Sept. 19, 2010
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
BURLINGTON, IA – The University of Iowa men’s golf team is in first place after round one of Golfweek’s Conference Challenge. The Hawkeyes fired a school record 18-hole team score of 268 (-20), crushing the previous record by seven strokes, and will be taking a 15-stroke lead into Monday’s second round of play. North Carolina State (283, -5) is in second place while Southeastern Louisiana and Baylor are tied for third with scores of 285 (-3). Competition is being held at Spirit Hollow Golf Course in Burlington, IA.
Iowa’s top four individuals Sunday tallied 22 birdies and are all sitting in the top-10 individually. Junior Chris Brant and senior Brad Hopfinger are in first and second place, respectively, as the duo compiled 15 birdies on the day without a single bogey. Brant’s 18-hole total of 64 (-8) set Spirit Hollow’s competitive course record, while Hopfinger finished with a score of 65 (-7).
“Last week we were pretty dissatisfied with our play and our attitude, so this week in practice we focused on having a positive attitude and just preparing for this tournament,” said Brant. “It seems like we all had a great attitude and were just eager to play today. We started well and we finished well.”
“I’m pleased with the progress that Brant has showed,” said Head Coach Mark Hankins. “He definitely has the right mentality to go out and shoot low because he stays in the present at all times. He works very hard at that. Today he just found his zone and kept making birdies right until the end.”
Junior Barrett Kelpin is tied for fifth after firing a 69 (-3). The Kalamazoo, MI, native collected four birdies on the day. Junior Vince India is tied for ninth with a score of 70 (-2) while junior Brad George carded a 76 (+4) to finish tied for 53rd.
“It’s always good to represent the Big Ten,” said senior Brad Hopfinger. “We’re proud of our conference. We’re proud of the teams we have. When we get a chance to represent the Big Ten in any tournament it’s nice, so to be in the lead is great.”
The second round of play will begin Monday at 9 a.m. (CT). Competition will conclude with a shotgun start 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. For extensive coverage of the Golfweek Conference Challenge on golfweek.com, click HERE
Team Results
1. IOWA 268 (-20)
2. North Carolina State 283 (-5)
3. Southeastern Louisiana 285 (-3)
Baylor 285 (-3)
5. New Mexico 288 (E)
6. Campbell 289 (+1)
Liberty 289 (+1)
8. East Carolina 290 (+2)
9. San Francisco 292 (+4)
10. Middle Tennessee St. 294 (+6)
11. UC-Irvine 297 (+9)
12. Eastern Michigan 298 (+10)
13. Nevada 299 (+11)
14. Furman 300 (+12)
15. VCU 306 (+18)
<>Individual Results – Par 72 (Top 3 + Iowa)
1. Chris Brant (UI) 64 (-8)
2. Brad Hopfinger (UI) 65 (-7)
3. Joakim Mikkelsen (Baylor) 68 (-4)
Scott Smith (Nevada) 68 (-4)
T5. Barrett Kelpin (UI) 69 (-3)
T9. Vince India (UI) 70 (-2)
T53. Brad George (UI) 76 (+4)