24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Golfweek Conference Challenge Notes
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team hosts the 10th annual Golfweek Conference Challenge, Sept. 16-18, at Cedar Rapids Country Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Admission is free to the public.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Sunday — 18 holes, tee times starting at 9:30 a.m. (CT) off holes 1 and 10
Monday — 18 holes, tee time starting at 9:30 a.m. (CT) off holes 1 and 10
Tuesday — 18 holes, shotgun start at 9 a.m. (CT)
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans can follow this weekend’s action by visiting golfstat.com for live scoring. Links can be found on the men’s golf schedule page on hawkeyesports.com
LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa men’s golf program and to access exclusive coverage, “like” Hawkeye men’s golf on Facebook and follow @IowaHawkeyeGolf on Twitter and Instagram.
THE FIELD
Iowa is joined by a field of 15 other teams that include: Arkansas State, Ball State, Boston College, Campbell, Dayton, Furman, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Kansas State, Loyola Marymount, San Jose State, Southern Illinois, No. 24 UCLA, and UTEP. (Golfstat Relative Rankings)
THE LINEUP
The lineup for the Golfweek Conference Challenge includes one senior (Matthew Walker), three juniors (Alex Moorman, Alex Schaake, and Benton Weinberg), and one freshman (Gonzalo Leal Montero).
THE COURSE
Set up for the Golfweek Conference Challenge, playing as a par-72, stretching 7,112 yards, the Donald Ross Course at the Cedar Rapids Country Club is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The course was created in 1904 and restored in 2015.
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa opened the 2018-19 season at the Gopher Invitational, Sept. 9-10. The Hawkeyes finished third with a 54-hole score of 851 (-1) — fifth best 54-hole score in tournament history. Senior Matthew Walker led the charge for Iowa, jumping 11 spots in the final round, to finish fifth with a three-round score of 210 (-3). Junior Alex Schaake three rounds at or below par to open the season with a three-round score of 210 (-3) to finish tied sixth.
HISTORICALLY AT THE GOLFWEEK CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
The Hawkeyes have posted top-10 team finishes in all eight of the previous years. Iowa captured the team title in 2010 with a 54-hole score of 833 (-31) and 2015 with a score of 842 (-22). Iowa has had three individual champions crowned with Vince India and Chris Brant in 2010 with a score of 206 (-10), while Raymond Knoll posted a score of 205 (-11) to win in 2015. Iowa finished second last year with three-round score of 849 (-15), while Schaake finished second on the individual leaderboard with a 54-hole total of 208 (-8).
QUOTING COACH TYLER STITH
“We do not get to play in front of our family and friends often, so to be able to host this event at such a prestgious golf club is a privilege.”
HAWKEYE DEBUT
Freshman Gonzalo Leal Montero made his Hawkeye debut this past weekend at the Gopher Invitational. The Seville, Spain, native posted his first career top-20 finish — tying 18th — with a 54-hole score of 216 (+3). He posted two rounds at or below par.
SHOOTING IN TO THE RECORD BOOKS
Iowa’s 54-hole score of 851 (-1) was fifth best in Gopher Invitational history, while the team’s final round 18-hole score of 277 (-7) ties for the fourth best score in tournament history and the second best since the it moved to Windsong Farm Golf Club in 2013. Walker’s third round score of 66 (-5) ties the fourth lowest round in program history. His 66 (-5) also ties the fourth lowest round at the Gopher Invitational and ties for the second lowest since the tournament moved to Windsong Farm Golf Club.
SCHAAKE’S STRONG START
Schaake opened his junior season posting three straight rounds at or below par to finish the Gopher Invitational with three-round score of 211 (-2). His sixth place finish is his fifth top-10 finish over the last 12 tournaments dating back to last season.
3 HAWKEYES EARN B1G PRESEASON HONORS
Schaake competed in 13 events for the Hawkeyes last season. He finished 24th at NCAA Regionals with a three-round score of 220 (+7). The Omaha, Nebraska, native was named to the Division 1 Ping All-Midwest Regional Team and All-Big Ten Second Team as a sophomore.
Walker competed in all 13 tournaments for the Hawkeyes as a junior. He earned the Iowa Men’s Golf Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Walker recorded four top-25 finishes and 10 rounds at or below par.
Alex Moorman competed in seven tournaments for Iowa last season. He posted a career best finish (third) at the Hawkeye Invitational with a three-round score of 141 (-3). Moorman posted an 18-hole career low and Hawkeye best 66 in the second round of the Big Ten Championships, tying 15th.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP
The Hawkeyes are led by seniors Aaron DeNucci and Matthew Walker, along with four juniors. DeNucci competed at the Schenkel Invitational as an individual where he carded a 222 (+6) three-round score to tie for 59th. Walker finished 2017 with an 18-hole scoring average of 73.69, third best on the team. He finished with a 54-hole score of 220 (+10) at the Big Ten Championships to tie for 31st.
A PROGRAM ON THE RISE
Iowa has won 15 tournaments since 2008 and has had 15 individual medalists since 2009, including Carson Schaake, who was crowned individual co-champion at the 2015 Big Ten Championships and Raymond Knoll who won the 2015 Golfweek Conference Challenge.
LOOKING AHEAD
Iowa will travel to Erin, Wisconsin, for the Erin Hills Intercollegiate on Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
