Oct. 19, 2012
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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — University of Iowa junior men’s golfer Steven Ihm is tied for second place through the first round of play at the U.S. Collegiate Championship. Ihm fired a 69 (-3), just one stroke off the lead, while the Hawkeyes carded a 304 (+16) on the Lakeside Course at the Golf Club of Georgia. Iowa is in 13th place in the talent-loaded field.
Ihm, a native of Peosta, Iowa, has gone under-par in six of his past seven rounds, with a 70.4 stroke average in that stretch. The returning second-team All-Big Ten selection has recorded consecutive top-10 finishes this season, and placed eighth in the 2011 U.S. Collegiate Championship with a three-round total of 213 (-3).
“Steven had his head up from the first hole and let the round come to him,” said Iowa head coach Mark Hankins. “He took his time and took advantage of the holes that presented birdie opportunities. He’s been here before and needs to keep the pedal down tomorrow to give himself a chance to compete for a championship on the final day.”
Ihm’s round was more than six strokes better than the field average, a 75.66. Ihm got off to a terrific start on the front nine with birdies on holes 1, 3 and 4 to fire a three-under, 33. Ihm made par on No. 10, and played the final eight holes with four birdies and four bogeys to keep his round at three-under. He was one of 11 players in the field to break par. Ihm improved his stroke average to 72.3 for the fall season.
Sophomore Brian Bullington carded a two-over par, 74, opening round to sit tied in 22nd place after the first round. He made birdie on the par-five opening hole, but followed with three straight bogeys. Bullington played the final 14 holes at even par, finishing with three birdies on his round.
Sophomore Ian Vandersee shot an 80 (+8) and is tied for 67th place through the opening round. Vandersee birdied his opening hole and had 10 pars in his round.
Sophomore Joseph Winslow carded an 81 (+9), and is 71st in the field through round one. He played holes 5-11 at three-under par, with birdies on No. 8, 9 and 11.
Junior Ryan Marks made 10 pars on his round, and carded an 85 (+13). Marks is in 78th place.
“We pressed today as a team and need to do a better job tomorrow of staying in the present and letting the round come to us,” said Hankins. “It’s not a golf course that you can overpower or force things to happen. It’s fair and very playable if you play the shot at hand and play with confidence. We will stick to our gameplan and look to post a better score tomorrow,” said Hankins.
Action will resume Saturday with the second round of play. Tee times begin at 8:40 a.m. (CT).