#BoilerNotes
- Purdue is now 7-3-1 in the last three years at the event.
- Austin Eoff and Timmy Hildebrand each posted a 4-0-0 record during the event.
- Eoff won 29-of-54 holes during the four matches ... Eoff did not play more than 15 holes in any of his matches ... Eoff now owns a career 9-1-1 record in three career appearances.
PALM COAST, Fla. ââ'¬"- A Purdue rally this morning ended just short, but the No. 14-ranked Boilermakers rebounded with a dominating performance in the afternoon's third-place match to finish third at the Big Ten Match Play Championship this weekend.
The Boilermakers posted a 3-1-0 record with wins over Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana and a narrow loss to Northwestern.
In the morning's match against Northwestern, the Boilermakers fell behind early, rallied to take a lead, then saw Northwestern rally itself to grab a 3.5 to 2.5 victory.
Austin Eoff and Timmy Hildebrand continued their spectacular match-play championship, posting Purdue's two wins. Eoff improved to 3-0 in the 2016 event with a 5 & 3 victory over Joshua Jamieson. Eoff won 7-of-15 holes in the victory.
Hildebrand claimed a 3 & 2 win over Luke Miller. Hildebrand jumped out to a 3-up lead four holes into his match, but then saw Miller rally to tie the match after eight holes. Hildebrand then played the final seven holes in 1-over par to take a 3 & 2 victory.
Purdue's final half-point came from freshman Jarle Volden, who rallied from a 4-down deficit after six holes to halve his match with Sam Triplett.
The Boilermakers then breezed past Indiana in the third-place match, 5-1, to post their second top-three finish over the last three years.
Eoff won his match over Jake Brown, 6 & 5, to cap off his unbeaten record in the event. Volden posted a 4 & 3 victory over Andrew Havill and Stuart Macdonald won 4 & 2 over Keegan Vea in relatively quick matches for the Boilermakers.
Purdue's final two points came from Fernando Barco (1-up over Jack Sparrow) and Hildebrand (1-up over Max Kollin).
Purdue was just 5-over par in its finished holes in the match against Indiana.
Purdue will host the Puerto Rico Classic on Sunday through Tuesday (Feb. 21-23) in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. The tournament is consistently one of the top spring events in the country.
Northwestern 3.5, PURDUE 2.5
- Harley Abrams (NW) def. Stuart Macdonald, 1-up
- Andrew Whalen (NW) def. Fernando Barco, 5 & 4
- Pete Griffith (NW) def. Brian Carlson, 3 & 1
- Jarle Volden (P) halved Sam Triplett, All Square
- Austin Eoff (P) def. Joshua Jamieson, 5 & 3
- Timmy Hildebrand (P) def. Luke Miller, 3 & 2
PURDUE 5, Indiana 1
- Austin Eoff (P) def. Jake Brown, 6 & 5
- Stuart Macdonald (P) def. Keegan Vea, 4 & 2
- Brendon Doyle (I) def. Brian Carlson, 1-up
- Timmy Hildebrand (P) def. Max Kollin, 1-up
- Fernando Barco (P) def. Jack Sparrow, 1-up
- Jarle Volden (P) def. Andrew Havill, 4 & 3