LAKE OCONEE, Ga. ââ'¬"- The 25th-ranked Purdue men's golf team struggled for the second straight day, shooting a 10-over par 298 in the final round en route to a ninth-place finish at the Linger Longer Invitational.
The Boilermakers finished the 54-hole tournament with a 14-over par score of 878 (277-303-298) to finish 26 shots behind No. 12-ranked and tournament winner Alabama (-12). Purdue led the field after 18 holes with its 11-under par 277, but couldn't keep up its torrid pace over the final 36 holes, slipping to ninth.
Augusta and No. 2-ranked Georgia tied for second at 9-under par, while No. 21-ranked Virginia was fourth at 3-under par. Kennesaw State, Charlotte, Louisville and Baylor rounded out the top eight.
Fernando Barco was Purdue's highest finisher, coming in a tie for 12th at 2-under par 214 (65-74-75). Barco was as high as 5-over par today, but birdied two of his last five holes to move back into the top 15.
Austin Eoff was tied for 33rd at 5-over par 221 (69-78-74). Eoff was 3-under par through two holes today after starting birdie-eagle, but managed just one birdie the rest of the round to fall back over par for his round.
Brian Carlson and Jarle Volden finished tied for 46th at 8-over par 224. Carlson recorded rounds of 75-75-74, while Volden finished with scores of 69-76-79. Stuart Macdonald was tied for 61st at 13-over par 229 (74-80-75).
Purdue's next action comes in the Hoosier Collegiate in Columbus, Indiana, on April 9-10.