Boilermakers Finish Second at Northern Intercollegiate

 
Led by three players finishing in the top 10, the Purdue men’s golf team got its 2015-16 season off to an encouraging start by placing second at the highly-competitive Northern Intercollegiate held at Rich Harvest Farms.

 

Purdue totaled a 54-hole score of 20-over par 884 (295-290-299) to finish second in a very strong field. The Boilermakers finished 27 shots behind the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, Illinois, but defeated top-25 foes UCLA (No. 7), Virginia (No. 24) and other strong programs in Houston (RV) and Louisville.

 

UCLA placed third at 22-over par 886, Houston was fourth at 29-over par 893 and Virginia placed fifth at 32-over par 896.

 

It marks Purdue’s highest finish in the event since winning it in 2000 and the 884 cumulative score is Purdue’s lowest score ever by seven shots at Rich Harvest Farms, a span of six events.

 

Purdue was led by junior Austin Eoff’s T-6th finish at 2-over par 218 (74-73-71). His final-round 71 was the second-lowest score of the day and featured three birdies, two bogeys and 13 pars. He birdied two of his first three holes and was in control of his round all day, bogeying just his 6th and 14th holes during his round. It marked his eighth career top-10 finish.

 

Senior Stuart Macdonald and junior Fernando Barco tied for ninth at 3-over par 219. Macdonald recorded rounds of 73-72-74 to earn his fourth career top-10 placing. Macdonald was 4-over par through six holes in his final round, but played his final 12 holes in 2-under par for his first top-10 finish since the Puerto Rico Classic in late February.

 

Barco, meanwhile, recorded his first career top-10 finish with rounds of 73-71-75. Barco was even par after nine holes today and just 1-over par through 16 holes before back-to-back bogeys ended his round. Nonetheless, it was his highest career finish coming in his 12th career event.

 

Chad Phillips, playing in his first career tournament on the counting team, finished tied for 38th at 13-over par 229 (75-75-79). Phillips was also hurt by a tough finish, playing his final two holes in 3-over par.

 

Sophomore Brian Carlson finished tied for 59th at 20-over par 236 (77-74-85).

 

Individually, freshman Jarle Volden played very well in his first career tournament, finishing tied for 18th at 8-over par 224 (77-71-76).