March 1, 2014
CHANDLER, Ariz. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team captured its third straight Big Four Exhibition Match title on Saturday at the Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz., downing Drake in the first round by a score of 6-0 before defeating Iowa State in the finals, 3.5-2.5.
Senior Steven Ihm led the charge for the Hawkeyes, finishing with a record of 2-0 and posting the lowest 36-hole score of the event with a seven-under par 135 (67-68). Ihm defeated Drake’s Devin Leland by 10 strokes in the first round, before topping Iowa State’s Scott Fernandez by nine strokes in the finals. In his career at Iowa, Ihm is 6-0 in Big Four Exhibition individual matches.
“Steven has really competed well at this event the past three years,” said head coach Mark Hankins. “He has used this tournament as a spring board into the rest of the spring season.”
Junior Ian Vandersee excelled in the No. 1 position for the Hawkeyes, finishing with a 2-0 record. Vandersee cruised past Drake’s Dane Worley by eight strokes in the first round, before besting Iowa State’s Nick Voke in the finals by four strokes. Vandersee posted rounds of 73 and 72 to finish three-over par on the day.
Juniors Brian Bullington, Ryan Marks and sophomore Nate Yankovich finished with 1-1 records on the day, while freshman Raymond Knoll closed with a 1-0-1 record. Bullington and Yankovich tied for the third-lowest score in the event, as both fired a three-under par score of 139.
Two Hawkeyes competed as individuals in Saturday’s event, as sophomore Voramate Aussarassakorn posted rounds of 70-73 (+1) and freshman Carson Schaake shot 72-71 (+1).
“Everyone fought hard today and we were able to get a few guys to break through some of the early tentativeness in shooting under par rounds,” said Hankins. “We appreciated the competitiveness in the matches from both Drake and Iowa State and wish them the best moving forward.”
Iowa returns to action on March 21-23 when they travel to Tempe, Ariz., for the Arizona State University Thunderbird Invitational. It is the Hawkeyes’ first appearance in the event.
Iowa 6, Drake 0
Ian Vandersee (73) def. Dane Worley (81)
Steven Ihm (67) def. Devin Leland (77)
Brian Bullington (70) def. Connor Steele (73)
Ryan Marks (71) def. Will McDonald (75)
Raymond Knoll (69) def. Matt Ohl (71)
Nate Yankovich (67) def. Karter Smith (82)
Iowa 3.5, Iowa State 2.5
Ian Vandersee (72) def. Nick Voke (76)
Steven Ihm (68) def. Scott Fernandez (77)
Ruben Sondjaja (67) def. Brian Bullington (69)
Sam Daley (73) def. Ryan Marks (76)
Raymond Knoll (71) halved with Collin Foster (71)
Nate Yankovich (72) def. Jack Carter (80)