2). Purdue is 4-0 against Minnesota, 3-0 against Iowa, 1-0 vs. Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and Rutgers.
Purdue is looking for its first Big Ten Championship since 1981 and its first individual champion since Pariya Junhasavasdikul in 2007. The Boilermakers finished seventh in last year's event after finishing second in 2019 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
THE FIELD (Golfstat Rankings)
19 Illinois
25 Purdue
29 Ohio State
45 Michigan State
46 Northwestern
60 Indiana
69 Iowa
80 Penn State
105 Wisconsin
109 Rutgers
111 Nebraska
117 Michigan
141 Minnesota
175 Maryland
LAST TIME OUT
Purdue and Illinois waged a strong battle at the Boilermaker Invitational three weeks ago, eventually won by the Fighting Illini by eight shots. The two teams were the only squads under par and Purdue defeated the third-place Eastern Michigan squad by 27 shots. Cole Bradley finished second by one shot, Herman Sekne tied for fourth and Andrew Farraye was 11th for the Boilermakers.
TEAM NOTES
- Purdue enters the Big Ten Championships ranked 29th via Golfstat, its highest ranking entering the Big Ten Championships since 2002 (entered Big Ten Championships ranked 23rd).
- Purdue boasts a 283.96 stroke average, which is on pace to break the school record by over four shots.
- Purdue has three of the top-five, single-season stroke averages for an individual this season (Herman Sekne – 1st; Joe Weiler – 3rd; Cole Bradley – 5th).
- Fifteen of Purdue's 24 team rounds have been even or under par. Purdue's 15 rounds of even-par or better are tied for the most in school history (2018-19).
- The Boilermakers are a cumulative 61-under par in their team rounds this season.
- There have been 13 individual tournaments of 205 or lower in school history. Five have come this season.
- This year's team has posted four rounds of 275 or lower. There have been 11 scores in school history of 275 or lower.
- This year's squad has four tournament scores of 850 or better. In all, there have been 14 occurrences of 850 or better in school history.
PURDUE LINEUP
- Herman Sekne / Sophomore / Oslo, Norway
- All-American candidate who narrowly missed a spot on the International squad for the Palmer Cup (Ryder Cup for amateurs).
- Leads the squad with a 70.29 stroke average, which would break the existing school record by almost half a stroke (Lee Williamson – 70.78 in 2002).
- Team-bests in top-5 finishes (3), top-10 finishes (5), top-20 finishes (6), birdies (99), rounds in the 60s (9) and rounds of par or better (16).
- Had 12 straight rounds of even-par or better earlier this year – the second-longest stretch in school history.
- Four-time Big Ten Golfer of the Week, tied for the second-most honors by a Big Ten golfer in league history and the most in school history by a Purdue golfer.
- Joe Weiler / Senior / Bloomington, Indiana
- All-American candidate who is second of the team in stroke average at 71.25 strokes per round and a cumulative 9-under par score.
- Tied for the team lead with six top-20 finishes and his 11 career top-10 showings are the ninth most in school history.
- Owns a 73.02 career stroke average, good for fourth in school history.
- Needs 581 strokes to become the ninth player in school history with 10,000 career strokes in team events.
- Has 14 rounds of even-par or better and seven rounds in the 60s.
- Cole Bradley / Senior / West Lafayette, Indiana
- Playing his best golf late in the season, finishing T-9th at the Calusa Cup and 2nd at the Boilermaker Invitational.
- Owns a 71.50 stroke average and is a cumulative 3-under par for the season.
- Best round statistically has been the final round, boasting a 70.63 third-round stroke average.
- Owns 14 rounds of even-par or better, including seven rounds in the 60s.
- His 10,464 strokes played in team events are the fifth most in school history. Will likely end with the second-most strokes played and rounds played in school history.
- Andrew Farraye / Junior / St. Augustine, Florida
- Also starting to play best golf late in the year, posting top-20 showings at the Calusa Cup (T-19th) and Boilermaker Invitational (T-11th).
- Has four rounds in the 60s and nine rounds of even-par or better.
- Has a top-20 finish in eight of 24 career events.
- Statistically, his final-round score is his best round, averaging 72.71 strokes per round, almost a half-stroke better than either his first- or second-round averages.
- Nels Surtani / Sophomore / Indianapolis, Ind.
- Will be playing in his fourth event of the season and second on the counting team (Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate).
- Finished tied for 44th at the Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate, but shot a final-round 71 including three birdies in the last four holes to help Purdue rally for the team victory.
- Finished tied for third at the Purdue Fall Invitational in October and tied for 16th at the Boilermaker Invitational three weeks ago.
- Six of his nine rounds have been under-par or better and his 70.67 final-round stroke average is third on the team.
CURRENT PLAYERS IN THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Cole Bradley
- 2018 (Baltimore, Md.) 76-75-77=218 (+18) T-60
- 2019 (Philadelphia, Pa.) 75-78-72=225 (+15) T-31
- 2021 (Carmel, Ind.) 76-79-72=227 (+11) T-20
- Nick Dentino
- 2021 (Carmel, Ind.) 78-78-85=241 (+25) T-62
- Herman Sekne
- 2021 (Carmel, Ind.) 82-75-74=231 (+15) T-34
- Peyton Snoeberger
- 2021 (Carmel, Ind.) 84-78-76=238 (+22) 57
- Joe Weiler
- 2019 (Philadelphia, Pa.) 70-85-74=229 (+19) T-48
- 2021 (Carmel, Ind.) 77-68-73=218 (+2) T-2
THE COURSE
Sketched on a napkin and carved into history by Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye, this course hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2015. Senior PGA champion Colin Montgomerie called it "one of the iconic courses" in America and one that golfers all over the world will want to play. This championship golf course on one of Indiana's highest elevation points has narrow, immaculate fairways and rugged, intense terrain. The Pete Dye Course has gained national acclaim for its 40-mile panoramic views of the southern Indiana countryside, three man-made lakes, "volcano" bunkers and a variety of elevation changes. A robust 8,100 yards from the professional tees punctuate Dye's signature sting from vista to vista.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
The 102nd Big Ten Men's Golf Championship gets underway Friday as Purdue is looking for its 13th all-time team title, but its first since the 1981 campaign. The Boilermakers have finished as the runner-up just five times since winning its last title, last finishing second in 2019 in Philadelphia by just five strokes to Illinois. Individually, Purdue has won 14 medalist honors, the last coming in 2007 when Pariya Junhasavasdikul won the title in Columbus, Ohio, with a 72-hole tally of 285. Purdue has finished in the top five in three Big Ten Championships during the Rob Bradley era.
WEATHER FORECAST
Friday: Cloudy, chance of showers, 63 degrees, ESE wind 5-10 MPH
Saturday: Rain, 71 degrees, SE wind 5-10 MPH
Sunday: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, SW wind 10-15 MPH
LIVE STATS
Will be available on Golfstat.com.