WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The highly-anticipated Purdue men's golf season gets underway this weekend as the Boilermakers head to Erin Hills for the Marquette Intercollegiate.
Action gets underway on the world-renowned course on Sunday with 18 holes. The second and final rounds will be played Monday and Tuesday in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Purdue is one of 12 teams in the field that features eight squads that were selected to NCAA Regionals a year ago. Big Ten opponents Penn State and Wisconsin will be in the field as well.
THE FIELD (Golfweek Rankings / final 2023 rankings)
13 Texas A&M (NCAA Qualifier – 3 seed)
41 Chattanooga (NCAA Qualifier – 8 seed)
44 Cincinnati (NCAA Qualifier – 7 seed)
48 Purdue (NCAA Qualifier – 7 seed)
50 California (NCAA Qualifier – 10 seed)
66 Wisconsin (NCAA Qualifier – 11 seed)
69 Marquette (NCAA Qualifier – 10 seed)
97 Penn State
129 Augusta (NCAA Qualifier – 12 seed)
133 UC Davis
138 Nevada
169 Dayton
SEASON PREVIEW
Coming off a successful 2022-23 season, but a disappointing end at NCAA Regionals, the Purdue men's golf team has high hopes for the 2023-24 season. The reason for optimism is the return of all five regulars from the team that played at Regionals, including 2023 third-team All-American Herman Sekne. Also returning are regulars Nick Dentino, Nels Surtani and Peyton Snoeberger, all of which played in all 11 events a year ago. The fifth spot is up for grabs, but Kentaro Nanayama and Kent Hsiao all had big moments a year ago and incoming freshman Sam Easterbrook was a highly-regarded recruit out of England who could make a big difference for the Boilermakers.
TEAM NOTES
PURDUE LINEUP
FROM THE ERIN HILLS WEBSITE: Erin Hills is a course like none other — routed over the kettle moraine areas left by glaciers, surrounded by wetlands and a river, with ground that consists of glacial till of varied composition of sand and small rock. In an unconventional decision for a course in Wisconsin, the architects routed the fairways around contours of the property and provide a firm playing surface that plays shorter than its length on the scorecard.
The course was designed to accommodate the 2017 U.S. Open, in terms of both the challenge to the players and the logistics of the spectators. This mix of traditional and modern elements as well as a championship test will leave many golfers with the feeling that they've never played anywhere like Erin Hills.
MARQUETTE INTERCOLLEGIATE HISTORY
This marks Purdue's fifth appearance in the Marquette Intercollegiate. The Boilermakers have had much success in the event, placing tied for eighth (2017), first (2020), third (2022) and fifth (2023). Individually, Herman Sekne has played well in the event, placing tied for sixth a year ago and tied for 12th in 2021.
WEATHER FORECAST
Sunday: Sunny, hot; 93 degrees; SW wind 10-15 mph
Monday: Sunny, hot; 94 degrees; SW wind 10-15 mph
Tuesday: Sunny, hot; 90 degrees; SW wind 10-15 mph
LIVE SCORING
Will be available on SpikeMark.com.
Action gets underway on the world-renowned course on Sunday with 18 holes. The second and final rounds will be played Monday and Tuesday in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Purdue is one of 12 teams in the field that features eight squads that were selected to NCAA Regionals a year ago. Big Ten opponents Penn State and Wisconsin will be in the field as well.
THE FIELD (Golfweek Rankings / final 2023 rankings)
13 Texas A&M (NCAA Qualifier – 3 seed)
41 Chattanooga (NCAA Qualifier – 8 seed)
44 Cincinnati (NCAA Qualifier – 7 seed)
48 Purdue (NCAA Qualifier – 7 seed)
50 California (NCAA Qualifier – 10 seed)
66 Wisconsin (NCAA Qualifier – 11 seed)
69 Marquette (NCAA Qualifier – 10 seed)
97 Penn State
129 Augusta (NCAA Qualifier – 12 seed)
133 UC Davis
138 Nevada
169 Dayton
SEASON PREVIEW
Coming off a successful 2022-23 season, but a disappointing end at NCAA Regionals, the Purdue men's golf team has high hopes for the 2023-24 season. The reason for optimism is the return of all five regulars from the team that played at Regionals, including 2023 third-team All-American Herman Sekne. Also returning are regulars Nick Dentino, Nels Surtani and Peyton Snoeberger, all of which played in all 11 events a year ago. The fifth spot is up for grabs, but Kentaro Nanayama and Kent Hsiao all had big moments a year ago and incoming freshman Sam Easterbrook was a highly-regarded recruit out of England who could make a big difference for the Boilermakers.
TEAM NOTES
- Purdue has advanced to eight of nine possible NCAA Regionals during the Rob Bradley era. However, Purdue's last appearance in the NCAA Championships came in 2017.
- The Kampen-Cosler course will host the NCAA Regional Championships in mid-May for the first time since 2017. The course has undergone a massive renovation with new bunkers, new shaping on ponds and a new clubhouse (in progress) that exceeds a $20 million price tag.
- In school history, there have been 16 tournament occurrences of rounds of 276 or better. Fifteen of them have come under Bradley.
- Eight of the nine-lowest team season stroke averages have come under Bradley, including last year's 287.77 – second in school history.
- In the final Golfweek team rankings, Purdue has finished in the top 50 six times in 10 years under Bradley. In the previous 14 seasons of the rankings, Purdue finished in the top 50 just five times.
PURDUE LINEUP
- Herman Sekne – Senior; Oslo, Norway
- A 2023 third-team All-American.
- Set school records for rounds in the 60s (14) and stroke average (70.41).
- Seven top-10 finishes in 10 events a year ago.
- Already career record-holder in rounds in 60s (25) and stroke average (71.66).
- Ranked No. 27 in World Amateur Golf Rankings and competed in the Arnold Palmer Cup, Bonallack Trophy and U.S. Amateur this summer.
- Nick Dentino – 5th year; Carmel, Indiana
- Had a strong summer, advancing to U.S. Amateur match play in mid-August.
- Finished last season with two top-10s and a 72.90 stroke average.
- Played front nine in 29 in the final round at the Boilermaker Invitational to help Purdue to come-from behind victory.
- Needs to play just five rounds for 100 in his career.
- His eight career top-20s are second most on the squad.
- Nels Surtani – Junior; Indianapolis, Indiana
- Had a strong sophomore season, ranking second in stroke average (72.90).
- Won his second straight Northern Amateur title this summer.
- Had 15 rounds of par or better last season (2nd on team); six rounds in the 60s.
- Ranked second on the team a year ago in pars made (319) and only had 10 double-bogeys or worse in 540 holes.
- Lone top-10 finish last year came at prestigious Isleworth Collegiate (T-7).
- Peyton Snoeberger – 5th year; Williamsport, Indiana
- Posted a 73.32 stroke average a year ago
- Placed third at the prestigious Monroe Invitational this summer.
- Has had a counting score in 18 straight rounds dating to last season.
- Finished tied for fourth at the Boilermaker Invitational after being the 36-hole leader.
- Advanced to the round of 32 at the 2022 U.S. Amateur.
- Sam Easterbrook – Freshman; Tomworth, England
- Highly-regarded freshman that should make a big impact during the 2023-24 season.
- Had an outstanding scholastic career, winning the 2021 Scottish Boys U-16 Open Championship and finishing second at the English U-18 Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
- Competed at the European Boys Team Championship and finished 40th at the European Amateur Championships this past summer.
- Was the stroke-play medalist in the 2022 English Men's Amateur Championship.
- Also reached the match play portion at the 2022 Amateur Championship.
- Kentaro Nanayama – Sophomore; Jakarta, Indonesia
- A surging sophomore who makes an impact in the lineup.
- Won the Badger Individual a year ago to start the season in his first collegiate action.
- Was inserted into the lineup in the final round at NCAA Regionals, shooting a team-low, 4-under par 68.
- Won a professional title in the Indonesian Tourism Golf Pro Series at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club this past summer, winning by four shots.
- Owns a career stroke average of 70.83 in 12 competitive rounds.
FROM THE ERIN HILLS WEBSITE: Erin Hills is a course like none other — routed over the kettle moraine areas left by glaciers, surrounded by wetlands and a river, with ground that consists of glacial till of varied composition of sand and small rock. In an unconventional decision for a course in Wisconsin, the architects routed the fairways around contours of the property and provide a firm playing surface that plays shorter than its length on the scorecard.
The course was designed to accommodate the 2017 U.S. Open, in terms of both the challenge to the players and the logistics of the spectators. This mix of traditional and modern elements as well as a championship test will leave many golfers with the feeling that they've never played anywhere like Erin Hills.
MARQUETTE INTERCOLLEGIATE HISTORY
This marks Purdue's fifth appearance in the Marquette Intercollegiate. The Boilermakers have had much success in the event, placing tied for eighth (2017), first (2020), third (2022) and fifth (2023). Individually, Herman Sekne has played well in the event, placing tied for sixth a year ago and tied for 12th in 2021.
WEATHER FORECAST
Sunday: Sunny, hot; 93 degrees; SW wind 10-15 mph
Monday: Sunny, hot; 94 degrees; SW wind 10-15 mph
Tuesday: Sunny, hot; 90 degrees; SW wind 10-15 mph
LIVE SCORING
Will be available on SpikeMark.com.