RIO GRANDE, P.R. – Making its 26th appearance in college golf's elite tournament, the Purdue men's golf team took control in the middle of the second round and never let up, winning the prestigious Puerto Rico Classic held at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Purdue becomes the first northern school to win the event in its 32-year history, shooting a 54-hole total of 39-under par (274-274-277) to outdistance No. 1 Ole Miss (-33) by six shots. No. 17 South Carolina was third at 32-under par, while No. 8 LSU was fourth at 31-under par. No. 2 Oklahoma was fifth (-26), No. 32 Georgia was sixth (-24), No. 9 Virginia was seventh at 22-under par and No. 28 Tennessee rounded out the top eight at 19-under par.
Purdue's 54-hole total of 825 is the fourth-lowest team score in Purdue history and all three rounds under 280 mark just the third time in school history that Purdue has done that.
"I am so proud of the guys this week. This is just a huge win for the program, and to see both Sam and Kent battle for the individual trophy made the team win even sweeter," said head coach Andrew Sapp, who becomes the third coach in school history to win two events in his first season. "The guys have worked so hard this offseason and with the help of some wonderful Purdue Alumni who hosted us on training trips in Las Vegas and Naples the past few weeks, our players were really prepared for this week."
The Boilermakers not only excelled as a team, but on the individual leaderboard as well, claiming the top two spots in the individual medalist race. Sophomore Sam Easterbrook won his first career tournament with a 15-under par 201 (67-69-65).
Easterbrook birdied the final hole to tie a career-best round of 65 and his 201 is tied for the third-lowest tournament score in Purdue history and the fifth-best score in Puerto Rico Classic history.
Easterbrook becomes the seventh player in school history with all three rounds in the 60s.
Senior Kent Hsiao finished as the runner-up, one stroke behind Easterbrook at 14-under par 202 (66-66-70). Hsiao played nearly flawless golf, recording just one bogey in 54 holes, while accumulating two eagles, 11 birdies and 40 pars.
It marked just the second time in tournament history that a team had the individual medalist and runner-up in the same tournament (Alabama, 2016).
"A 65 the final round for Sam is incredible. He and Kent both played so steady all week" added Sapp. To have every Boilermaker finish the event under par is so impressive."
Jenson Forrester finished tied for 27th at 4-under par 212 (70-68-74), while freshman Supapon Amornchaichan was tied for 31st at 3-under par 213 (71-72-70). Last year's medalist, Nels Surtani, was tied for 40th at 1-under par 215.
Playing as an individual, Kentaro Nanayama placed tied for 36th at 2-under par 214 (69-76-69).
Purdue will be off for a month before it resumes play at the Hootie at Bulls Bay in Awendaw, South Carolina, in late March.
Purdue becomes the first northern school to win the event in its 32-year history, shooting a 54-hole total of 39-under par (274-274-277) to outdistance No. 1 Ole Miss (-33) by six shots. No. 17 South Carolina was third at 32-under par, while No. 8 LSU was fourth at 31-under par. No. 2 Oklahoma was fifth (-26), No. 32 Georgia was sixth (-24), No. 9 Virginia was seventh at 22-under par and No. 28 Tennessee rounded out the top eight at 19-under par.
Purdue's 54-hole total of 825 is the fourth-lowest team score in Purdue history and all three rounds under 280 mark just the third time in school history that Purdue has done that.
"I am so proud of the guys this week. This is just a huge win for the program, and to see both Sam and Kent battle for the individual trophy made the team win even sweeter," said head coach Andrew Sapp, who becomes the third coach in school history to win two events in his first season. "The guys have worked so hard this offseason and with the help of some wonderful Purdue Alumni who hosted us on training trips in Las Vegas and Naples the past few weeks, our players were really prepared for this week."
The Boilermakers not only excelled as a team, but on the individual leaderboard as well, claiming the top two spots in the individual medalist race. Sophomore Sam Easterbrook won his first career tournament with a 15-under par 201 (67-69-65).
Easterbrook birdied the final hole to tie a career-best round of 65 and his 201 is tied for the third-lowest tournament score in Purdue history and the fifth-best score in Puerto Rico Classic history.
Easterbrook becomes the seventh player in school history with all three rounds in the 60s.
Senior Kent Hsiao finished as the runner-up, one stroke behind Easterbrook at 14-under par 202 (66-66-70). Hsiao played nearly flawless golf, recording just one bogey in 54 holes, while accumulating two eagles, 11 birdies and 40 pars.
It marked just the second time in tournament history that a team had the individual medalist and runner-up in the same tournament (Alabama, 2016).
"A 65 the final round for Sam is incredible. He and Kent both played so steady all week" added Sapp. To have every Boilermaker finish the event under par is so impressive."
Jenson Forrester finished tied for 27th at 4-under par 212 (70-68-74), while freshman Supapon Amornchaichan was tied for 31st at 3-under par 213 (71-72-70). Last year's medalist, Nels Surtani, was tied for 40th at 1-under par 215.
Playing as an individual, Kentaro Nanayama placed tied for 36th at 2-under par 214 (69-76-69).
Purdue will be off for a month before it resumes play at the Hootie at Bulls Bay in Awendaw, South Carolina, in late March.