2 Hawkeyes Compete at Saguaro Amateur

2 Hawkeyes Compete at Saguaro Amateur

Jan. 7, 2014

MARICOPA, Ariz. — University of Iowa sophomore Nate Yankovich tied for 21st place and freshman Carson Schaake tied for 39th at the Saguaro Amateur, held Jan. 3-5 at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz.

The Saguaro Amateur is a 54-hole men’s amateur golf tournament played at Southern Dunes Golf Club on the southern edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The tournament field featured 107 amateur players from around the country.

“I’m excited that our guys took the initiative to challenge their games in the offseason,” said UI head coach Mark Hankins. “Both of them spent the week practicing and competing as well as acclimating to the golf courses in the Phoenix area where we will compete in the spring. Nate and Carson shot some solid scores and hopefully enjoyed the competition against an amateur field that features mostly collegiate players. This will help in preparation for our first team events this February.”

Yankovich, a Blacklick, Ohio, native, carded a three-round score of 216 (+3), posting consistent rounds of 72, 73, and a final found 71. He finished his final 18 holes with two birdies, two bogeys, and 14 pars.

Yankovich competed in two events for the Hawkeyes in the fall, finishing 32nd at the Golfweek Conference Challenge and 53rd at the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate. He finished the fall with the team’s fourth-best stroke average (73.3).

Schaake, an Omaha, Neb., native, posted a three-round score of 221 (+9), recording rounds of 74, 70, and 77. He saw his first collegiate action this fall, tying for 59th at the Rod Myers-Duke Invitational.

The Hawkeyes open the 2014 season with the annual Black and Gold Alumni Match on Feb. 8 in Sarasota, Fla., before competing in the Big Ten Match Play Championships, Feb. 14-15, in Bradenton, Fla.