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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team resumes its fall season at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic, Monday-Tuesday, in Notre Dame, Indiana.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday (Rounds 1 & 2) — 36 holes; 7:30 a.m. (CT) shotgun start
Tuesday (Final round) — 18 holes; 7 a.m. tee times off holes 1 and 10
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 LINEUP
Senior Alex Schaake will anchor Iowa’s lineup in the No. 1 spot, followed by sophomore Gonzalo Leal Montero, junior Joe Kim, senior Benton Weinberg, and freshman Mac McClear, who will be making his Hawkeye debut.
THE FIELD
The 12-team field features three top-25 teams (Golfweek rankings): No. 3 Arizona State, No. 10 North Carolina, and No. 17 Notre Dame, who is the host of the tournament. Boston College, Georgia Southern, Iowa State, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers, Toledo, and UMKC, are the eight other teams competing alongside Iowa.
THE COURSE
The links-style Warren Golf Course is nestled on 250 wooded acres on the northeast edge of the Notre Dame campus. From the tips, the par-71 course stretches 7,020 yards with a 135 slope rating. It is ranked as the sixth-best course in Indiana and 12th-best college course in America by Golfweek.
HEAR FROM THE HAWKEYES
Squad’s on the up and up 📈
🗣 @coachtstith and @alex_schaake on Iowa’s last two weeks of practice and returning to the familiar Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic. #Hawkeyes | #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/6SSYaxnsvV
— Iowa Hawkeye Golf (@IowaHawkeyeGolf) October 2, 2019
HISTORICALLY AT THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH CLASSIC
- Last season, Iowa posted a then 54-hole school record 833 (-19) at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic to finish in fourth behind two ranked teams. Seniors Alex Schaake (T7; -10) and Benton Weinberg (T13; -8) were under par, while sophomore Gonzalo Leal Montero (T34; E) carded a first-round 69.
- This is the second straight year and fifth overall the Hawkeyes have competed in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic. In 2010, the Hawkeyes won the tournament title with four golfers in the top-20.
LAST TIME OUT
- In Iowa’s second tournament of the year, the Hawkeyes tied for fourth (871; +7) at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
- Seniors Alex Schaake and Benton Weinberg tied for 19th at two-over-par (218), while sophomore Gonzalo Leal Montero and junior Joe Kim tied for 21st at three-over-par (219). Weinberg, Leal Montero, and Kim all recorded season-best finishes.
- The Hawkeyes were in second place after the first round with 69s from Schaake and Weinberg. Iowa recorded six rounds at or below par.
- Junior Jake Rowe made his season debut competing as an individual. He fired a one-over-par 73 in the first round. Freshman Garrett Tighe also competed as an individual.
HAWKEYE TEE SHOTS
- Dating back to last season, Alex Schaake has recorded sixth straight top-25 finishes. The Omaha, Nebraska, native has 10 top-10 finishes in his career.
- Schaake and Benton Weinberg lead Iowa with three rounds at or below par. The Hawkeyes have 10 rounds at or below par as a team.
- Four times this season the Hawkeyes have recorded an 18-hole score of 69. Schaake has broke 70 twice, while Leal Montero and Weinberg have done it once.
- Schaake leads Iowa with 71.8 strokes-per-round, while Leal Montero and Joe Kim are tied for second best, averaging 73.5 strokes per 18 holes.
- Freshman Matthew Garside made his Hawkeye debut at the Golfweek Conference Challenge. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native averaged 75 strokes-per-round in his debut and recorded an even-par 72 in the first round to tie for 50th (225; +9).
3 HAWKEYES EARN B1G PRESEASON HONORS
Seniors Alex Schaake and Benton Weinberg, and sophomore Gonzalo Leal Montero were named 2019 Men’s Golf Big Ten Preseason Honorees.
- Schaake, who was also named a preseason third-team All-American by Golfweek, is the reigning Big Ten Men’s Golf Player of the Year and Les Bolstad Award winner, which is presented to the player with the lowest stroke average.
- Weinberg, a Division I PING All-Midwest Region and All-Big Ten Second Team selection as a junior, competed in all 11 events last season, posting a 71.79 18-hole scoring average with 11 rounds at or below par.
- Leal Montero competed in every event during his freshman season, posting 10 rounds at or below par with four top-20 finishes and one top-10 finish.
SCHAAKE’S HOT SUMMER
- Senior Alex Schaake entered his name into the Nebraska Amateur record books this summer, winning his fourth consecutive 72-hole Nebraska Amateur Championship at eight-under-par (280). The Omaha, Nebraska, native won a seven-hole playoff after starting the final round five strokes behind the leader. Schaake became the second individual in 111 years to win the tournament four straight years.
- At the 86th Iowa Open, Schaake registered a 10-under-par 206 in the 54-hole tournament to be the low amateur.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
Three freshman — Matthew Garside (Bettendorf, Iowa), Mac McClear (Hinsdale, Ill.), and Garrett Tighe (Algonquin, Ill.) — joined the Hawkeyes this season.
A PROGRAM ON THE RISE
Iowa has four team titles and four individual medalists since Coach Stith first year in 2014. Last season, Iowa claimed the Hawkeye Invitational with co-medalists Alex Schaake and Matthew Walker. The Hawkeyes have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 10 of the last 11 years.
STITH SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION
Coach Stith signed a five-year contract extension this summer to keep him in Iowa City through 2024. He has led the Hawkeyes to top-four finishes at the Big Ten Championships four times and advanced to four NCAA Regionals in five seasons.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hawkeyes have a week off before competing in their last fall tournament at the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate, Oct. 21-22, in Dallas, Texas.
