Sept. 26, 2008
THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s golf team will travel to Richmond, VA, to compete in the Virginia Commonwealth Shootout. The tournament will be held on the Manakin Course at the Hermitage Country Club. Competition consists of 54 holes. Teams will play 36 holes Monday and conclude with 18 holes Tuesday.
MANAKIN COURSE — The Manakin Course was redesigned in 2005 by Keith Foster and received the 2006 award by Golf Digest as the #5 Best New Remodel in the country. The course is an 18-hole par 72 layout and the site where Arnold Palmer won his last golf tournament in 1988.
THE COMPETITION — Teams competing, along with Iowa, are VCU, East Carolina, Maryland, Old Dominion, Penn State, Richmond, SE Louisiana, South Florida, Tennessee Chattanooga, UNC Wilmington, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Wichita State.
LAST MEET — Iowa finished the 12-team Golden Gopher Invitational in fourth, with a 54-hole total of 883 (+19). On the second day, the Hawkeyes recorded an 18-hole score of 281 (-7). The score tied the fourth-best 18-hole total in school history. Senior Cole Peevler led the Hawkeyes as he finished in a tie for second place with a 215 (-1). Sophomore Vince India fired a seven-over-par 223 to finish in a tie for 20th. Sophomore Brad Hopfinger was 36th with a 227 (+11).
HEAD COACH Mark Hankins — Hankins is in his second year as Iowa’s head men’s golf coach. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, at Michigan State, in 2005 and 2007. He led the Spartans to Big Ten Championships those years. Hankins also led the Spartans to five NCAA tournament appearances in his seven years as head coach. He is a native of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and a graduate of Iowa State University.
QUOTING COACH HANKINS — “The guys are excited to see how well they can do this week. They know the last tournament is in the past and the most important tournament is the one directly ahead of them. If they stay in the present, individually, team success will come.”
LOOKING AHEAD — The Hawkeye’s will head to South Bend, IN for the Fighting Irish Golf Classic on Oct. 6-7.