COLUMBUS, Ohio — The University of Iowa men’s golf team stands in sixth place at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate following Saturday’s first two rounds of competition. The Hawkeyes are ahead 14th-ranked Liberty and six Big Ten teams, including host Ohio State, Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Michigan.
Fifth-year senior Alex Schaake leads the way for Iowa at 2-under par and is tied for third place on the leaderboard. Schaake finished the second round with five birdies on the final seven holes. His eight birdies on the day lead the Hawkeyes and are the second most in the field.
Schaake won the individual championship at the Hawkeye Invitational last time out, and he has finished in the top five in of each of the last three tournaments. The Omaha, Nebraska, native is in the title hunt once again, currently trailing leader Cade Breitenstine of Kent State by just two strokes.
Sophomore Mac McClear had Iowa’s next best finish on Saturday at 147 (+5). He and Schaake each posted even scores on par threes, which tied for second best in the field.
IOWA SCORECARD
| 6 | Iowa | 292 | 288 | — | +12 | 580 |
| T-3 | Alex Schaake | 70 | 70 | — | -2 | 140 |
| T-31 | Mac McClear | 75 | 72 | — | +5 | 147 |
| T-42 | Gonzalo Leal Montero | 73 | 75 | — | +6 | 148 |
| T-47 | Garrett Tighe | 78 | 71 | — | +7 | 149 |
| T-47 | Jake Rowe | 74 | 75 | — | +7 | 149 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“I’m very happy with how we finished our rounds. The guys showed a lot of character and grit on the back nine. [The Scarlet Course] is a challenge on the best of days. It rained most of the second round. You have to accept it and you have to be willing to grind. We did that today. The guys played hard until the last hole.”
HAWKEYE NOTEABLES
- Iowa sank 27 birdies on the day; Schaake led the way with nine, followed by sophomore Garrett Tighe (7), and junior Gonzalo Leal-Montero (6).
- The Hawkeyes’ par three average of 3.2 ties for third best in the field.
- Alex Schaake’s par four average ties for first in the field (3.86) and his par three average ties for second (3.0).
UP NEXT
The Robert Kepler Intercollegiate concludes on Sunday at the Ohio State Golf Club. Competitors will tee off from holes one and 10 from 8-10:10 a.m. (CT).