July 14, 2014
- Read the latest issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa sophomore Jessie Sindlinger is representing the UI women’s golf team this week at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in DuPost, Washington, near Seattle.
“Playing in these tournaments while representing the Hawkeyes is awesome,” said Sindlinger.
Sindlinger, a Charles City, Iowa, native, won a sectional qualifier in Granger, Iowa, at Jester Park Golf Course. She carded a 76 to get into the field of 156 players that begins today with two days of stroke play followed by four days of match play.
Sindlinger has played in big-time tournaments before all over the nation.
Named the 2013 Senior Girls Golf Athlete of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association, she was featured in the July 29 (2013) issue of Sports Illustrated — one of six athletes highlighted in ‘Faces in the Crowd,’ a weekly feature highlighting amateur athletes around the nation. Last summer, Sindlinger qualified for the 38th PGA Junior Championship at Trump National Golf Course in Washington, D.C.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Sindlinger. “I have competed in big tournaments, which are good experiences and opportunities to see what I can do.”
Sindlinger showed what she can do as a freshman in Iowa City.
“It was a lot different,” she said about the jump to college golf. “The courses got longer and harder, and the competition is always tough. It was a big transition, but it was fun learning experience.”
Sindlinger competed in every tournament last year, including 34 rounds, while posting a 77.1 stroke average — the second-lowest average on the team. She led the Hawkeyes at four events and recorded two top-20 and one top-10 finish, including the Dick McGuire Invitational (T18), Challenge at Onion Creek (T11), and Rainy Day Shootout (T8).
“It was a lot of fun,” she said about her rookie campaign. “I gained a lot of experience, played a lot of new courses, and had fun with the team and coaches. Hopefully, we can come out next year with more experience and new freshmen and see what we can do.”
Sindlinger especially enjoys utilizing the Hawkeyes’ all-inclusive facility – the James M. Hoak Family Golf Complex, which overlooks the sixth hole at Finkbine.
The facility features a 5,000-square foot Transamerica Performance Studio, highlighted by five indoor-to-outdoor hitting stations, V-1 Video Swing Analysis and Trackman technology. Players can digitally record, analyze and compare their swings and data to learn from the best in the world. The heated hitting stations open directly to the driving range and feature T-Line hitting surface enabling UI student-athletes to work on swing mechanics and full ball flight throughout the entire year, day or night.
“It was nice this offseason to be able to practice and swing a club,” said Sindlinger. “Having that there for us to use was awesome and it really helped us get ready for the spring.”
The performance studio also includes a 3,150-square foot indoor putting and chipping green that can be modified like a natural grass green, effectively recreating outdoor putting surface conditions.
The Golf Complex includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, coaches’ offices, team lounge and a trophy room that displays the history of Iowa golf.
The new 14,000-square foot outdoor putting green, outdoor wedge range, and bent grass practice area complete the facility and place it among the best in collegiate golf.
“The new putting green is huge,” said Sindlinger. “All the facilities are really nice and everything is right there.”