Sept. 13, 2012
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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s golf team continues its 2012 fall season at the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The 54-hole tournament will be held at The Championship Golf Course at the University of New Mexico (par 73, 6,167 yards). The first two rounds will begin Monday at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start. The third and final round will be played on Tuesday at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start.
QUOTING HEAD COACH Megan Menzel
“We definitely came back from Nebraska with a few things to work on both mentally and physically for this next weekend. The team is focused on their goals and is working hard to make the adjustments to improve each tournament.”
THE LINE-UP
Lauren English, Kristi Cardwell, Gigi DiGrazia, Shelby Phillips, and Briana Midkiff will compete for the Hawkeyes in the Dick McGuire Invitational.
THE COMPETITION
The Hawkeyes will compete against 16 teams: Baylor, BYU, Cal Davis, Colorado, Colorado State, Indiana, Iowa State, New Mexico, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pepperdine, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV, UTEP, and Wyoming.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The 2012 tournament marks the 33rd anniversary of the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational. From its beginning in 1979, the McGuire annually showcases the best that women’s college golf has to offer. The origin of the McGuire dates back much earlier than 1979. From 1956 to 1978 the top women’s teams in the nation competed with men’s teams at the William H. Tucker Invitational. The combined tournament each fall was the premier college golf event of its time. This event grew in such magnitude for both the men and the women that each side needed its own separate tournament. In 1979, the women’s field branched off to the McGuire Invitational, while the men still play the Tucker. Both tournaments remain staples on the respective schedules of all the top college golf programs in the country today.
ENGLISH SHINES IN OPENER
Sophomore Lauren English opened the season with some stellar play at the Chip-N-Club Invite, carding a three-round total of 229 (+13). The result was English’s first top-10 finish of her collegiate career as she placed eighth in a field of 73 golfers. English had a shaky start, bogeying three of her first four holes on the final day, but then rallied to birdie two out of the next three holes. On the back nine, English played steady golf, sinking pars on eight of the final nine holes, including five in a row to finish.
MENZEL RETURNS TO ALMA MATER
Head coach Megan Menzel returns to her alma mater, the University of New Mexico, when the Hawkeyes compete at the Dick McGuire Invitational. As a Lobo, Menzel was a two-time captain and was a part of three Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship teams (1994, 1995, 1996).