WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Entering the final round of the Boilermaker Classic with a 13-shot cushion, the Purdue women's golf team made sure the lead was never in doubt. A final round 294 (+6), led by a 68 (-4) from medalist Natasha Kiel, allowed the Boilermakers to protect their home course and win their season-opening tournament for second straight season.
Purdue finished the season opener 15-over par on the Kampen-Cosler Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, 14 strokes ahead of runners-up Minnesota (+29). The Boilermakers controlled the tournament from the start, leading the field in par-3 scoring (+4), par-4 scoring (+28) and pars (178), while ranking second in birdies (35) and par-5 scoring (-4) as a team.
With the win, the Boilermakers won their fourth tournament under head coach Zack Byrd, who just began his third season as head coach. The four victories mark the most by Purdue in a three-year span since winning six from 2012-14.
Kiel captured her first career individual victory, thanks in large part to a pair of rounds in the 60s for her lowest rounds as a Boilermaker. Entering the final round two shots behind Abilene Christian's Ryann Honea, the senior got off to a fast start with four birdies through her first seven holes to soar into the lead. After a pair of bogeys, Kiel drained a long birdie putt on the par-3 13th to increase her advantage to three strokes with five holes to play. Another birdie at No. 15 was sandwiched between two bogeys before Kiel stepped to the tee at the difficult par-3 17th. From 137 yards away, Kiel struck an 8-iron pin high left before catching the slope and trickling down to the bottom of the cup for a hole-in-one. The ace proved to be the difference in Kiel claiming a two-shot victory, as Honea finished strong with three birdies to complete the day.
Kiel was 5-under for the tournament, recording her best 54-hole total as a Boilermaker (67-76-68—211). The New Hope, Pennsylvania, native also led the field in birdies (13) and par-3 scoring (-4) throughout the event. During the final round, she made six birdies and played the par 3s 4-under with two birdies and one par to go along with her hole-in-one.
Momo Sugiyama fired a final-round 73 (+1) to tie for fourth on the individual leaderboard, earning her ninth Top 10 as a Boilermaker. Entering Tuesday tied for second with Kiel, Sugiyama began her day with pars on all nine holes on the front side. Heading to the back, the Australian birdied the par-5 10th before getting a lengthy birdie putt to fall at No. 13 to join Kiel at the top of the leaderboard at 3-under. A few bogeys coming in dropped Sugiyama back to level par for the tournament, but the two-time All-Big Ten honoree still secured a Top 5 performance to begin her senior season.
In her first collegiate tournament, freshman Samantha Brown tied for 21st (+10) following a final round 76 (+4). Senior Jocelyn Bruch (+11) and sophomore Jasmine Kahler (+12) rounded out the Purdue lineup, contributing to the team title by placing 24th and 26th, respectively following a pair of 77s on Tuesday.
After opening the season at home with a victory, Purdue heads north to Minnesota to compete in the prestigious Annika Intercollegiate hosted by golf legend Annika Sorenstam (Sept. 9-11).
BOILERMAKERS
1. Natasha Kiel: 67-76-68—211 (-5)
T4. Momo Sugiyama: 69-74-73—216 (E)
T21. Samantha Brown: 75-75-76—226 (+10)
T24. Jocelyn Bruch: 75-75-77—227 (+11)
T26. Jasmine Kahler: 74-77-77—228 (+12)
*T16. Jade Gu: 78-74-73—225 (+9)
*T21. Lauren Timpf: 76-74-76—226 (+10)
*T83. Michaela Headlee: 77-86-84—247 (+31)
*Competing as an individual
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Purdue: 285-300-294—879 (+15)
2. Minnesota: 302-302-289—893 (+29)
3. Kent State: 297-301-297—895 (+31)
T4. Western Kentucky: 295-305-302—902 (+38)
T4. Indiana: 298-301-303—902 (+38)
6. Abilene Christian: 298-306-299—903 (+39)
7. Alabama: 313-300-294—907 (+43)
8. Old Dominion: 314-302-295—911 (+47)
9. Michigan: 300-314-301—915 (+51)
10. Georgia Southern: 314-307-297—918 (+54)
11. Notre Dame: 304-306-313—923 (+59)
12. North Florida: 309-302-314—925 (+61)
13. Ball State: 308-310-309—927 (+63)
14. Xavier: 307-310-313—930 (+66)
15. James Madison: 310-315-320—945 (+81)
Purdue finished the season opener 15-over par on the Kampen-Cosler Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, 14 strokes ahead of runners-up Minnesota (+29). The Boilermakers controlled the tournament from the start, leading the field in par-3 scoring (+4), par-4 scoring (+28) and pars (178), while ranking second in birdies (35) and par-5 scoring (-4) as a team.
With the win, the Boilermakers won their fourth tournament under head coach Zack Byrd, who just began his third season as head coach. The four victories mark the most by Purdue in a three-year span since winning six from 2012-14.
Kiel captured her first career individual victory, thanks in large part to a pair of rounds in the 60s for her lowest rounds as a Boilermaker. Entering the final round two shots behind Abilene Christian's Ryann Honea, the senior got off to a fast start with four birdies through her first seven holes to soar into the lead. After a pair of bogeys, Kiel drained a long birdie putt on the par-3 13th to increase her advantage to three strokes with five holes to play. Another birdie at No. 15 was sandwiched between two bogeys before Kiel stepped to the tee at the difficult par-3 17th. From 137 yards away, Kiel struck an 8-iron pin high left before catching the slope and trickling down to the bottom of the cup for a hole-in-one. The ace proved to be the difference in Kiel claiming a two-shot victory, as Honea finished strong with three birdies to complete the day.
Kiel was 5-under for the tournament, recording her best 54-hole total as a Boilermaker (67-76-68—211). The New Hope, Pennsylvania, native also led the field in birdies (13) and par-3 scoring (-4) throughout the event. During the final round, she made six birdies and played the par 3s 4-under with two birdies and one par to go along with her hole-in-one.
Momo Sugiyama fired a final-round 73 (+1) to tie for fourth on the individual leaderboard, earning her ninth Top 10 as a Boilermaker. Entering Tuesday tied for second with Kiel, Sugiyama began her day with pars on all nine holes on the front side. Heading to the back, the Australian birdied the par-5 10th before getting a lengthy birdie putt to fall at No. 13 to join Kiel at the top of the leaderboard at 3-under. A few bogeys coming in dropped Sugiyama back to level par for the tournament, but the two-time All-Big Ten honoree still secured a Top 5 performance to begin her senior season.
In her first collegiate tournament, freshman Samantha Brown tied for 21st (+10) following a final round 76 (+4). Senior Jocelyn Bruch (+11) and sophomore Jasmine Kahler (+12) rounded out the Purdue lineup, contributing to the team title by placing 24th and 26th, respectively following a pair of 77s on Tuesday.
After opening the season at home with a victory, Purdue heads north to Minnesota to compete in the prestigious Annika Intercollegiate hosted by golf legend Annika Sorenstam (Sept. 9-11).
BOILERMAKERS
1. Natasha Kiel: 67-76-68—211 (-5)
T4. Momo Sugiyama: 69-74-73—216 (E)
T21. Samantha Brown: 75-75-76—226 (+10)
T24. Jocelyn Bruch: 75-75-77—227 (+11)
T26. Jasmine Kahler: 74-77-77—228 (+12)
*T16. Jade Gu: 78-74-73—225 (+9)
*T21. Lauren Timpf: 76-74-76—226 (+10)
*T83. Michaela Headlee: 77-86-84—247 (+31)
*Competing as an individual
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Purdue: 285-300-294—879 (+15)
2. Minnesota: 302-302-289—893 (+29)
3. Kent State: 297-301-297—895 (+31)
T4. Western Kentucky: 295-305-302—902 (+38)
T4. Indiana: 298-301-303—902 (+38)
6. Abilene Christian: 298-306-299—903 (+39)
7. Alabama: 313-300-294—907 (+43)
8. Old Dominion: 314-302-295—911 (+47)
9. Michigan: 300-314-301—915 (+51)
10. Georgia Southern: 314-307-297—918 (+54)
11. Notre Dame: 304-306-313—923 (+59)
12. North Florida: 309-302-314—925 (+61)
13. Ball State: 308-310-309—927 (+63)
14. Xavier: 307-310-313—930 (+66)
15. James Madison: 310-315-320—945 (+81)