Hawkeyes Set to Host Diane Thomason Invitational

Oct. 9, 2013

Weekly Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s golf team hosts the Diane Thomason Invitational this weekend at Finkbine Golf Course (par 72, total yards 6,212) in Iowa City, Iowa. The 54-hole tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (CT) on both Saturday (36 holes) and Sunday (18 holes). Live scoring will be available throughout the tournament at the Iowa women’s golf schedule page and at golfstat.com.

HONORING DIANE THOMASON
Diane Thomason coached the Iowa women’s golf team from 1975-2002. She coached seven All-Big Ten selections and led the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten title in 1991. Her coaching honors include 1990 and 1991 Big Ten Coach of the Year, 1990 National Golf Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and 1985 LPGA National Coach of the Year. She was inducted in to the National Golf Coaches Associations Hall of Fame in 1995, and continues to lead the USA World University Championships teams, a position she assumed in 1986.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Megan Menzel
“We are looking forward to hosting at home this weekend and getting to play Finkbine,” said Megan Menzel. “We have a very solid field of teams, and we are excited to honor Diane in the first annual Diane Thomason Invitational. The team has enjoyed a little relief from the travel, and we have put in some good work on our games. Finkbine is in great shape, and we look forward to hosting a first class event!”

THE LINE-UP
The Iowa line-up is not yet available, but eight Hawkeyes will be playing this weekend at the first annual Diane Thomason Invitational, including: Shelby Phillips, Lauren English, Briana Midkiff , Jessie Sindlinger, Karly Grouwinkel, Nicole Rae, Amy Ihm, and Allison Lindley.

THE COMPETITION
The 12-team field features Campbell, Chattanooga, GRU Augusta, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Middle Tennessee, Ohio State, USF, and Wisconsin.

LAST TIME OUT
Jessie Sindlinger paced the Hawkeyes in the Challenge at Onion Creek, consistently carding three-over-par, ending the tournament with a 219 (+9) to tie for 11th place. Sophomore Briana Midkiff joined Sindlinger in the top-20. Her score of 224 (+14) tied her for 19th. Iowa finished sixth in a field of 11 teams with a 54-hole score of 898 (+58).

STRONG START FOR PHILLIPS
In her first tournament of the year, junior Shelby Phillips fired a 67 (-5) to tie Iowa’s all-time best single round performance and set a new Chip-N-Club Invitational tournament record. Phillips carded a 220 (+4) to tie for fifth place overall. Her score contributed to Iowa’s fourth place finish in a field of 13 teams.

RETURN TO ACTION
The Hawkeyes round out their fall schedule at the Fighting Camel Classic on Oct. 21-22. The tournament will be hosted by Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.