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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s golf team travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, to compete in the Big Ten Championships on April 20-22.
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, April 20 — First Round — 7:30 a.m. (CT)
Saturday, April 21 — Second Round — 7:30 a.m. (CT)
Sunday, April 22 — Third Round — 7:00 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.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
The Big Ten Network will air coverage of the Big Ten Championships on April 30 at 4:00 p.m. (CT).
THE COMPETITION
The field includes all 14 Big Ten teams (Golfstat Relative Rankings): Illinois (26), Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State (12), Nebraska, Northwestern (13), Ohio State (45), Penn State, Purdue (22), Rutgers, and Wisconsin (34).
LINEUP
Senior Jessica Ip will be in the number one spot for the Hawkeyes. She will be followed by freshman Rachel Fujitani, juniors Shawn Rennegarbe and Kristin Glesne, senior Morgan Kukla, and freshman Stephanie Herzog.
THE COURSE
TPC River’s Bend was designed by Arnold Palmer.
This course features a stunning backdrop of winding playing routes, picturesque waterfalls, and gentle elevation changes.
Palmer designed the course to meander through corridors of mature hardwoods and whispering creeks.
HISTORICALLY AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last year, Iowa finished 10th with a three-round total of 931 (+67).
The Hawkeyes have 26 team top-10 finishes at Big Ten Championships over the past 28 years.
Senior Jessica Ip had the best individual performance for the Hawkeyes in 2017, tying for 12th with a 54-hole score of 221 (+5). She carded a 70 (-2) in the third round.
Senior Morgan Kukla and junior Shawn Rennegarbe each carded 10 holes at-or-below par in the final round last year at TPC River’s Bend.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawkeyes competed in the Bruzzy Challenge on April 2-3, finishing 12th with a 54-hole score of 949 (+85)
Freshman Rachel Fujitani carded the best individual finish for Iowa, tying for 13th — a career best — with a three-round score of 229 (+13).
Junior Kristin Glesne jumped 10 spots on the leaderboard in round three to tie for 64th with a 54-hole score of 244 (+28).
COMPETING WITH THE BEST
Through nine tournaments, Iowa has competed against 42 top-50 teams according to Golfstat Relative Rankings.
Seven of those 42 opponents are ranked in the top-10, including No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Alabama.
Iowa has faced 19 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.
AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION
The Symetra Tour, a qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour, will host the inaugural Prasco Charity Championship at TPC River’s Bend on June 29-July 1.
The 2018 Big Ten women’s golf individual champion will recieve an exemption into the first-ever tournament.
FUJITANI’S FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN
Freshman Rachel Fujitani has competed in five competitions for the Hawkeyes this season, earning a stroke average of 75.8 — the second best on the team.
Fujitani earned her first B1G Golfer of the Week award for her play at the Bruzzy Challenge. She finished the tournament with a 54-hole score of 229 (+13), tying for 13th — a career-best finish.
She carded the best individual finish for Iowa at the Arizona State Invitational (T29) and the Bruzzy Challenge (T13).
ETCHING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
The Hawkeyes opened the spring at the Westbrook Spring Invitational where they carded an 18-hole score of 286 (-2) — tied for fourth in program history. Iowa carded a 36-hole score of 582 (+6) — tying for third in program history — at the Westbrook Spring Invitational.
Ip’s second round score of 67 (-5) at the Westbrook Spring Invitational is tied for first in program history and her 36-hole score of 142 (-2) to begin the spring is tied for fifth.
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 nine tournaments for the Hawkeyes this season. She leads the team for stroke average (75), low round (67), rounds at-or-below par (5), top-10 finishes (1), and top-20 finishes (1).
Liu made her season debut at the Westbrook Spring Invitational, where she fired a 54-hole score of 240 (+24).
Kukla has appeared in seven tournaments for Iowa this season. She has a stroke average of 77.8 and a low round of 73 (+1).
