The University of Wisconsin men's golf team turned in a much improved performance at Sunday's final round at the Purdue Boilermaker Invitational, but had to settle for a tie for eighth place at the par-72, 7,338-yard Kampen Golf Course in West Lafayette, Ind.
The tournament was cut from 54 to 36 holes due to chilly temperatures, which also delayed Saturday's opening round to noon.
With every player improving on their opening round scores, the Badgers managed to recover on Sunday with a final round of 10-over-par 298. This was after an opening round of 24-over par 312, the team's highest score since the final round of last year's Big Ten championships, where they shot a 318. Wisconsin shot a total of 34-over-par 610 over 36 holes.
Junior Jeff Kaiser (Onalaska, Wis.) tied a career best with a second place finish after an even-par 72 on Sunday. Kaiser, who also came in second at the 2004 Hawkeye Invitational, carded a total score of 2-over-par 146 (74-72).
Sophomore Dan Woltman, in 28th after the opening round, shot a three-over-par 75 on Sunday to finish in a five-way tie for 31st place. The Beaver Dam, Wis., native was 9-over par for the tournament with 153 (78-75).
Senior Garrett Jones (Rewey, Wis.) moved up the rankings from 42th to tie for 36th place after shooting a two-over par 74 on Sunday. Jones was 10-over-par for the tournament with a 154 (80-74).
After shooting a 5-over-par 77 on Sunday, sophomore Tyler Obermueller (River Falls, Wis.) finished in a tie for 56th. Obermueller finished 13-over-par with a 157 (80-77).
Sophomore Pat Duffy, who finished with a 17-over-par 161, had his worst finish since he took 82nd at the Barona Collegiate Cup last season by finishing in a tie for 70th place Sunday. The Appleton, Wis., native did have slightly better luck on Sunday though, as he shot a 7-over-par 79 to improve on his opening round of 81.
Michigan State took home the team title as it finished with a 17-over-par 593, nine strokes clear of Northwestern and Purdue. Ryan Brehm of Michigan State also clinched the individual championship after besting Kaiser by four strokes with a 2-under-par 142 (72-70).
The next stop for the Badgers will be Columbus, Ohio, where they will take part in the Ohio State/Kepler Invitational at the OSU Scarlet Golf Course on April 14â_15.
