March 28, 2012
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team will travel to Baton Rouge, La., for the 2012 LSU National Invitational held March 31-April 1. The three-round event will feature 36 holes beginning at 8 a.m. (CT) Saturday, followed by the final 18 at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Competition will be held at the University Club in Baton Rouge, La.
THE COURSE
The newly renovated University Club offers an 18-hole, par 72 course that plays to 7,274 yards from the championship tees. Featuring wide fairways bordered by pine hammocks, native grasses and 2,000 feet of bulkhead, the University Club is carved into 300 acres of land just south of LSU’s campus. The course was re-designed by LSU legend and PGA Tour pro David Toms and renowned golf course architect Jim Lipe, who designed the original University Club in 1998.
THE COMPETITION
Along with the 34th-ranked Hawkeyes, the 12-team field will include (with national ranking), Boston College, Furman, Iowa State, LSU (24), Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Michigan, Minnesota, UNC-Wilmington, Purdue and UT-Chattanooga (27). Half of the tournament field, including three Big Ten programs and Iowa State, is returning from last year’s event where Iowa finished third (893, +29).
LAST OUTING
The Hawkeyes finished 10th at the 16-team Callaway Collegiate Match-Play held March 18-20. Senior Chris Brant posted a team-leading record of 3-0-1 as Iowa went 2-2 on the weekend. After dropping a 2-2-1 tie to East Carolina due to criterion, the Hawkeyes reeled of two wins against Washington State (3-2) and Colorado State (3-2) to advance to the consolation finals.
HEAD COACH Mark Hankins
Hankins is in his fifth year as Iowa’s head men’s golf coach after spending seven years as the head coach at Michigan State University. Under Hankins, the Hawkeyes finished last season ranked ninth among all NCAA Division I teams. Hankins’ 2010-11 squad is coming off a 10th place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships, Iowa’s best finish since 1960. After a second place finish at the 2010 Big Ten Championships, its best finish since 1992, Iowa placed third at the 2011 Big Tens. Hankins and company will look to make their fourth-consecutive NCAA postseason appearance this season.
NEXT TIME OUT
Iowa will return home to host the Hawkeye-TaylorMade Invitational April 14-15. The 11-team field will compete on Iowa’s Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes will be searching for their third-consecutive Hawkeye Invite championship.