BOILERMAKER NOTES:
- Stuart Macdonald recorded his first career round in the 60s with a 2-under par 69 in the second round. He is tied for the tournament lead in par-4 scoring (-2).
- Entering the tournament (36 rounds), Purdue had seven even- or under-par rounds for the year. In 12 rounds this weekend, Purdue has four.
- Purdue had struggled this year on Par-4s, but after 36 holes, the Boilermakers are second in the field in par-4 scoring (+16).
- After 36 holes, Purdue is tied for fourth in the field with 115 pars, just one behind three schools for the tournament lead.
- Philippe Schweizer leads the tournament field through 36 holes with nine birdies.
| Stuart Macdonald |
|---|
| Team | Rounds | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | Ohio State | 283 | 291 | 574 | +6 | |
| 2. | Purdue | 288 | 292 | 580 | +12 | |
| 3. | East Tennessee State | 294 | 288 | 582 | +14 | |
| 4. | GRU Augusta | 296 | 287 | 583 | +15 | |
| T5. | Troy | 302 | 283 | 585 | +27 | |
| T5. | Kent State | 295 | 290 | 585 | +17 | |
| T5. | Tulsa | 286 | 299 | 585 | +17 | |
| 8. | Miami, Ohio | 296 | 298 | 594 | +26 | |
| 9. | Pepperdine | 295 | 303 | 598 | +30 | |
| 10. | Middle Tennessee State | 304 | 295 | 599 | +31 | |
| 11. | Kansas State | 298 | 304 | 602 | +34 | |
| 12. | Northern Illinois | 305 | 300 | 605 | +77 | |
| PURDUE LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| T2. | Stuart Macdonald | 72 | 69 | 141 | -1 | |
| T13. | Austin Eoff | 70 | 75 | 145 | +3 | |
| T24. | Ben-Marvin Egel | 75 | 72 | 147 | +5 | |
| T34. | Fernando Barco | 71 | 78 | 149 | +7 | |
| T49. | Brian Carlson | 78 | 76 | 154 | +12 | |
| T13. | Philippe Schweizer (IND.) | 74 | 71 | 145 | +3 | |
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Purdue men's golf team pieced together its two most-consistent rounds of the young season and has put itself in position at the 2014 Jack Nicklaus Invitational held at the Ohio State University's Scarlet Course.
The Boilermakers are in second place with a 12-over par 580 (288-292), just six shots behind tournament leader and host Ohio State. Purdue was in third with a 4-over par 288 after the opening 18 holes, then as other teams fell off the pace, Purdue stayed within striking distance with an 8-over par 292 during the second round.
Purdue has four players (plus an individual) in the tournament's top 34 positions and another in the top 50 as the Boilermakers are looking for their first tournament title since April 2011.
Leading the charge is junior Stuart Macdonald, who is in a second-place tie at 1-under par 141 (72-69). His second-round 69 is a career-best tally and featured four birdies, including three in a four-hole span on the back nine.
Macdonald's career-best finish is a fourth-place showing at last year's Boilermaker Invitational in mid-April.
Sophomore Austin Eoff is in a tie for 13th at 3-over par 145 (70-75). Eoff had a strong first round with three birdies against two bogeys, before falling off the pace a bit in the second round with six bogeys and just two birdies. Nevertheless, the sophomore from Arkansas is in position for his fourth career top-10 finish.
Senior Ben-Marvin Egel overcame a slow start in the first round to finish day one in a 24th-place tie at 5-over par 147 (75-72). Egel had six bogeys and just two birdies in the first round, but righted the ship in round two with three birdies and four bogeys. In Egel's previous two tournaments this year, he has improved his scoring in each successive round, shooting his best round during the final 18 holes in the previous two events.
Sophomore Fernando Barco had a strong first round, but struggled during the second 18 to sit in a 34th-place tie at 7-over par 149 (71-78). Barco had three birdies in a five-hole span during the first round en route to his even-par 71, but failed to make a birdie during the second round.
Freshman Brian Carlson is in a 49th-place tie at 12-over par 154 (78-76). Carlson did record 25 pars during the two rounds, but failed to make a birdie on Sunday.
Individually, sophomore Philippe Schweizer is also tied for 13th at 3-over par 145 (74-71). Schweizer had a wild day on the links, registering just 16 pars and nine birdies to offset 10 bogeys and one double-bogey. His last nine holes featured one par, five birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey en route to an even-par round.
Purdue will be paired with Ohio State and East Tennessee State during Monday's third and final round, teeing off at 8:50 am (ET) off the first tee.
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