Oct. 25, 2011
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team climbed five spots up the leaderboard during the final round of the 2011 U.S. Collegiate Championship. With Corporate Skyboxes surrounding the 18th green the Hawkeyes finished with a flurry playing the par-5, 18th hole at six under par to post the second lowest round of the day, 284 (-4).
Iowa finished tied for fifth place in the 14-team field, topping its best 54-hole team score of the season by 11 strokes. UCLA shot a tournament total of 12-under par 852, five under on the final round, to win the tournament. In its sixth year, the U.S. Collegiate Championship was played on the par-72 Lakeside Course at The Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga.
“I’m proud of our toughness and determination today,” said Head Coach Mark Hankins. “Each guy stayed in the present the entire day and it showed in our resiliency throughout the round.”
Sophomore Steven Ihm and senior Barrett Kelpin compiled their second-consecutive top-10 finishes of the season. Ihm started Tuesday’s final round with two birdies in the first four holes and turned at three-under on the front nine. He picked up another birdie on the par-4, 10th hole but dropped several strokes on the backside before arriving at the 18th hole one-under par.
Ihm scrambled from the greenside bunker to birdie the final hole and finish off a closing round of 70 (-2) and tournament total of three-under par 213 for a share of eighth place.
Kelpin posted his second straight under-par round, 71 (-1) on the day and finished tied for 10th with a 54-hole total of two-under par 214. The four-year starter recorded 16 holes at even par or better in his consistent final round.
“Steven and Barrett both fought hard and adapted well to the golf course,” said Hankins. “We left some shots out there but both guys managed their rounds well and were rewarded with top-10 finishes in a top field.”
Senior Brad George also posted his second straight round of one-under par 71 during Tuesday’s third round. He finished the tournament with a score of 221 (+5), the second-best 54-hole mark of his career.
Freshman Ian Vandersee recorded a final round of even par 72 and tied for 49th with a 54-hole mark of 224 (+8). Additionally, senior Chris Brant recorded his best round of the tournament with a third round of 74 (+2). He finished 62nd with a tournament total of 227 (+11).
“We grew as players this week on a firm and quick golf course,” added Hankins. “We adapted to course conditions better each consecutive round and it translated into our best tournament total of the season.”
The Hawkeyes will return to action Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate co-hosted by Baylor and Southern Methodist University. The two-day event will be played at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas.