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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s golf team travels to Carollton, Texas, to compete in the Bruzzy Challenge on April 2-3.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday, April 2 — First Round — 8:30 a.m. (CT)
Monday, April 2 — Second Round — Approx. 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Tuesday, April 3 — Third Round — 8:30 a.m. (CT)
FOLLOW ALONG
Live scoring will be available throughout the tournament on Golfstat.com. Links can be found on the Iowa women’s golf schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
THE COMPETITION
The field includes 14 teams (Golfstat Relative Rankings): Iowa, North Texas, BYU (42), SMU, San Diego State (49), Texas A&M (38), Texas Tech (50), Missouri, Kansas State, TCU, Boston College, Iowa State (34), Houston (26), and UTSA.
LINEUP
Senior Jessica Ip will be in the one spot for the Hawkeyes. She will be followed by juniors Shawn Rennegarbe and Kristin Glesne, freshman Rachel Fujitani, and senior Elisa Suarez. Senior Morgan Kukla will compete as an individual.
THE COURSE
The Maridoe Golf Course was designed by Steve Smyers and Patrick Andrews.
This course incorporates the 28-acre lake that is on the property.
Maridoe has 14 holes with deep rough, water, and consistently narrow and sloping fairways.
HISTORICALLY AT THE BRUZZY CHALLENGE
This is the inagaugural year of the challenge.
Iowa last competed in Texas last season at the Red Raider Invitational where they tied for sixth. Senior Jessica Ip had the best individual finish, earning second-place with a three-round score of 215 (-1).
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa competed in the Arizona State Invitational on March 23-25, finishing 14th with a 54-hole total of 911 (+47)
Freshman Rachel Fujitani carded a career-best 54-hole score of 221 (+5), tying for 29th — a career-best finish. She also notched career bests for 18-holes (71) and 36-holes (147).
Junior Shawn Rennegarbe fired a 73 (+1) in the first round, finishing with a three-round score of 226 (+10), tying 48th.
COMPETING WITH THE BEST
Through seven tournaments, Iowa has competed against 52 top-50 teams according to Golfstat Relative Rankings.
Nine of those 52 opponents are ranked in the top-10, including No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Alabama.
Iowa has faced 27 top-25 opponents this season.
Iowa opened the season at the Branch Law Firm Invitational, tying for seventh with No. 18 ranked Iowa State and New Mexico.
The Hawkeyes’ field this week includes six top-50 ranked teams according to Golfstat Relative Rankings.
FRESHMAN IMPACT
Freshman Rachel Fujitani is tied for second on the team for lowest stroke average with junior Shawn Rennegarbe, they both have a 75.7 stroke average.
Fujitani recorded her first round at-or-below par at the Arizona State Invitational with a second round score of 71 (-1) — a career-best 18-hole score. She also recorded the best individual finish for the Hawkyes at the Arizona State Invitational, tying 29th — a career-best finish.
Freshman Stephanie Herzog has competed in five tournaments for Iowa, she has a stroke average of 80.4.
Herzog had her best finish at the Hawkeye El-Tigre Invitational, tying 57th with a three-round score of 235 (+19).
Freshman Annalee Dannegger has competed in three rounds, she has a stroke average of 86.7.
BIG TEN PRESEASON HONOREES THIS SEASON
Three members of the University of Iowa women’s golf team — seniors Jessica Ip and Morgan Kukla, and sophomore Sophie Liu — were named 2017-18 Big Ten Women’s Golf Preseason Honorees.
Ip has competed in all eight tournaments for the Hawkeyes this season. She leads the team for stroke average (74.3), low round (67), rounds at-or-below par (5), top-10 finishes (1), and top-20 finishes (2).
Liu made her season debut at the Westbrook Spring Invitational, where she fired a 54-hole score of 240 (+24).
Kukla has appeared in six tournaments for Iowa this season. She has a stroke average of 77.1 and a low round of 73 (+1).
ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes will host Bradley University in Burlington, Iowa, on April 7-8.
