WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men's golf team looks to end its fall campaign on a high note when it hosts the Purdue Fall Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at Ackerman-Allen Golf Course.
The Boilermakers have had a strong fall campaign and are looking for their second win of the season after previously winning the Windon Memorial Classic in record-setting fashion. The last time Purdue hosted an event at Ackerman-Allen, it rallied to defeat No. 11-ranked Oklahoma by one shot in last spring's Boilermaker Invitational.
The field consists of 15 teams, headlined by No. 9 Illinois, the Boilermakers and top-60 squad UNLV. The tournament is played at Ackerman-Allen as the Kampen-Cosler Course will be the host of NCAA Regionals on May 13-15, 2024.
THE FIELD (Golfweek Rankings / as of Oct. 8)
9 Illinois
40 Purdue
54 UNLV
79 VCU
84 Illinois State
85 Ball State
87 Nebraska
105 Central Arkansas
112 Northern Illinois
132 Miami, Ohio
146 Butler
152 Eastern Michigan
195 Western Kentucky
202 Dayton
221 DePaul
LAST TIME OUT
Purdue had its chances, but struggled down the stretch late last week at the Fighting Irish Classic, finishing tied for 8th with an 18-over par 858 (281-285-292). The Boilermakers had no players finish in the top 20 and managed just four individual rounds at even- or under-par.
TEAM NOTES
PURDUE LINEUP
Rated one of Indiana's top courses and one of the top collegiate courses in the country (along with Kampen-Cosler), Ackerman-Allen underwent a massive renovation eight years ago that was spearheaded by Pete Dye. An 18-hole, parkland-style, par-72 championship golf course featuring large bent-grass greens, fairways and tees, Ackerman-Allen provides a challenge for all types of players. The layout features rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, white sand bunkers, and minimal water hazards. Ackerman-Allen offers five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,500 yards and the forward tees playing at 5,300 yards.
PURDUE FALL INVITATIONAL HISTORY
This marks just the third year of the Purdue Fall Invitational, but the first one being held at Ackerman-Allen Golf Course. The Boilermakers finished second in 2021 (5-under par) and third a year ago behind Tennessee and LSU. In 2011, Herman Sekne won medalist honors by seven shots and placed second a year ago behind Tennessee standout Bryce Lewis.
WEATHER FORECAST
Monday: Partly sunny, 58 degrees; NNW winds 10-15 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, 60 degrees; W winds 10-15 mph.
LIVE SCORING
Will be available on golfstat.com.
The Boilermakers have had a strong fall campaign and are looking for their second win of the season after previously winning the Windon Memorial Classic in record-setting fashion. The last time Purdue hosted an event at Ackerman-Allen, it rallied to defeat No. 11-ranked Oklahoma by one shot in last spring's Boilermaker Invitational.
The field consists of 15 teams, headlined by No. 9 Illinois, the Boilermakers and top-60 squad UNLV. The tournament is played at Ackerman-Allen as the Kampen-Cosler Course will be the host of NCAA Regionals on May 13-15, 2024.
THE FIELD (Golfweek Rankings / as of Oct. 8)
9 Illinois
40 Purdue
54 UNLV
79 VCU
84 Illinois State
85 Ball State
87 Nebraska
105 Central Arkansas
112 Northern Illinois
132 Miami, Ohio
146 Butler
152 Eastern Michigan
195 Western Kentucky
202 Dayton
221 DePaul
LAST TIME OUT
Purdue had its chances, but struggled down the stretch late last week at the Fighting Irish Classic, finishing tied for 8th with an 18-over par 858 (281-285-292). The Boilermakers had no players finish in the top 20 and managed just four individual rounds at even- or under-par.
TEAM NOTES
- In three of Herman Sekne's four tournament wins, the Boilermakers have won the team title as well (2021 – Rich Harvest Farms; 2023 – Boilermaker Invite; 2023 – Windon Classic).
- Purdue has won a tournament in three straight years and in six of the last seven seasons.
- Purdue won its last tournament held at Ackerman-Allen, shooting a 30-under par 822 (281-273-268) in the Boilermaker Invitational in April. Herman Sekne (champion) and Peyton Snoeberger (T-4th) and Nick Dentino (T-8th) all finished in the top 10.
- Purdue shattered a Windon Classic tournament-record score in its victory two weeks ago. It bested the record by 16 shots, which was held by Purdue during the 2015 event.
- There have been 17 rounds in school history of 276 or better. Sixteen of them have come during the Rob Bradley era.
- The 11 lowest, 54-hole tournament scores in school history have come under Rob Bradley.
- Purdue has advanced to eight of nine possible NCAA Regionals during the Rob Bradley era. However, Purdue's last appearance in the NCAA Championships came in 2017.
- The Kampen-Cosler course will host the NCAA Regional Championships in mid-May for the first time since 2017. The course has undergone a massive renovation with new bunkers, new shaping on ponds and a new clubhouse (in progress) that exceeds a $20 million price tag.
PURDUE LINEUP
- Herman Sekne – Senior; Oslo, Norway
- One of the nation's top golfers, Sekne ranks 10th in the latest PGA Tour U. rankings and is 25th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
- Hasn't made a double bogey or worse since the second round of the season-opening Marquette Intercollegiate – a span of 192 holes.
- In his last four tournaments at Purdue, has won two of them, finished as runner-up once and fourth.
- Won his school-record fourth tournament with a school-record score of 197 at the Windon Memorial Classic. The 197 is tied for the second-lowest score in Big Ten history.
- Owns the school career records for stroke average (71.38) and rounds in the 60s (32).
- Has 19, top-20 and 15, top-10 finishes in just 30 career events. Ten of those finishes have been top-five showings.
- Owns a 69.36 stroke average early this season with seven of his 11 rounds coming in the 60s. Has two top-five and three top-13 finishes already.
- A 2023 third-team All-American – Purdue's first All-American since 2002 (Lee Williamson – 1st team).
- Ranked No. 25 in World Amateur Golf Rankings (9th-ranked international player) and competed in the Arnold Palmer Cup, Bonallack Trophy and U.S. Amateur this summer.
- Nels Surtani – Junior; Indianapolis, Indiana
- Continues to play well early in the 2023-24 season.
- Owns three, top-30 finishes so far, including a T-12 showing at the Marquette Intercollegiate. Was in the top five entering the final round, before struggling in the final round with a 76 at Windon.
- Won his second straight Northern Amateur title this summer.
- Has had just three double-bogeys or worse in 198 holes this season.
- Lone top-10 finish last year came at prestigious Isleworth Collegiate (T-7).
- Sam Easterbrook – Freshman; Tomworth, England
- Has played in all four events, showing his talent in all four events.
- Posted a 1-under par 71 in his first career round, coming at Erin Hills.
- Also shot a 1-under par 69 at Olympia Fields in the second round.
- Ranks tied for third on the team in rounds under par (4).
- Peyton Snoeberger – 5th year; Williamsport, Indiana
- Strong performance at the Windon two weeks ago, finishing T-9th (69-65-72=206) for his second career top-10 finish.
- Has had a counting score in 24 straight rounds when he has been in the lineup dating to last season (all nine rounds this year).
- Finished tied for fourth at last year's Boilermaker Invitational at Ackerman-Allen after being the 36-hole leader.
- Placed third at the prestigious Monroe Invitational this past summer, and made it to the Round of 32 at U.S. Amateur match play in 2022.
- Kent Hsiao – Junior; Taipei, Taiwan
- Recorded his best career finish two weeks ago at the Windon, finishing 8th (68-69-68).
- Became just the fourth player in school history (Herman Sekne, Cole Bradley, Pariya Junhasavasdikul) with all three rounds in the 60s.
- His 205 was a career-low score and the 11th-best tournament score in school history.
- Owned two previous top-10 finishes in individual tournaments, but this was first as a member of counting team.
- Finished tied for 23rd at last year's Big Ten Championships (78-70=148).
- Nick Dentino – Grad Student; Carmel, Indiana
- Owns a 73.00 stroke average this season with two rounds of par or better.
- Rallied Purdue to a victory at its last appearance at Ackerman-Allen, shooting a 29 on the front nine, finishing with five straight birdies to rally Purdue past Oklahoma.
- Ranks 12th on the career stroke average list (73.62).
- Owns three top-25 finishes in events played at Purdue.
Rated one of Indiana's top courses and one of the top collegiate courses in the country (along with Kampen-Cosler), Ackerman-Allen underwent a massive renovation eight years ago that was spearheaded by Pete Dye. An 18-hole, parkland-style, par-72 championship golf course featuring large bent-grass greens, fairways and tees, Ackerman-Allen provides a challenge for all types of players. The layout features rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, white sand bunkers, and minimal water hazards. Ackerman-Allen offers five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,500 yards and the forward tees playing at 5,300 yards.
PURDUE FALL INVITATIONAL HISTORY
This marks just the third year of the Purdue Fall Invitational, but the first one being held at Ackerman-Allen Golf Course. The Boilermakers finished second in 2021 (5-under par) and third a year ago behind Tennessee and LSU. In 2011, Herman Sekne won medalist honors by seven shots and placed second a year ago behind Tennessee standout Bryce Lewis.
WEATHER FORECAST
Monday: Partly sunny, 58 degrees; NNW winds 10-15 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, 60 degrees; W winds 10-15 mph.
LIVE SCORING
Will be available on golfstat.com.