Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide. To receive daily news from the Iowa Hawkeyes, sign up HERE.
By MEGAN ROWLEY
IOWA CITY, Iowa — For the first time in 25 years, the University of Iowa women’s golf team will be represented in NCAA postseason competition. Senior Amy Ihm was selected to compete in the NCAA Bryan Regional on May 5-7, making her the first UI women’s golfer to compete in NCAA postseason competition since 1990 and just the second in program history.
The Bryan Regional will be played at Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, and will be hosted by Texas A&M University and College Station.
“I am so excited,” said UI head coach Megan Menzel. “It has been an exciting end to the season and Amy has put together an awesome senior campaign. It not only means a lot to her, but to our program. She is playing great golf right now and she needs to go to Texas knowing she can make it to the next step.”
Ihm’s standout performance at the Big Ten Championship on April 24 helped to solidify her bid to NCAA Regionals. The senior carded 41 bogey-free holes to close the tournament and tied for fourth place overall — earning her a spot on the All-Big Ten Championship Team. The Peosta, Iowa, native’s career-low three-round total of 211 (-5) broke Iowa’s program record of 212 (-4) for individual 54-hole performance.
“I came into this program as a walk-on, so I was far behind and I knew that,” said Ihm. “I knew that it was going to take a lot of hard work, but I think I have put in enough hours to get to where I am today.
“It’s obviously disappointing not making it as a team, but I’m fortunate enough to get there as an individual. I’m excited for the opportunity.”
This season, Ihm led the team with seven top-10 finishes in 10 tournaments. She became the first Hawkeye since Lauren English (2013) to earn Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors for her performance at the Johnie Imes Invitational on Sept. 28-29, and added another weekly honor following a fourth place finish at the Entrada Classic on March 14-15. Her season-long efforts cumulated to a second team All-Big Ten honor — Iowa’s first all-conference selection since Stacey Bergman (1998) and eighth in program history.
“If you were to tell me that I would be All-Big Ten my senior year, I probably would have told you that you were crazy,” said Ihm. “It’s a huge honor, and I’m excited. I don’t know if it has sunk in yet.”
Ihm sets her sights on a NCAA Championship bid when she competes at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, on May 5-7.