BRYAN, Texas — University of Iowa women’s golfer Amy Ihm concluded her record-breaking senior campaign at the NCAA Bryan Regional, carding a five-over-par 77 in final round action at Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas.
“Today’s score might not have been what I wanted to finish on but I really enjoyed the day and made the most of the opportunity,” said Ihm. “I can’t let this tournament define my career and I think it’s important to focus on all the good that happened this year.”
Sixth-ranked Georgia won the regional with a score of 858 (-6), followed by No. 11 Arizona (864), No. 3 UCLA (865), No. 19 Furman (873), Miami (877), and Texas (879). The top six teams advance to the NCAA Championship, which will be held May 20-25, at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon.
Ihm — Iowa’s second NCAA postseason individual qualifier — started the day on the back nine, carding a four-over-par 40 with birdies on holes 11, 17, and 18. On the front nine, Ihm bogeyed three holes, but answered with back-to-back birdies on holes four and five to finish with a one-over-par 37.
The senior recorded 12 birdies over the course of the tournament — the fourth highest birdie count in the tournament field. The Peosta, Iowa, native finished the regional with a three-round total of 231 (+15; 79, 75, 77) to tie for 69th overall.
“As tough as it is going out on this note I think it’s important to look at how far I’ve come and really focus on the positives this year,” said Ihm. “It was an incredible senior campaign and I’m so thankful for everything that this game has given me. It’s taught me so much about myself and has brought some amazing people into my life.”
This season, Ihm led the Hawkeye squad with seven top 10 finishes in 10 tournaments. The Peosta, Iowa, native tallied two Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors — the first and second honors of her career — on September 28-29 and on March 14-15.
The senior earned a pair of conference honors on April 26 when she was named second team All-Big Ten and earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The conference team honor marks the first of Ihm’s career and the program’s first All-Big Ten selection since Stacey Bergman (1998). Ihm finished the 2015-16 season with a 73.1 stroke average — the lowest season average in program history by 3.2 strokes.