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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team travels to South Bend, Indiana, for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic, Sunday-Monday.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Sunday, Oct. 7 — 36 holes, shotgun start beginning at 7:45 a.m. (CT)
Monday, Oct. 8 — 18 holes, tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. (CT)
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans can follow this weekend’s action by visiting birdiefire.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
No. 19 Iowa is joined by a field of 14 other teams that include: Georgia Southern, No. 29 Illinois, No. 37 Iowa State, Miami (OH), Michigan, No. 35 Michigan State, Nebraska, No. 48 North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Southern Alabama, Southern Illinois, Toledo, and Wisconsin (Golfweek Rankings).
THE LINEUP
The lineup for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic includes one senior (Matthew Walker), three juniors (Alex Moorman, Alex Schaake, and Benton Weinberg), and one freshman (Gonzalo Leal Montero).
QUOTING COACH TYLER STITH
“We are anxious to get back into the competitive mindset. We have a quick turnaround, which is good thing because we are playing well. The guys want to make amends for what transpired last weekend and go back out and have a good result.”
THE COURSE
Set up for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic, playing as a par-71, stretching 7,020 yards, Warren Golf Course is located in Notre Dame, Indiana. This links-style course opened in the fall of 1999 and is nestled on 250 wooded acres.
LAST TIME OUT
Three Hawkeyes — juniors Alex Moorman, Benton Weinberg, and Alex Schaake — finished in the top-25 at the Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills. Moorman carded two rounds at or below par to earn his first top-10 finish of the season, tied for 10th, with a three-round score of 217 (+1). Weinberg tied for 21st with a 54-hole score of 220 (+4). Schaake posted a three-round score of 221 (+5) to tie for 25th.
HISTORICALLY AT THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH CLASSIC
This will be Iowa’s fourth time competing in this tournament. The Hawkeyes have top-10 finishes in all previous four appearances, earning the team title in 2010, which is the last time they competed in the tournament.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK — 5
Three Hawkeyes — Matthew Walker, Alex Schaake, and Gonzalo Leal Montero — have fired five-under par in four different rounds this season. Walker carded his round in the final round of the Gopher Invitational. Schaake’s came in the second round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge. Leal Montero carded one round at the Golfweek Conference Challenge and another at the Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills.
RECORD PERFORMANCE
Freshman Gonzalo Leal Montero’s first round score of 67 (-5) at the Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills is tied for the third best 18-hole score in tournament history.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP
Moorman and Schaake are leading the way for the Hawkeyes, each posting a team-leading five rounds at or below par through eight rounds. Moorman has one top-10 and one top-20 finish, while Schaake leads the team with two top-10 and two top-20 finishes in three tournaments.
FRESH FACE IN THE CROWD
Freshman Gonzalo Leal Montero is quickly finding his spot in the Hawkeye lineup. Leal Montero began his career by posting two top-20 and one top-10 finish through three tournaments, including a fifth place finish at the Golfweek Conference Challenge. He has posted four of his seven rounds at or below par. The Seville, Spain, native leads the Iowa with a 70.6 scoring average and has a low 18-hole score of 67.
B1G PERFORMANCE
Junior Alex Schaake earned his first career Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor for his second place finish at the Golfweek Conference Challenge on Sept. 16-17. The Omaha, Nebraska, native helped lead Iowa to a team finish of second place. He fired seven birdies in the second round to surge 21 spots on the leaderboard with a 36-hole score of 139 (-5). Schaake posted 27 pars — third most in the field — and two rounds at or below par to give him a team leading five rounds at or below par on the 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.
LOOKING AHEAD
Iowa will travel to Dallas, Texas, for the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate, Oct. 22-23, for its last tournament of the fall.