RIO GRANDE, P.R. – The No. 21 Purdue men's golf team posted record-breaking performances en route to a fourth-place finish at the prestigious Puerto Rico Classic held at the Grand Reserve Golf Club.
The Boilermakers recorded a 54-hole tally of 46-under par 818 (272-277-269) to shatter the school record for a 54-hole tournament by 12 shots. Purdue finished just one shot behind No. 8-ranked Tennessee and 13 shots behind No. 1 Oklahoma (805). No. 12 Georgia was second at 53-under par 811.
Purdue defeated such nationally-ranked teams Ole Miss (No. 10), East Tennessee State (No. 26), Michigan State (No. 36) and South Carolina (No. 48) in the process.
In addition, Purdue's final-round score of 19-under par 269 was the lowest 18-hole score in school history.
It marked just the sixth time in 23 all-time appearances that Purdue finished in the top five at the Puerto Rico Classic. Head coach Rob Bradley's teams have done it four times in eight years.
Sophomore Herman Sekne, who entered the tournament ranked 38th nationally, led the Boilermakers with a 14-under par 202 (64-71-67), good for a sixth-place tie. He went 12-4-1 against other golfers ranked in the top 100 and his 202 was the third-best, 54-hole score in school history.
Sekne has now posted nine straight rounds of even-par or better, the second-longest streak in school history, with six of the rounds coming in the 60s. Additionally, he has posted three straight top-10 finishes and he currently owns a 69.20 stroke average and a cumulative score of 36-under par. Over his last three tournaments, Sekne is a combined 36-under par with a stroke average of 68.00.
Cole Bradley also had a sensational effort, finishing tied for ninth at 13-under par 203 (68-68-67), good for the fourth-best tournament score in Purdue history. Bradley becomes just the second player to record three tournament rounds in the 60s in school history and the first since Pariya Junhasavasdikul in the 2006-07 season.
It was Bradley's seventh career top-10 finish.
Joe Weiler finished tied for 19th with a score of 10-under par 206 (70-68-68), good for his fifth top-20 finish in five events this year. Weiler lowered his season stroke average to 70.07 and he has been even or under-par in 11-of-15 rounds this season.
Andrew Farraye had a big finish for Purdue, surging to a 37th-place tie at 6-under par 210 (72-72-67). Farraye tied a career-low round in the final round and played his last five holes in 4-under par to help the Boilermakers surge late.
Nick Dentino finished tied for 55th at 2-under par 214 (70-70-74).
Playing as individuals, Nic Hofman finished tied for 60th at even-par 216 (73-73-70) and Luke Prall finished tied for 65th at 2-over par 218 (67-71-80).
Purdue's next action will come in late March at the Hootie at Bulls Bay in Awendaw, South Carolina.
The Boilermakers recorded a 54-hole tally of 46-under par 818 (272-277-269) to shatter the school record for a 54-hole tournament by 12 shots. Purdue finished just one shot behind No. 8-ranked Tennessee and 13 shots behind No. 1 Oklahoma (805). No. 12 Georgia was second at 53-under par 811.
Purdue defeated such nationally-ranked teams Ole Miss (No. 10), East Tennessee State (No. 26), Michigan State (No. 36) and South Carolina (No. 48) in the process.
In addition, Purdue's final-round score of 19-under par 269 was the lowest 18-hole score in school history.
It marked just the sixth time in 23 all-time appearances that Purdue finished in the top five at the Puerto Rico Classic. Head coach Rob Bradley's teams have done it four times in eight years.
Sophomore Herman Sekne, who entered the tournament ranked 38th nationally, led the Boilermakers with a 14-under par 202 (64-71-67), good for a sixth-place tie. He went 12-4-1 against other golfers ranked in the top 100 and his 202 was the third-best, 54-hole score in school history.
Sekne has now posted nine straight rounds of even-par or better, the second-longest streak in school history, with six of the rounds coming in the 60s. Additionally, he has posted three straight top-10 finishes and he currently owns a 69.20 stroke average and a cumulative score of 36-under par. Over his last three tournaments, Sekne is a combined 36-under par with a stroke average of 68.00.
Cole Bradley also had a sensational effort, finishing tied for ninth at 13-under par 203 (68-68-67), good for the fourth-best tournament score in Purdue history. Bradley becomes just the second player to record three tournament rounds in the 60s in school history and the first since Pariya Junhasavasdikul in the 2006-07 season.
It was Bradley's seventh career top-10 finish.
Joe Weiler finished tied for 19th with a score of 10-under par 206 (70-68-68), good for his fifth top-20 finish in five events this year. Weiler lowered his season stroke average to 70.07 and he has been even or under-par in 11-of-15 rounds this season.
Andrew Farraye had a big finish for Purdue, surging to a 37th-place tie at 6-under par 210 (72-72-67). Farraye tied a career-low round in the final round and played his last five holes in 4-under par to help the Boilermakers surge late.
Nick Dentino finished tied for 55th at 2-under par 214 (70-70-74).
Playing as individuals, Nic Hofman finished tied for 60th at even-par 216 (73-73-70) and Luke Prall finished tied for 65th at 2-over par 218 (67-71-80).
Purdue's next action will come in late March at the Hootie at Bulls Bay in Awendaw, South Carolina.