NCAA Austin Regional Up Next For Iowa

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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team makes its 21st NCAA appearance in program history as the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Regional in Austin, Texas, May 13-15. The regional will be played at University of Texas Golf Club. The 7,355-yard, par-71 Championship course has a course rating of 76.7 and a slope rating of 144.
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday, May 13 — 18 holes, shotgun start beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CT)
Tuesday, May 14 — 18 holes, shotgun start beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CT)
Wednesday, May 15 — 18 holes, shotgun start beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CT)
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans can follow this week’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
The 14-team Austin Regional includes No. 6 Texas, No. 7 USC, No. 18 Pepperdine, No. 19 Clemson, No. 30 TCU, No. 31 Arkansas, No. 42 Iowa, No. 43 Marquette, San Jose State, Saint Mary’s, Sam Houston State, UMKC, Prairie View A&M, and Army West Point. (Golfstat Relative Rankings)
 
FIRST ROUND PAIRING
No. 42 Iowa will be paired with No. 43 Marquette and San Jose State.
 
FAMILIAR FOES
The Hawkeyes will face six opponents who they have competed against this season: Arkansas, Clemson, Marquette, Pepperdine, San Jose State, and UMKC. The Hawkeyes finished eight strokes ahead of No. 31 Arkansas (Gopher Invitational, Sept. 9-10) and San Jose State (Golfweek Conference Challenge, Sept. 16-17), while finishing 36 strokes ahead of UMKC (Hawkeye Invitational, April 20-21). Iowa finished the Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 17-19), three strokes in front of Marquette. The Hawkeyes finished behind Clemson (Puerto Rico Classic), Pepperdine (Royal Oaks Intercollegiate, Oct. 22-23), and Marquette (Intercollegiate at Erin Hills, Sept. 30-Oct. 2).
 
THE LINEUP
The lineup for the NCAA Regionals includes one senior (Matthew Walker), two juniors (Alex Schaake and Benton Weinberg), one sophomore (Joe Kim), and one freshman (Gonzalo Leal Montero).
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Hawkeyes finished 11th at the Big Ten Championships (April 26-28) with a 54-hole score of 899 (+59). Freshman Gonzalo Leal Montero earned his fourth top-20 finish of the season, finishing 11th with a three-round total of 220 (+10). Junior Alex Schaake earned a top-25 finish, tying for 24th with a score of 223 (+13).
 
HISTORICALLY AT THE NCAA REGIONALS
Iowa is making its 10th NCAA appearance in the past 11 seasons, and the first time since 2016-17 when they finished tied for 10th with a 54-hole score of 913 (+49) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Matthew Walker finished tied for 46th with a three-round total of 229 (+13), while Alex Schaake finished with a score of 240 (+24) to tie for 65th. Iowa is seeking its 16th NCAA Championship Finals berth in program history.
 
BEST IN THE BIG TEN
After leading the conference with a stroke average of 70.81 this season and earning the Les Bolstad Award for the lowest stroke average, Schaake was named the Big Ten Men’s Golfer of the Year. He is the third Hawkeye to earn both honors (Brad Klapprott, 1992 and Vince India, 2011). He was also named a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team.
 
B1G HONORS
Junior Benton Weinberg earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He is second on the team with a 71.85 scoring average and the second lowest round with a 64 (-7). Senior Aaron DeNucci was the recipient of the Iowa Men’s Golf Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
 
RECORD SETTING PERFORMANCE AT HAWKEYE INVITE
The Hawkeyes shattered the program’s 54-hole mark by 24 strokes with an 809 (-43).  Iowa set a new program record for 18 holes with its 262 (-22) performance in the first round, topping the previous mark by six strokes. Their third-round total of 270 (-14) is the third lowest 18-hole score in school history. Schaake set a new tournament 18-hole record with a 63 (-8) in the first round. It was also best for second in program history and just one stroke off the school record. Schaake and Weinberg tied the third lowest 18-hole score in school history with a 64 (-7). Weinberg’s 54-hole total of 204 (-9) set the third lowest mark in school history. Walker fired a 67 (-4) on the first 18, tying the sixth lowest mark in program history. The senior posted back-to-back rounds of 66 (-5), which ties the fifth best 18-hole score in program history. Kim tied the eighth lowest 54-hole mark in school history with a 209 (-4).
 
CAREER WEEKEND
Four Hawkeyes — Schaake, Weinberg, Kim, and Walker — posted career low 18-hole scores in the first round of the Hawkeye Invitational. Schaake fired a 63 (-8) with a bogey-free first round. Weinberg carded a 64 (-7). Kim shot a 68 (-3) and Walker posted a 66 (-5). Schaake (199; -14), Walker (199; -14), Weinberg (204; -9), and Kim (209; -4), and sophomore Jake Rowe (224; +11) all fired career best 54-hole scores. Schaake and Walker each earned a career best finish, earning co-medalist honors. Weinberg (6th), and Kim (T-14th) also earned personal best finishes.
 
SCHAAKE LEADING THE WAY
Schaake leads the Hawkeyes, posting 16 of his 26 rounds this season at or below par. The Omaha, Nebraska, native has registered the top individual finish for Iowa in a team-leading four tournaments. The junior carded two or more rounds at or below par in six tournaments. Schaake has posted every round at or below par in four competitions. He leads Iowa with a stroke average of 70.81, six top-20 finishes, five top-10 finishes, a low round of 63.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The top five teams of each regional will advance to the NCAA Tournament, hosted by Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at Blessings Golf Club, May 24-29.
 

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