EAST LANSING—Michigan State men’s golf travels to West Lafayette, Ind., for the Boilermaker Invitational, hosted annually by Purdue University. This two-day event, April 20-21 at Akerman-Allen Golf Course, is the final test before the postseason.
This will be the Spartans’ last regular season outing before the Big Ten Championship and their last chance to make a final push with the NCAA Regionals following right after.
Course Preview: Akerman-Allen Golf Course (Par 72, 7,465 yards):
Akerman-Allen offers precisely what you might expect from a Big Ten course—great distance, very exposed, and plays to the naked eye. Designed to test every part of a golfer’s game, this par-72 stretching out over 7,400 yards forces players to pick smart lines off the tee, have reliable distance irons, and be patient with the tricky sloped greens that roll quickly.
Unlike the previous tighter courses the Spartans have played this month (like Silverado South or UNC Finley), Akerman-Allen is very open. Despite poor shots not being punished as much, the distance of the course and the high winds West Lafayette has historically shown can easily lead to high scores if the players are not careful.
Hole Watch: No. 6 – Par 5, 602 yards
No. 6 will provide the excitement for this weekend’s event. The long par five will be reachable in two for the stronger hitters, giving a slight advantage to those who aren’t afraid to let it rip off the tee. However, the approach shot must be accurate as the dance floor is guarded by a pond and tucked bunkers—just enough to make players think twice before going for it.
Those who can reach the green in two will attempt to go for it. But should a right-handed golfer pull their shot, they might as well pull out a fishing rod because that’s the only way to get their ball back.
Hole Watch: No. 16 – Par 3, 215 yards
Courses designed for competition often have a challenging par 3 in the final stretch, and Akerman-Allen is no different. This par 3 showcases a two-tier green with trouble past the hole—players need to hit the right section of the green, or they can face some brutally high scores.
MSU Lineup
Head Coach Casey Lubahn is sticking with his core five for the weekend:
Junior Caleb Bond
Sophomore Lucas Acevedo
Sophomore Lorenzo Pinili
Sophomore Drew Miller
Freshman Julian Menser
This lineup has proven the most effective this year for Michigan State, with recent strong individual performances from Lorenzo Pinili. The Spartans will rely on consistent performances from Pinili and Bond to lead the way and will need strong performances from the rest of the squad if they want to climb the standings in this loaded field.
Field Preview
The Boilermaker Intercollegiate is packed with incredible talent from the Midwest this year. Some of the notable teams competing against MSU include:
No. 22 Illinois
No. 47 Indiana
No. 62 Kent State
No. 74 Southern Illinois
Host: Purdue
This is one of the deepest fields the Spartans have seen outside conference play all year. With the postseason just around the corner, this is an excellent opportunity for Michigan State to make the statement they need.
The Spartans are looking for a strong finish to help their resume before the Big Ten Championship and claim a spot in NCAA Regional play. A top ffive finish in this weekend’s event would significantly improve their chances.
