THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team returns to Naples, Florida, on Sunday, April 4, to host the inaugural Calusa Cup. Held at the picturesque Calusa Pines Golf Club, the 54-hole tournament boasts a highly competitive field and is the premier collegiate men’s golf event of the week.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Competition begins at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Sunday and Monday.
The final round will tee off at 7 a.m. (CT) on Tuesday.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
You 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 access to exclusive coverage, “like” Hawkeye men’s golf on Facebook and follow @IowaHawkeyeGolf on Twitter and Instagram.
THE LINEUP
Iowa has not announced its lineup for the event. Individuals will qualify on site.
THE FIELD
The Calusa Cup features an elite field of competition. The event welcomes four teams ranked in the GolfStat top 10, including each of the top two teams. Three GolfStat top 10 players will also compete in the field. Together, the nine programs combine for 13 national titles.
No. 45 Iowa, No. 14 Florida, No. 1 Florida State, No. 42 Georgia Tech, No. 100 Marquette, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 55 Purdue, No. 8 Texas, and No. 7 Wake Forest will compete for the tournament trophy.
THE COURSE
The Hurdzan/Fry-designed Calusa Pines Golf Club is located in Naples, Florida, and is the site of the Calusa Cup. The scenic course is known for its beautiful vistas and stylistically diverse holes. Consistently ranked one of the top golf courses in Florida, Calusa Pines rewards experienced players who can be dynamic in their style of play and calculate when to take risks. The expansive par-72 course stretches 7,203 yards.
ON THE LINKS
Last time out, Iowa fell to No. 11 Florida on March 29, in a match play dual at Calusa Pines Golf Club. The two teams return to Naples for the upcoming Calusa Cup on Sunday. Previously, the Hawkeyes won the team championship at the Spartan Collegiate on March 8-9.
- Benton Weinberg was Iowa’s lone victor against the Gators, edging his opponent in 19 holes. Senior Jake Rowe also forced extra tee shots, but was defeated after 20 holes.
- Monday’s effort brings Iowa to 3-2-0 in match play duals on the year. The Hawkeyes opened the season with a second-place finish at Big Ten Match Play, defeating Nebraska (3-2), Penn State (3-2), and Michigan State (3-2), before losing to Indiana in the championship (3-2).
- Mac McClear and Alex Schaake finished 1-2, respectively, at the Spartan Collegiate. Benton Weinberg tied for 12 at the event.
- McClear’s 7-under par performance in the final round marks the fourth lowest 18-hole score in program history (65). His total of 10-under par 206 was also good for the program’s fifth lowest 54-hole score (206).
- The Hawkeyes rallied in the final round with 25 birdies and an eagle, which were good for a tournament-best 11-under par score (277) on the day to seal the first-place finish.
- Iowa won the 54-hole tournament championship at 13-under par (851).
RANKINGS AND HONORS
Alex Schaake currently sits at No. 26 in the PGA TOUR University standings, behind just three other Big Ten golfers. Schaake clocks in at No. 120 in the GolfStat individual rankings, two spots ahead of teammate Benton Weinberg (No. 122).
Mac McClear is the highest ranked Hawkeye in the GolfStat rankings, currently sitting at No. 35 in the country.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
Two freshmen — Callum Macfie (Yorkshire, England) and Felipe Pedraza (Lima, Peru) joined the Hawkeye roster this spring. Iowa also welcomed Charles Jahn (Sperry, Iowa) as a graduate transfer.
LOOKING AHEAD
Iowa will host the annual Hawkeye Invitational on April 17-18, at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, Iowa.
