Boilermakers Return to Columbus for Big Ten Championships

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 28-ranked Purdue men's golf team returns to Columbus, Ohio, for the second straight week, this time for the 104th Big Ten Championships to be played at Scioto Country Club.
 
The Boilermakers will enter the event as the tournament's No. 2 seed behind Illinois and ahead of Ohio State. Entering the weekend, Purdue owns a 20-6-0 head-to-head record against its Big Ten counterparts, including 1-1 records against both Illinois and Ohio State. Purdue is aiming for its first Big Ten title since 1981 and its last runner-up finish came in 2019 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
 
THE FIELD (SpikeMark Rankings / as of April 24)
18           Illinois
28           Purdue
37           Ohio State
44           Northwestern
46           Indiana
74           Michigan State
84           Michigan
88           Rutgers
89           Wisconsin
98           Minnesota
109         Iowa
114         Penn State
115         Nebraska
192         Maryland
 
LAST TIME OUT
Purdue struggled in the second round, costing the Boilermakers a shot at their third team title of the season, placing third at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at the Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course. The Boilermakers totaled a 24-over par 876 (289-301-286) to finish third by just five shots behind Indiana and host Ohio State. Sam Easterbrook posted his second straight top-five finish, while Nels Surtani (T-12) and Peyton Snoeberger (T-18) both finished in the top 20. The Boilermakers played the event without 2023 All-American Herman Sekne, who received a sponsor's exemption into the PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana Championship.  
 
TEAM NOTES

• In nine team events, Purdue has finished in the top three in six of them.
• The Boilermakers' current team average of 284.69 is a school record – almost two shots better per round than second on the list (2021-22; 286.63).
• Purdue owns five rounds of 275 or better this season – the most in school history.
• Purdue owns three of the 11-best, 54-hole tournament scores in school history.
• Purdue has won two tournaments this year. A win in any of its remaining tournaments will give Purdue its most tournament titles in a season since 2016. The Boilermakers reached the NCAA Championships that season.
• Purdue will host the NCAA Regional Championships on May 13-15 at the Kampen-Cosler Course in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers last hosted in 2017, as Purdue advanced to the National Championships out of the Regional. Purdue has hosted Regionals twice (2004 and 2017), advancing to Nationals both times.

 
PURDUE LINEUP

• Herman Sekne – Senior; Oslo, Norway
  • 70.00 stroke average; 6 top-20; 16 rounds of par or better; 4 career victories.
• Nels Surtani – Junior; Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 71.73 stroke average; 5 top-20; 13 rounds of par or better; Puerto Rico Classic medalist
• Sam Easterbrook – Freshman; Tomworth, England
  • 72.54 stroke average; 3 top-20, 3 top-10; 13 rounds of par or better; T-5 last two tournaments.
• Peyton Snoeberger – 5th year; Williamsport, Indiana
  • 72.54 stroke average; 3 top-20, 1 top-10; 10 rounds of par or better; 9th at Windon Memorial
• Kent Hsiao – Junior; Taipei, Taiwan
  • 72.70 stroke average; 3 top-10, 2 top-10; 9 rounds of par or better; 8th at Windon Memorial
• Nick Dentino – 5th year; Carmel, Indiana
  • 73.08 stroke average; 2 top-20; 8 rounds of par or better; T-4 at Hootie at Bulls Bay

 
INDIVIDUALS IN THE BIG TEN
Five players have seen action at the Big Ten Championships.

• Herman Sekne – Senior
  • 2021 at Crooked Stick – 82-75-74=231 (T-34)
  • 2022 at French Lick Resort – 72-74-79=225 (T-25)
  • 2023 at Galloway National – 80-62=142 (T-9)
• Nels Surtani – Junior
  • 2022 at French Lick Resort – 78-75-79=232 (51)
  • 2023 at Galloway National – 83-XX=83 (---)
• Peyton Snoeberger – 5th year
  • 2021 at Crooked Stick – 84-78-76=238 (57)
  • 2023 at Galloway National – 83-74=157 (T-53)
• Kent Hsiao – Junior; Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2023 at Galloway National – 78-70=148 (T-23)
• Nick Dentino – 5th year; Carmel, Indiana
  • 2021 at Crooked Stick – 78-78-85=241 (T-62)
  • 2023 at Galloway National – 75-74=149 (T-29)

 
LAST YEAR AT BIG TENS
The Boilermakers had a wide range of results in last year's event, placing tied for seventh at the rain-shortened Big Ten Championships at Galloway National on the Jersey Shore. Purdue was the victim of an unfortunate tee time as weather rolled in late in round one, costing the Boilermakers a shot at a Big Ten title. Purdue totaled a 316-280=596, playing the first 11 holes in the first round in 11-over par, but the final seven holes in 28-over par after the weather moved through. However, a bright spot came in the second round as Herman Sekne recorded a Big Ten Championships and Purdue-record 62, posting nine birdies and nine pars, including seven birdies in his final 12 holes. Round three was then canceled after a morning delay and then heavy rain in the afternoon.
 
THE COURSE
The site of six major championships, Scioto Country Club is one of only five courses in America to host the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Amateur (others are Hazeltine, Oak Hill, Oakland Hills and Pinehurst No. 2). Renovated in 2008, Scioto opened in 1916 and was the course where Jack Nicklaus learned to play. One of its co-founders was Samuel P. Bush, the grandfather of George H.W. Bush) and it most recently hosted the 2016 U.S. Senior Open won by Gene Sauers. Bobby Jones won the second of his four U.S. Opens at Scioto in 1926.
 
WEATHER FORECAST
Friday: Mostly Sunny; 73 degrees; SE 10-15 MPH
Saturday: Overcast; 79 degrees; S 15-20 MPH
Sunday: Partly Sunny; 83 degrees; SSW 10-20 MPH

LIVE SCORING
Will be available on golfstat.com.