April 10, 2012
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team will host the 19th-annual Hawkeye-Great River Entertainment Invitational April 14-15. The Hawkeyes, ranked 26th in the nation, will host the 11-team field on their own Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. Competition will consist of 36 holes Saturday, followed by the final 18 on Sunday. Both days will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. (CT).
THE COURSE
The 7,180-yard, par-72 Finkbine Golf Course is prized by the University and Iowa City community alike. A tremendous test of golf, Finkbine was the site of the Amana VIP Pro-Am for more than 20 years, featuring the PGA’s finest as well as national and local celebrities. In 1991 Finkbine also became the host of the Ben Hogan Tour – Hawkeye Open. Collegiately, Finkbine has been the site for the 1992 and 2002 men’s Big Ten Championships, the Hawkeye Intercollegiate and the Big Four Invitational.
THE FIELD
Iowa will compete alongside an 11-team field, including six Big Ten programs. In order of their national ranking, the tournament will feature Iowa (26), Iowa State (61), Charlotte (66), Michigan State (90), Minnesota, UMKC, Washington State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Miami University.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawkeyes finished second at the LSU Invitational on April 1, posting a team mark of nine-under 855. Sophomore Steven Ihm, senior Barrett Kelpin and freshman Ian Vandersee all finished inside the top-10 individually. Ihm led Iowa with a 54-hole tally of three under 213 to finish in fifth place.
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.