Nov. 8, 2011
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Chris Brant is one of 28 NCAA Division I men’s golfers invited to compete in the 2011 Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic. The event will be held Nov. 20-22 at the El Paso Country Club in El Paso, Tex.
The event starts Sunday, Nov. 20 with the Titleist Long Drive Contest and the PING Putting Contest. Participants will play 36 holes Monday and the final round of 18 holes will be played Tuesday.
“I’m very honored to be chosen to compete against some of the best collegiate golfers in the nation,” Brant said. “It will be a rewarding experience. I look forward to representing the University of Iowa in El Paso.”
Brant was a 2011 honorable mention All-American and finished runner up at the 2011 Big Ten Championships. He was named to the 2011 Big Ten Championships all-tournament team and also finished tied for 20th at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Earlier this fall, Brant won his second career collegiate tournament, earning medalist honors at the Golden Gopher Invitational.
Over the summer, Brant finished second at the 2011 Illinois State Amateur, sixth at the Metropolitan St. Louis Open, tied for eighth at the Trans-Miss Amateur and tied for 17th at the Northern Amateur.
“I am excited for Chris to compete against the top collegiate players in the country while representing the University of Iowa,” Head Coach Mark Hankins said. “The College All-America Golf Classic has a long tradition of excellent competitors and providing a first class experience. If he takes his time and plays his game, he will have a chance to be at the top of the leaderboard.”
The field includes seven of the top 11 amateur golfers in the world, according to the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings. Throughout the years, many Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic competitors have gone on to successful professional careers. Some of the past champions include Webb Simpson (2007), Ricky Barnes (2000), Notah Begay (1994), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999), Davis Love III (1984), and Tiger Woods (1995). Alumni of the Golf Classic have gone on to earn more than $1.4 billion and won 561 events on the PGA TOUR.
Each university represented in the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Illinois’ Luke Guthrie is the only other Big Ten golfer chosen for the event.