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STILLWATER, Okla. ââ'¬"- The Purdue men's golf team surged late in the round to jump two spots into third place after 36 holes at the NCAA Stillwater Regional held at a windy, raw Karsten Creek Golf Course.
The Boilermakers totaled a second-round score of 11-over par 299 for a 36-hole total of 26-over par 602 (303-299) to surge into third place after entering the day tied for fifth.
Top-seeded and tournament host Oklahoma State leads at even-par 576 (285-291), while Oklahoma is second at 12-over par 588 (292-296). The Boilermakers are third (+26) and are followed by Clemson (308-301=609; +33), Louisville (300-311=611; +35), Augusta (303-309=612; +36) and McNeese State (307-306=613; +37) in seventh place.
The top five teams after tomorrow's final round will advance to the NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from May 27 to June 1.
"The guys did a great job hanging in there today. We did a nice job of finishing the round and getting some birdies when we needed them late," head coach Rob Bradley said. "Stuart Macdonald had a great comeback round after yesterday. Fernando Barco really finished strong with birdies on 16 and 17. Austin (Eoff) had one bad hole today, but all the other guys shot good scores on a really tough golf course today. We are right where we need to be heading into tomorrow."
Freshman Jarle Volden continued his impressive NCAA Regionals debut, currently in a tie for eighth at 4-over par 148 (73-75). Volden didn't record a birdie during his round and had three bogeys on the front nine, but played the back nine in even-par with nine pars. Volden leads the tournament field in pars made (30).
"I'm really proud of the way Jarle has handled himself during the first two rounds. He's played two really solid rounds and then finishing by making nine pars on the back nine today is pretty special," Bradley added.
After scuffling a bit in the middle portion of the round, Barco finished strong, moving to a 13th-place tie at 6-over par 150 (75-75). Barco hadn't made a birdie in his first 33 holes of regional play, but birdied Nos. 16 and 17 to move back into the top 20 and finish his round on a high note. Barco ranks second in the tournament field in pars made (28).
Brian Carlson also finished on a high note with a birdie on No. 18 and will enter the final round in a 15th-place tie at 7-over par 151 (77-74). Carlson was 1-under par through 10 holes, but then bogeyed four of his next five holes, before finishing par-par-birdie to move back into the top 15.
Macdonald had a solid round with a 3-over par 75 after his opening-round 88. Macdonald was 3-over par through 11 holes, but used birdies on Nos. 12 and 18 to offset bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 to finish his round strong. Macdonald is tied for 57th at 19-over par 163 (88-75).
Austin Eoff could never get it going in the second round and is tied for 60th at 20-over par 164 (78-86).
Purdue enters the third and final round leading the tournament field in pars made (116), but is second-to-last in birdies (16). Bradley has stressed the importance of making pars this week and that mindset has paid dividends.
Purdue's counting squad played the final three holes in 3-under par.
"We can take a lot of confidence into tomorrow with the way we finished today. We showed a lot of toughness in our round. The weather was tough and the wind was blowing and for us to finish with some birdies shows a lot about who they are," Bradley said.
Purdue will be paired with Oklahoma State and Oklahoma in tomorrow's final round, teeing off hole No. 1 at 8:45 a.m. CT / 9:45 a.m. ET. The Boilermakers are looking for their 28th NCAA Championships appearance all-time and their second in three years under Bradley.