April 29, 2012
FRENCH LICK, Ind. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team finished sixth at the Big Ten Championships with a 72-hole mark of 1203 (+51). The Hawkeyes closed the conference tourney with a fourth round of 302 (+14). Illinois won the championship with a score of 1175 (+23) as Indiana (1178, +26) finished runner-up. Action was held on the par 72, 7,152-yard Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind.
Senior Chris Brant posted Iowa’s highest finish with a score of 297 (+9) to tie for 10th place. Brant continued to improve every round as he carded a final 18 of two-under par (70). Brant started his round with a birdie on the par 4, 420-yard hole one and played consistent golf to close. His only bogey on the day came on hole seven, bringing him to even par at the turn. He picked up a stroke with a birdie on 10 before sinking another on 15 to finish a solid two-under round.
Senior Barrett Kelpin and sophomore Steven Ihm both fired final rounds of 78 (+6). Kelpin found himself one-under par after a birdie on four, but struggled to find any consistency after that. He finished tied for 12th place with a 72-hole score of 298 (+10). Ihm (308, +20) recorded three birdies in his fourth round as the Peosta, Iowa, native finished with a share of 28th place.
Brad George finished with a tournament total of 312 (+24). The senior tied for 42nd after a final round of 79 (+7). Additionally, freshman Ian Vandersee closed his tournament with a round of 76 (+4), finishing 46th with a four-round mark of 313 (+25).
NCAA Regional selections will take place after all conference championships have been completed. Conference champions receive an automatic berth into regionals, with the remaining field of teams being selected nationally at-large. Regional competitions will be contested at six different sites, May 17-19.
Team Results
1. Illinois 301-291-292-291=1175 (+23)
2. Indiana 293-304-294-287=1178 (+26)
3. Northwestern 311-296-288-291=1186 (+34)
4. Michigan State 292-303-296-301=1192 (+40)
5. Purdue 306-297-308-291=1202 (+50)
6. Iowa 305-309-287-302=1203 (+51)
7. Minnesota 308-297-312-298=1215 (+63)
8. Penn State 308-301-299-308=1216 (+64)
9. Ohio State 299-316-304-301=1220 (+68)
10. Michigan 312-309-306-314=1241 (+89)
11. Wisconsin 317-326-300-306=1249 (+18)
12. Nebraska 308-313-313-317=1251 (+99)
Individual Results (Top 3 + Iowa)
1. Luke Guthrie (Illinois) 72-71-67-73=283 (-5)
2. Sam Chien (Northwestern) 72-73-73-69=287 (-1)
3. Matt Thompson (Michigan) 74-73-70-72=289 (+1)
T10. Chris Brant (Iowa) 78-75-74-70=297 (+9)
T12. Barrett Kelpin (Iowa) 76-77-67-78=298 (+10)
T28. Steven Ihm (Iowa) 82-78-70-78=308 (+20)
T42. Brad George (Iowa) 78-79-76-79=312 (+24)
46. Ian Vandersee (Iowa) 73-83-81-76=313 (+25)