WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Third-year Purdue head men’s golf coach Andrew Sapp has announced the signed recruits for the Class of 2027, consisting of three standout high school golfers that will be on the Boilermaker squad for the 2027-28 season.
Sam Carraher, Andy Dai and Liangliang (Gary) Gu have signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the Boilermakers next fall.
The group is one of the top recruiting classes in the country, ranked No. 6 by Golf Digest and No. 7 nationally by Golfweek and Verbal Golf Commits.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Sam, Andy and Gary join our golf program,” Sapp said. “We are fortunate to be able to sign such a strong class and can’t wait for them to get to campus in August. This class started with Sam. We have been watching Sam since the summer after his eighth grade year and he has continued to improve each and every year. Fortunately, Sam committed to Purdue on the first day he could, and his commitment attracted Andy and Gary.”
Sam Carraher | Crown Point, Indiana
SAPP SAYS: “Sam is one of the best players in the country and he plays against the best players every week so the adjustment to college competition will come easily for him. He is an incredibly hard worker and loves to compete. We are so proud to have Sam stay in his home state to help Purdue get to the next level.”
• One of the top high school golfers in the country, Carraher is ranked No. 7 nationally in the AJGA rankings, and No. 10 by Golf Digest.
• Named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American in 2026, and a second-team honoree in 2025.
• Finished second in the prestigious AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions in 2025.
• Was a member of the AJGA Wyndham Cup (East) Team, an invitation only Ryder Cup-style event for the nation’s top junior golfers. Posted a 4-and-3 win in singles play over UCLA freshman Matthew Hull – the largest win for an East team golfer in singles play.
• A member of the USA’s victorious Junior President’s Cup Team at Medinah Country Club, posting a 3-0 record against the International Team, including a dominating 6-and-5 victory in singles play – the largest win for a USA player.
• Finished fifth at the 2026 Junior Players Championship presented by Rolex, held at Sawgrass.
• Was seventh at the 2025 Boy’s Junior PGA Championship.
Andy Dai | Markham, Ontario, Canada
SAPP SAYS: “Andy has had an incredible year and shown so much improvement. Being from Canada but going to high school in Florida has given him some wonderful playing experiences. Andy loves competing playing tournament golf and his rise in the rankings is a result of that.”
• One of the fastest-rising senior golfers in the country, Dai was ranked No. 27 nationally by the AJGA and No. 38 by Golf Digest.
• Named an honorable mention AJGA All-American in 2026.
• Competed alongside Carraher at the Wyndham Cup, posting a 2-1-1 record including a win in his singles match over 2029 elite golfer Richard Ding.
• Finished 23rd at the Junior Players Championship presented by Rolex, held at Sawgrass.
• Won the 2026 AJGA Junior Championship presented by Visit Tallahassee, and finished second at the 2026 Ontario Junior Players Invitational and the 2026 NextGen Selection Camp.
• Was sixth at the 2026 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
• Won a pair of events in 2025 at the Canadian Junior World Challenge and the JPT Ontario Shooutout at Century Pines.
Liangliang (Gary) Gu / Nantong, China
SAPP SAYS: “Gary is highly ranked player and although he has not played in the US as much as Sam and Andy, he has had a lot of experience playing internationally against professionals. We are excited to get him over to Purdue full time and see how much his golf game grows in college.
• Ranked just outside the top 50 by Golf Digest, Gu will arrive at Purdue after a standout scholastic career.
• Playing mostly in China, Gu won the 2025 Rolex Junior Golf Championship (China series) and played second at the HSBC China Junior Golf Open.
• Competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship this past summer, his lone competition in the United States this past year. Did reach the round of 32 at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and placed 29th at the prestigious Western Junior Championship.
• Since the 2024 season in official WAGR events, Gu has 10, top-three finishes.
• Was seventh at the 2026 RG China Junior Golf Invitational.
•Finished 35th in the Shanghai Open on the Chinese professional tour. Was 11th at the 2025 China Amateur Open.