COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 28-ranked Purdue men's golf team put itself in position for a league title after one day at the Big Ten Championships held at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.
The Boilermakers totaled an 8-over par 288 to finish round one in third place, eight shots behind leader Northwestern and two shots behind Michigan State. Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin are all tied for fourth at 10-over par, while Ohio State (+11) is seventh and Rutgers is eighth at 12-over par.
After the leaders, there are 10 teams within eight shots of second place.
"We were very solid from tee to green today on a difficult course. This is a very demanding course that requires a lot of patience and a really good game plan," said head coach Rob Bradley. "We need to do a much better job on the greens on Saturday and Sunday, but these guys know how to compete and we fully expect to be there in the mix on Sunday."
Purdue is in the top three after 18 holes for the first time since leading after 18 holes in the 2019 Big Ten Championships, held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The Boilermakers finished that year second by just five shots.
The Boilermakers were paced by Kent Hsaio after an opening-round, even-par 70. Hsiao's only slip-up came on the difficult par-4 eighth hole, where he hit the ball in the water on his approach shot and recorded a double bogey. However, he played the back nine in 1-under par and is one of just seven golfers to record an even-par round or better.
Peyton Snoeberger also had a solid round, sitting in T-8 after a 1-over par 71. Snoeberger bogeyed his second hole of the day, but played the final 16 holes in even-par.
Herman Sekne is tied for 23rd after a 3-over par 73. Sekne was 3-over par after five holes, got to 1-under back with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6 and 7, but double-bogeyed No. 8 to give the birdies back. He then recorded eight pars, one birdie and a bogey on his final hole for his 73.
Nels Surtani and Sam Easterbrook both recorded front-nine eagles, but posted no combined birdies on the back nine and are tied for 32nd at 4-over par 74.
The Boilermakers will tee off in Saturday's final grouping, starting at 10:40 a.m. ET, off hole No. 1, while being paired with Michigan State and Northwestern.
The Boilermakers totaled an 8-over par 288 to finish round one in third place, eight shots behind leader Northwestern and two shots behind Michigan State. Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin are all tied for fourth at 10-over par, while Ohio State (+11) is seventh and Rutgers is eighth at 12-over par.
After the leaders, there are 10 teams within eight shots of second place.
"We were very solid from tee to green today on a difficult course. This is a very demanding course that requires a lot of patience and a really good game plan," said head coach Rob Bradley. "We need to do a much better job on the greens on Saturday and Sunday, but these guys know how to compete and we fully expect to be there in the mix on Sunday."
Purdue is in the top three after 18 holes for the first time since leading after 18 holes in the 2019 Big Ten Championships, held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The Boilermakers finished that year second by just five shots.
The Boilermakers were paced by Kent Hsaio after an opening-round, even-par 70. Hsiao's only slip-up came on the difficult par-4 eighth hole, where he hit the ball in the water on his approach shot and recorded a double bogey. However, he played the back nine in 1-under par and is one of just seven golfers to record an even-par round or better.
Peyton Snoeberger also had a solid round, sitting in T-8 after a 1-over par 71. Snoeberger bogeyed his second hole of the day, but played the final 16 holes in even-par.
Herman Sekne is tied for 23rd after a 3-over par 73. Sekne was 3-over par after five holes, got to 1-under back with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6 and 7, but double-bogeyed No. 8 to give the birdies back. He then recorded eight pars, one birdie and a bogey on his final hole for his 73.
Nels Surtani and Sam Easterbrook both recorded front-nine eagles, but posted no combined birdies on the back nine and are tied for 32nd at 4-over par 74.
The Boilermakers will tee off in Saturday's final grouping, starting at 10:40 a.m. ET, off hole No. 1, while being paired with Michigan State and Northwestern.