June 9, 2010
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IOWA CITY, IA – – University of Iowa junior golfer Brad Hopfinger has been selected to the PING All-Region Teams by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The GCAA chooses 153 players across six regions. The Lake Forest, IL, native was selected to the Midwest region.
Hopfinger has been a two-year starter for the Hawkeyes since transferring to Iowa City in the fall of 2008. He owns a career scoring average of 73.3 after averaging 71.9 and 72.9 in the fall and spring, respectively, this season. Hopfinger competed in every event for the Black and Gold this spring, on his way to three top-15 finishes.
“Brad is very deserving of the award,” said Head Coach Mark Hankins. “His scoring average is the new all-time single season scoring record at the U of Iowa.”
Much of Hopfinger’s success this season came in match-play, where he tallied a record of 5-3-1. Highlighting his season was the Callaway Collegiate Match-Play where he bettered three of the nation’s top-100 collegiate golfers, including a 6 & 5 win over Stanford’s fourth-ranked Sihwan Kim.
“He continues to learn about his game, and work on his weaknesses,” added Hankins. “He displayed leadership in his tournament scoring and has proven to be one of the best collegiate players in the Midwest.”
After Iowa finished second at the Big Ten Championships, its best finish since winning the league title in 1992, Hopfinger led the Hawkeyes to a share of sixth place at the NCAA Central Regional. He fired a 54-hole total of 209 (-1) to tie for 11th as Iowa missed the NCAA Championship Finals by a single stroke. Hopfinger will join a very experienced 2010-11 Iowa team for his senior campaign.