24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | NCAA Austin Regional Rd. 2 Results
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Iowa junior Alex Schaake and freshman Gonzalo Leal Montero shot under par to lead the 42nd-ranked Hawkeyes in the second round of the NCAA Austin Regional on Tuesday at the par-71 Texas Golf Club. Iowa is in seventh place with a 580 (+12) score through 36 holes.
The Hawkeyes recorded a 285 (+1) in the second round for the third lowest total of the day, just one stroke behind No. 19 Clemson and eleven strokes behind No. 6 Texas.
Host No. 6 Texas leads the tournament at 16-under par (552) after shooting -10 (274) in the second round. No. 18 Pepperdine and No. 19 Clemson are tied for second with a two-round total of 568 (E), followed by No. 30 TCU (572; +4), No. 31 Arkansas (573; +5), and No. 7 USC (578 (+10). The top five teams after the 54-hole event advance to the NCAA Championships, May 24-29.
Schaake, the Big Ten Golfer of the Year, recorded 17 holes at or below par in the second round, including four birdies. He fired two birdies to finish two-under par on the back nine and even on the front nine with two birdies. The junior carded his team leading 17th round at or below par with a score of 69 (-2). He shot up 28 spots on the individual leaderboard with a 36-hole score of 146 (+4), tying for 27th.
Leal Montero continued his birdie binge with five birdies for the second straight day, including four on the back nine. His second round included just 22 putts for his 11th round at or below par this season with a 70 (-1). He is second in the event with 10 birdies, tied first in par three scoring (2.88; -1), and tied for second in par five scoring (4.17; -5). He is tied for 15th with a two-round total of 143 (+1) after moving up 14 spots on the individual leaderboard.
Junior Benton Weinberg, who led the Hawkeyes in the first round, shot one-over par (72) in the second round and is tied for ninth. He was one over at the turn after three bogies and two birdies. He closed his day with his third birdie of the day on his final hole, dropping a 15-foot putt on the par five ninth hole to close out his day.
Senior Matthew Walker recorded a 74 (+3) in the second round, using just 24 putts while recording four birdies. He is tied for 55th with a score of 153 (+11). Freshman JoeKim completed his day with a 79 (+8), collecting three birdies. Kim is tied for 60th with a score of 155 (+13).
IOWA SCORECARD
| 7 | Iowa | 295 | 285 | +12 | 580 |
| T-9 | Benton Weinberg | 69 | 72 | -1 | 141 |
| T-15 | Gonzalo Leal Montero | 73 | 70 | +1 | 143 |
| T-27 | Alex Schaake | 77 | 69 | +4 | 146 |
| T-55 | Matthew Walker | 79 | 74 | +11 | 153 |
| T-60 | Joe Kim | 76 | 79 | +13 | 155 |
COACH STITH’S COMMENTS
“We got off to a great start this morning, really played well on the back nine. The wind picked up on our back nine and the temperature dropped; we went through a tough stretch where we dropped some shots, when the course was playing a little more difficult. It was nice to see the guys bounce back with three birdies on the final hole to finish out the round.
Gonzalo is just swinging the golf club really well right now. He’s extremely confident, managing his game well, he has played well all spring. He is giving himself a lot of opportunities.
Alex hit the ball better yesterday than what he scored, but that is golf, you don’t always get what you hope for, or expect. We did some work on the range last night. Today he played like the Big Ten Player of the Year. He was rock solid all day. He played a nearly flawless round of golf.
We’ve hit a lot of good shots, rolling the putter pretty well. There are birdies out there, the greens are pure. It’s a matter of getting off the tee well and giving ourselves opportunities and taking our chances when we have them.”
JUNIOR ALEX SCHAAKE’S COMMENTS
“We made some adjustments on the range after the first round and I was hitting my irons much better today. I had more opportunities on the first nine and did not take advantage of some putts. Overall, I hit the ball very consistently and was happy with the improvement. I feel good about where we are going into round three.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes compete in round three of the Austin Regional of the NCAA Tournament tomorrow morning with an 8:25 a.m. (CT) tee time. Iowa will be paired with No. 43 Marquette and San Jose State.
