Schaake, Hawkeyes in 2nd At Golfweek Challenge

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Results Round 2

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — University of Iowa junior Alex Schaake led the men’s golf team in round two of the Golfweek Conference Challenge on Monday. Iowa finished the day in second place with a 36-hole score of 565 (-11) at the par-72 (7,071 yards) Cedar Rapids Country Club.
 
After posting an even round one with one birdie, Schaake fired six birdies — five on the front nine, including four straight holes — in round two to finish the day with an 18-hole score of 67 (-5). He surged 21 spots on the individual leaderboard to head into the final round tied second with a 36-hole score of 139 (-5).
 
Freshman Gonzalo Leal Montero finished the second round with a score of 73 (+1), tying for fifth with a score of 140 (-4) after two rounds.
 
Senior Matthew Walker carded four birdies in the second round, finishing round two with an 18-hole score of 71 (-1). After posting his fourth round at or below par this season, he moved up two spots, tying 12th with a 36-hole score of 142 (-2).
 
Redshirt junior Alex Moorman shot one-under the front nine and even on the back nine for the second day in a row. He is even through two rounds with a score of 144 (E). Junior Benton Weinberg is tied 32nd with a two-round score of 146 (+2).
 
Arkansas State is leading the field with a two-round score of 553 (-23). Campbell rounds out the top-three with a 36-hole score of 572 (-4).
 
IOWA SCORECARD

2	Iowa	282	283	-11	585
T-2	Alex Schaake	72	67	-5	139
T-5	Gonzalo Leal Montero	67	73	-4	140
T-12	Matthew Walker	71	71	-2	142
T-22	Alex Moorman	72	72	E	144
T-32	Benton Weinberg	73	73	+2	146

 
COMPETING INDIVIDUALLY
Three Hawkeyes — senior Aaron DeNucci, junior Jack Simpson, and sophomore Jake Rowe — are competing as individuals. DeNucci is tied for 22nd with a 36-hole score of 144 (E) after posting a second-round score of 75 (+3). Rowe bounced back in round two, jumping 21 spots, with a score of 71 (-1). He has a 36-hole total of 150 (+6), tying 56th. Simpson is tied for 56th after 36 holes with a score of 152 (+8).
 
NOTEABLES

• Alex Moorman leads the field with 29 pars.
• Leal Montero’s 10 birdies is the second most in the field.
• The Hawkeyes are first in the field with a par-four average of 3.97 (-4).
• Iowa’s 126 pars are second in the 16-team field.

COACH STITH’S COMMENTS
“Alex played very well today, got it going on the front nine. We just really could not get anything going on the back nine; we made a lot of pars and a few bogeys here and there. Arkansas State made a lot of birdies and ran away with a 12-shot lead.”
 
“We need to get more than one guy going. Gonzalo had a nice round yesterday and Alex had a good round today. We need to get two or three guys under-par tomorrow. The reality is at this point there is really no pressure on us because the pressure is all on Arkansas State. They have a big lead and need to go out and try to protect that. We can just go out and do our thing.”
 
SCHAAKE’S THOUGHTS
“To play in front of the fans, I know a lot of my family members are out here today, it’s pretty special. Even Benton’s parents came all the way from Maryland to come watch. There is just a different vibe playing at your home course; seeing different faces and different fans wearing Hawk gear. It’s really cool.”
 
UP NEXT
The final round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge tees off tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. (CT). Iowa is paired with Arkansas State and Campbell. Admission is free.