Final Results / Photo Gallery / NCAA Regional Website
BALTIMORE, Md. - The Purdue men's golf team struggled in Sunday's final round of the Big Ten Championships, but still managed to record its best finish in 10 years, placing tied for fourth at the Baltimore Country Club.
The Boilermakers recorded rounds of 284-284-290 for a 54-hole total of 18-over par, tying Iowa and Penn State for fourth. It is Purdue's highest finish in the event since placing third at the 2007 championships.
Illinois won its third straight title at 11-under par 829, and was followed by Northwestern (5-over par) and Ohio State (15-over par).
However, Sunday's round was a disappointing finish for the Boilermakers, which entered the final round in a second-place tie.
"I'm really disappointed in today's finish. I really thought we were prepared and ready to play well this week and do something special," head coach Rob Bradley said. "We continue to have trouble putting strong team performances together and this week was no different. We are going to get back to work and get ready for regionals. I hope they are anxious to redeem themselves at NCAAs over the next month."
Sophomore Timmy Hildebrand was a bright spot for the Boilermakers, finishing his first postseason event in a 10th-place tie at 2-over par 212 (72-71-69). Hildebrand see-sawed between one- and two-under par for the majority of his round, before a bogey on the 18th hole dropped him to 1-under par for his round.
Hildebrand's showing was his team-best fourth top-10 finish of the season and he now owns 13 rounds of even-par or better this season.
Senior Fernando Barco also recorded a top-20 finish, placing T-16th at 4-over par 214 (72-71-71). Barco was 3-over par after 11 holes, but climbed to 1-over par after back-to-back birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, before a bogey on 15 dropped him to 2-over par. He would birdie No. 16, but couldn't get back to even-par for his round, finishing with a 1-over par 71.
Senior Austin Eoff finished T-19th at 5-over par 215 (75-69-71), earning his third top-20 finish at the Big Ten Championships during his career. Eoff was even-par through eight holes, before a double-bogey on No. 9, dropped him to 2-over par. He birdied Nos. 10 and 12, but bogeyed No. 14, to fall back to 1-over par for his round.
Brian Carlson finished T-40th at 12-over par 222 (69-74-79), while Jarle Volden was T-51st at 15-over par 225 (71-73-81).
Purdue will host and compete in the NCAA Regionals on May 15 to 17, at the Kampen Course. It will mark Purdue's fourth straight NCAA appearance, the longest streak since making four straight NCAA appearances from 2004-07. It will tie for the second-longest NCAA streak in school history (19 from 1949 to 1967).
The Golf Channel will air the 2017 NCAA Men's Golf Selection Show on Thursday, May 4, beginning at noon ET. Thirteen (or 14) teams and 75 individuals will descend on the Kampen Course for regional play, beginning May 15.
Purdue Finishes 4th at Big Ten Champs
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