PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Purdue Women's Golf begins its spring season by heading down to Florida for Big Ten Match Play at Innisbrook Resort (Jan. 31-Feb. 1). Unlike a traditional 54-hole stroke play tournament, the Boilermakers will compete in a trio of matches against other B1G schools. That includes an opening round matchup against in-state foe Indiana.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 31 (8:30 a.m. shotgun start): Opening Round Matches
Monday, Jan. 31 (1:15 p.m. shotgun start): Second Round Matches
Tuesday, Feb. 1 (8 a.m. shotgun start): Final Matches
MONDAY MORNING MATCHES (Seeds based on Golfstat rankings)
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 8 Indiana
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
No. 3 Northwestern vs. No. 6 Penn State
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Minnesota
No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 10 Rutgers
MONDAY AFTERNOON MATCHES
Winner of Purdue/Indiana vs. Winner of Nebraska/Wisconsin
Winner of Northwestern/Penn State vs. Winner of Ohio State/Minnesota
Loser of Purdue/Indiana vs. Winner of Iowa/Rutgers
Loser of Nebraska/Wisconsin vs. Loser of Iowa/Rutgers
Loser of Northwestern/Penn State vs. Loser of Ohio State/Minnesota
THE LINEUP
Danielle du Toit – Sr.
The Island Course is a par-72 track that measures 7,194 yards from the tips, but the ladies will be playing it at 6,344 yards. The first course to be constructed at Innisbrook in 1970, the Island Course offers picturesque views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. The course features tight fairways, intimidating water hazards, abundant bunkers, and extraordinary elevation change uncommon to the typical Florida terrain, and home of the second-highest point of elevation in Pinellas County. The course has played host to numerous U.S. Open Qualifiers, NCAA Championships, and the LPGA's Legends Championship, and has also been ranked among the country's Top 50 Resort Courses by Golf Digest.
LEADING THE WAY
The Boilermakers enter the Big Ten Match Play as the event's top team. Purdue ended the fall 37th in Golfstat's rankings to earn the No. 1 seed in the 10-team field. Ohio State, the No. 2 seed and ranked 46th in the country, is the only other team that cracks Golfstat's Top 50.
FALL RECAP
Purdue competed in four tournaments throughout the fall, the best finish coming at the Illini Invitational. The Boilermakers placed third in the event with a 14-under 850 (284-282-284). Ashley Kozlowski and Thitapa Pakdeesettakul put together top-10 performances, placing sixth and 10th, respectively. For both Boilermakers, it was the first top-10 showings of their careers. Purdue also finished under par as a team at the Samuel P. Golden Invitational (-9). Kan Bunnabodee led the Boilermakers throughout the fall with a 72.00 stroke average, cracking the top 10 on the individual leaderboard in two tournaments along the way. Head coach Devon Brouse put out several different lineups as eight Boilermakers made appearances during the fall slate.
BALLESTEROS CAPTURES SOUTH AMERICAN AM TITLE
Daniela Ballesteros proved to be one of the best golfers from South America, as the Boilermaker captured the South American Amateur Open by four strokes at Quito Golf Club in Ecuador (Jan. 12-15). Ballesteros ended the 72-hole tournament at 1-under par (72-73-68-74–287), the only golfer in the field to finish in red figures. A native of Lima, Peru, Ballesteros became the second woman from Peru to win the prestigious tournament. Her third round 68 (-4) vaulted her to the top of the leaderboard and separated her from the rest of the field.
INEZ'S EXPERIENCE
In her fifth season as a Boilermaker, Inez Wanamarta brings veteran leadership to the team looking to return to a seventh straight NCAA Regional. The Surabaya, Indonesia, native has played in 105 rounds for the Old Gold and Black, totaling 38 tournaments. She started as the 2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year before earning all-league honors for the second time as a sophomore. With her junior season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pushing the start of the 2021 season to the spring, Wanamarta was given an extra year of eligibility and looks to make the most of it as her Purdue Golf career winds down.
A LOOK AT THE SPRING SLATE
Purdue is scheduled to compete in six tournaments in preparation for the Big Ten Championship and NCAA postseason play. Following Big Ten Match Play, the Boilermakers remain in Florida for the Columbia Classic (Feb. 13-14) before heading to Texas for the ICON Invitational (Feb. 21-22) just outside of Houston. The southern swing continues into March with trips to the Valspar Augusta Invitational (March 12-13) in Georgia followed by the Clemson Invitational (March 25-27) in South Carolina. Purdue returns to its home state in April, venturing just 100 miles south to Bloomington for the Indiana Invitational (April 9-10). After a week off, the Boilermakers travel to Pittsburgh for the Big Ten Championship (April 22-24), set to be contested at Fox Chapel Golf Club.
BOILERMAKER UPDATES
For updates throughout the tournament, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 31 (8:30 a.m. shotgun start): Opening Round Matches
Monday, Jan. 31 (1:15 p.m. shotgun start): Second Round Matches
Tuesday, Feb. 1 (8 a.m. shotgun start): Final Matches
MONDAY MORNING MATCHES (Seeds based on Golfstat rankings)
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 8 Indiana
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
No. 3 Northwestern vs. No. 6 Penn State
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Minnesota
No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 10 Rutgers
MONDAY AFTERNOON MATCHES
Winner of Purdue/Indiana vs. Winner of Nebraska/Wisconsin
Winner of Northwestern/Penn State vs. Winner of Ohio State/Minnesota
Loser of Purdue/Indiana vs. Winner of Iowa/Rutgers
Loser of Nebraska/Wisconsin vs. Loser of Iowa/Rutgers
Loser of Northwestern/Penn State vs. Loser of Ohio State/Minnesota
THE LINEUP
Danielle du Toit – Sr.
- Making her 27th appearance as a Boilermaker, the second most on the team
- Competed in two tournaments during the fall
- Her round of 73 led Purdue in the final round of the Windy City Classic at the difficult Westmoreland Club (Oct. 6)
- One of two Boilermakers to record an eagle during fall play
- Enters the spring coming off a win at the South American Amateur Open in Ecuador
- Making her seventh appearance as a Boilermaker
- Played in one tournament during the fall slate, teeing it up in the Windy City Classic (Oct. 4-5)
- Competed in two tournaments as a freshman before doubling that to four as a sophomore; both seasons were shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Making her 39th appearance as a Boilermaker, having played 105 rounds over her Purdue career, both team highs
- Holds a 72.22 stroke average on the season, second-best on the team
- Played in three of the four fall tournaments, which includes a top-20 finish at the Illini Invitational (Oct. 11-12)
- Two-time All-Big Ten honoree (First Team – 2018, Second Team – 2019), including being named the 2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
- Earned medalist honors at the Minnesota Invitational to kick off the 2017-18 season, firing a 206 (-10) to tie the 54-hole school record
- Making her ninth appearance as a Boilermaker
- Played in two tournaments during the fall, posting a 73.50 stroke average to rank third on the team
- Tied for 10th at the Illini Invitational (Oct. 11-12) with a 4-under 212 (69-73-70), her first career top-10 finish
- Earned Second Team All-Big Ten accolades last season, her first as a Boilermaker after transferring from Kent State
- Is appearing in her third event of the year, holding a 75.00 stroke average
- Fired a 2-under 70 to lead the Boilermakers in the final round of the Sam Golden Invitational (Sept. 13-14)
- Redshirted last season
- Won the Indiana High School Athletic Association state championship in 2018
- Making her 15th appearance as a Boilermaker, holding a career stroke average of 75.90
- Competed in two events during the fall
- Shot a 2-under 70 to lead Purdue in the second round of the Illini Invitational (Oct. 11-12)
- Recorded a team-best 73.60 stroke average last season
The Island Course is a par-72 track that measures 7,194 yards from the tips, but the ladies will be playing it at 6,344 yards. The first course to be constructed at Innisbrook in 1970, the Island Course offers picturesque views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. The course features tight fairways, intimidating water hazards, abundant bunkers, and extraordinary elevation change uncommon to the typical Florida terrain, and home of the second-highest point of elevation in Pinellas County. The course has played host to numerous U.S. Open Qualifiers, NCAA Championships, and the LPGA's Legends Championship, and has also been ranked among the country's Top 50 Resort Courses by Golf Digest.
LEADING THE WAY
The Boilermakers enter the Big Ten Match Play as the event's top team. Purdue ended the fall 37th in Golfstat's rankings to earn the No. 1 seed in the 10-team field. Ohio State, the No. 2 seed and ranked 46th in the country, is the only other team that cracks Golfstat's Top 50.
FALL RECAP
Purdue competed in four tournaments throughout the fall, the best finish coming at the Illini Invitational. The Boilermakers placed third in the event with a 14-under 850 (284-282-284). Ashley Kozlowski and Thitapa Pakdeesettakul put together top-10 performances, placing sixth and 10th, respectively. For both Boilermakers, it was the first top-10 showings of their careers. Purdue also finished under par as a team at the Samuel P. Golden Invitational (-9). Kan Bunnabodee led the Boilermakers throughout the fall with a 72.00 stroke average, cracking the top 10 on the individual leaderboard in two tournaments along the way. Head coach Devon Brouse put out several different lineups as eight Boilermakers made appearances during the fall slate.
BALLESTEROS CAPTURES SOUTH AMERICAN AM TITLE
Daniela Ballesteros proved to be one of the best golfers from South America, as the Boilermaker captured the South American Amateur Open by four strokes at Quito Golf Club in Ecuador (Jan. 12-15). Ballesteros ended the 72-hole tournament at 1-under par (72-73-68-74–287), the only golfer in the field to finish in red figures. A native of Lima, Peru, Ballesteros became the second woman from Peru to win the prestigious tournament. Her third round 68 (-4) vaulted her to the top of the leaderboard and separated her from the rest of the field.
INEZ'S EXPERIENCE
In her fifth season as a Boilermaker, Inez Wanamarta brings veteran leadership to the team looking to return to a seventh straight NCAA Regional. The Surabaya, Indonesia, native has played in 105 rounds for the Old Gold and Black, totaling 38 tournaments. She started as the 2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year before earning all-league honors for the second time as a sophomore. With her junior season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pushing the start of the 2021 season to the spring, Wanamarta was given an extra year of eligibility and looks to make the most of it as her Purdue Golf career winds down.
A LOOK AT THE SPRING SLATE
Purdue is scheduled to compete in six tournaments in preparation for the Big Ten Championship and NCAA postseason play. Following Big Ten Match Play, the Boilermakers remain in Florida for the Columbia Classic (Feb. 13-14) before heading to Texas for the ICON Invitational (Feb. 21-22) just outside of Houston. The southern swing continues into March with trips to the Valspar Augusta Invitational (March 12-13) in Georgia followed by the Clemson Invitational (March 25-27) in South Carolina. Purdue returns to its home state in April, venturing just 100 miles south to Bloomington for the Indiana Invitational (April 9-10). After a week off, the Boilermakers travel to Pittsburgh for the Big Ten Championship (April 22-24), set to be contested at Fox Chapel Golf Club.
BOILERMAKER UPDATES
For updates throughout the tournament, follow Purdue Women's Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.