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NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Iowa men’s golf team fired a second-round five-under-par 279 and is tied for fourth place at six-over-par (574) through 36 holes of the 14-team Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic on Monday.
Played at the par-71, 7,023-yard Warren Golf Course, the Hawkeyes moved up a tournament-best seven spots on the leaderboard in the second round and are tied with Boston College. Iowa is only one stroke behind third-place Rutgers, while host and No. 17 Notre Dame leads the tournament at 14-under-par, followed by No. 10 North Carolina at seven-under-par.
Senior Alex Schaake and freshman Mac McClear are tied for 13th at one-over-par (141). Schaake used five birdies in the first round to card a one-under-par 70, followed by an even-par 71 in the second round.
In his Hawkeye debut, McClear posted a second-round 67 (-4) with six birdies to record Iowa’s lowest 18-hole score of the season. His 67 tied for the fourth-lowest round of the 81-player field and ties for the sixth lowest 18-hole round in program history. The Hinsdale, Illinois, native was five-under-par in his last 13 holes of the day with no bogeys.
“It felt good because I came into the year not having my best stuff, but I’ve worked really hard on my game and to have it come together in my first tournament means a lot to me,” McClear said. “Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I know what I’m working on is paying off, which is a good feeling to have.”
Sophomore Gonzalo Leal Montero, junior Joe Kim, and senior Benton Weinberg are tied for 46th at six-over-par (148) through 36 holes.
Leal Montero eagled the par-five 10th hole in the second round and posted a one-under-par 70 to improve upon his first-round total by eight strokes. Weinberg posted an even-par 71 in the second round to best his first-round score by seven strokes.
IOWA SCORECARD
| T-4 | Iowa | 295 | 279 | +6 | 574 |
| T-13 | Alex Schaake | 70 | 71 | -1 | 141 |
| T-13 | Mac McClear | 74 | 67 | -1 | 141 |
| T-46 | Gonzalo Leal Montero | 78 | 70 | +6 | 148 |
| T-46 | Joe Kim | 74 | 74 | +6 | 148 |
| T-46 | Benton Weinberg | 77 | 71 | +6 | 148 |
HEAR FROM COACH STITH
“Credit to the team fro a strong afternoon round. We started slow, but showed some resiliency bouncing back. I’m pleased by the afternoon round and moving up seven spots, but we have work to do tomorrow.”
“Mac (McClear) stepped up today. He managed himself and the course well. It’s an impressive performance for a guy playing in his first college tournament.”
OF NOTE
- Iowa was one of only three teams to shoot at or below par in the second round.
- All four of Iowa’s counted scores in the second round were at or below par.
- The Hawkeyes also posted a five-under-par 279 in the second round of last year’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow’s final round will feature split tee times off holes 1 and 10, starting at 7 a.m. (CT). Weinberg will be the first Hawkeye to tee off at 7:45. Iowa is paired with Boston College and Kent State.
