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STATESBORO, Ga. — The University of Iowa men’s golf team equaled its second-lowest 18-hole team score of the season on Saturday to vault four spots to eighth place (573) after two rounds at the Schenkel Invitational. The Hawkeyes shot nine-under-par (279) at the par-72 Forest Heights Country Club on Saturday.
Iowa’s 279 tied four other teams as the second-lowest round of the day. Four Hawkeyes fired below-par rounds on Saturday, led by sophomore Alex Schaake’s season-best five-under par (67). Schaake sank seven birdies on Saturday, including carding six birdies in a 10-hole stretch. Schaake, who is seeking his fourth top 10 finish of the season and second in as many tournaments, is tied for ninth with a two-round total of 140.
Matthew Walker shot a three-under par (69) on Saturday, shooting a bogey-free back nine. The Hawkeye junior is currently tied for 17th place after the second round (141). Sophomore Alex Moorman fired a one-under par (71) today, registering three birdies in a five-hole stretch, and sits in 63rd place.
Iowa’s other two team competitors, Sam Meuret and Benton Weinberg, both shot level par on Saturday. Meuret’s 36-hole score of 146 positions the senior in 47th place, while Weinberg’s 147 puts him in 54th.
No. 5 Vanderbilt continues to lead the 14-team field, 23-under par (553) after 36 holes. The Hawkeyes only trail the No. 4 Florida by two strokes and No. 35 N.C. State and College of Charleston by five strokes. Iowa leads Big Ten-foe Minnesota by three strokes heading into Sunday’s final 18 holes.
Sophomore Jack Simpson and junior Aaron DeNucci are competing as individuals. After shooting +3 in his first nine holes, DeNucci rallied by birding five of his final eight holes to finish one-under par on Saturday. DeNucci’s 71 is a career low score, besting an even-par 72 fired two years ago on this very same golf course. Simpson posted a four-over par (76) and plus-three (147) after 36 holes.
IOWA SCORECARD
| 8 | Iowa | 294 | 279 | 573 |
| T-9 | Alex Schaake | 73 | 67 | -4 |
| T-17 | Matthew Walker | 72 | 69 | -3 |
| T-47 | Sam Meuret | 74 | 72 | +2 |
| T-54 | Benton Weinberg | 75 | 72 | +3 |
| T-63 | Alex Moorman | 77 | 71 | +4 |
| T-40 | Aaron DeNucci * | 74 | 71 | +1 |
| T-54 | Jack Simpson * | 71 | 76 | +3 |
*–competing as individuals
HAWKEYE NOTEABLES
- Iowa’s jump of four spots tied No. 4 Florida and host-school Georgia Southern for the biggest improvement from day one to day two.
- Alex Schaake’s 67 on Saturday was one stroke from a career best. The native of Omaha, Nebraska, recorded a 66 at the Big Ten Championship last spring.
- Iowa’s 38 birdies through two rounds are fifth most among the field of 14 teams.
- As a team, Iowa is averaging even-par on the par 3’s, which is second best among the 14 teams.
- Alex Schaake is averaging 2.75 on the par 3’s and Matthew Walker is averaging 4.38 on the par 5’s, which ties for second and third, respectively, among the field of 84 competitors.
COACH STITH’S COMMENTS
“We performed better today yet still left a few out there. We turned at minus-seven and had an opportunity to shoot a really good number. We hit all of our goals for the day and will set them a bit higher tomorrow. Alex and Matthew both stepped up for us. We needed a couple rounds in the 60’s and they delivered.”
SUNDAY’S PAIRINGS
The Hawkeyes will be paired with Notre Dame and Florida on Sunday. Tee times will start at 8:30 a.m. (ET).
