Hawkeyes to Compete at Menzel's Alma Mater

Sept. 22, 2011

Complete Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s golf team will hit the links at the Dick McGuire Invitational on Sept. 25-26. The University of New Mexico will host the 54-hole tournament at the 6,187 yard, par 73 UNM Championship Course. Sunday’s 36-holes and Monday’s 18-holes will begin with 9 a.m. (CT) shotgun starts. Live scoring will be provided at Golfstat.com

QUOTING HEAD COACH Megan Menzel
“The Dick McGuire Invitational is going to be a great opportunity for us to compete against some of the strongest teams in the country. The team is excited for the opportunity to play. The UNM South Course is a real treat.”

THE LINE-UP
The Hawkeyes will take the scores of Gigi DiGrazia, Lauren English, Kristi Cardwell, Chelsea Harris and Shelby Phillips.

THE COMPETITION
The Hawkeyes will compete in an 18-team field that includes: Baylor, Campbell, Colorado, Colorado State, Denver, Iowa State, New Mexico, North Texas, Northern Arizona, Northwestern, Pepperdine, San Diego State, San Jose State, TCU, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming. No. 22 Pepperdine is the only team included in the Golf World/NGCA Coaches’ Poll. Iowa State, TCU, Colorado, Campbell, Colorado State and New Mexico all received votes.

DiGRAZIA SETS CAREER BESTS
Junior Gigi DiGrazia placed a career best 11th at the Chip-N Club Invitational. Her previous best was a 21st place tie at the 2011 Jackrabbit Invitational. The Addison, Ill., native fired a 230 (78-76-76, +14) to tie a 54-hole career best.

THREE IN THE TOP 15
Three Hawkeyes, Gigi DiGrazia (T11), Chelsea Harris (T13) and Lauren English (T15), finished in the top 15 at the Chip-N Club Invitational on Sept. 12-13. Iowa placed at least three individuals in the top 15 in two of 10 tournaments during the 2010-11 season, doing it last at the 2010 Badger Invitational (Sept. 26-27).

NOT WAITING THEIR TURNS
Freshmen Lauren English (Bloomington, Ill.) and Shelby Phillips (Gilbert, Ariz.) both made their collegiate debuts at the Chip-N Club Invitational. English and Phillips, who were both ranked in the top 60 nationally as high school seniors, became the first set of freshmen to qualify for the team’s first tournament since Tyrette Metzendorf and Becky Quinby debuted together at the 2005 Hawkeye Invitational.

FAMILIAR SURROUDINGS
Head coach Megan Menzel returns to her alma mater, the University of New Mexico, when the Hawkeyes compete at the Dick McGuire Invitational. As a Lobo, Menzel was a two-time team captain and was a part of three Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship teams (1994, 1995, 1996).