Purdue Aims for Return to NCAA Championships
• The Purdue men's golf team aims for its second straight National Championships appearance when it descends on the Auburn University Golf Club on May 12-14 for the NCAA Auburn Regionals.
• Purdue advanced to the NCAA Championships a year ago and is looking for its fifth appearance in the last 11 seasons. Among Big Ten teams since 2014, only Illinois (9) has had more appearances than Purdue.
Most NCAA National Appearances Since 2014 (Big Ten Only)
9 - Illinois
4 - Purdue
4 - Ohio State
1 - Northwestern
1 - Penn State
• The Boilermakers have made 10 NCAA Regional appearances in the last 11 years, missing just the CoVid-related season of 2021. That season, Purdue did not play a fall campaign and only played in the spring season, severely hampering the Boilermakers' chances.
• Purdue's 10 Regionals appearances in the last 11 years are the second most in the league (Illinois - 11; Purdue - 10; Ohio State - 8; Northwestern - 8).
• Purdue is one of seven Big Ten teams to advance to regionals this year, joined by Illinois, UCLA, Oregon, Northwestern, Michigan State and USC.
The Underdog Role Fits Well
• During the previous nine Regionals, Purdue has exceeded their seeding expectations at NCAA Regionals advancing to the NCAA Championships in six of the tournaments.
• This marks the fourth time since 2014 that Purdue has been ranked as the No. 7 seed, reaching the National Championships in 2017.
• Three of the four previous times that Purdue reached the National Championships came when Purdue was outside the top-five seeds.
Boilermaker Team Notes
• Purdue owns a 281.87 spring average after having a 288.00 fall stroke average.
• The Boilermakers' three victories are tied for the most since the 2010-11 season (4 wins). The 2015-16 team also had three victories.
• Purdue posted a 10-5-1 spring record against NCAA Regional top-5 seeds.
• Purdue's 285.21 stroke average for the season is the lowest in school history.
• Purdue's five tournaments of 846 or better are the most in school history.
Boilermaker Individual Notes
• Sam Easterbrook ... first-team All-Big Ten (unanimous) honoree ... fifth in school history with six top-10 finishes and second with nine top-20 showings ... has 11 rounds in the 60s -- 2nd most in school history ... just one tournament this season outside of the top 25 (T-73 at Inverness, 2nd tournament of year).
• Kent Hsiao ... second-team All-Big Ten honoree ... has finished no lower than 22nd in his four spring tournaments ... ranks third on career stroke average chart (72.78) ... held the 36-hole lead at last year's NCAA Regionals and finished T-34 (through 54 holes) at Nationals last season, just missing out on a 4th rd.
• Jenson Forrester ... played in the NCAA National Championships a year ago at ETSU ... up-and-down season, but posted back-to-back top-10 finishes at Hootie and Calusa Cup ... ranks 2nd on team in top-10 finishes (4).
• Nels Surtani ... owns 4th-best career stroke average in school history (72.82) ... 16 rounds of par or better (2nd on team) ... leads team with 400 pars ... has three top-15 finishes and 16 career top-20 showings.
• Supapon Amornchaichan ... has the 4th-best average by a FR in Purdue history ... top 50 in nine of 11 events this season (two top-20s) ... AJGA All-American.
• Kentaro Nanayama ... T-9 and T-18 showings on counting team this year ... three rounds in the 60s and 10 rounds of par or better.