IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa men’s golf student-athletes, and brothers, Carson Schaake and Alex Schaake will each compete in a PGA TOUR event the next month.
Carson qualified and will compete in the 121st U.S. Open later this week at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California (June 17-20), while Alex earned a sponsor exemption in next month’s John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois (July 8-11).
Carson, who was a four-year lettermen from 2013-17, posted a 9-under-par to win the 26-hole sectional qualifying event at Springfield Country Club in Ohio last week. Carson fired a 2-under-par 68 and 7-under-par 63 to place on top of the 77-player leaderboard. Alex will be caddying for his older brother this week. The U.S. Open will be televised nationally on Golf Channel and NBC.
Alex recently concluded his five-year Hawkeye career as the program’s most decorated student-athlete. The two-time Big Ten Player of the Year earned GolfWeek Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2021. He placed second or better in four of his last six tournaments in 2021 to finish No. 13 in the inaugural PGA TOUR University rankings. By virtue of placing in the top 15, Alex earned Forme Tour membership this summer. Alex is the only athlete in program history to earn all-conference recognition four times and one of three to earn All-Region accolades. The John Deere Classic will be televised nationally on Golf Channel and CBS.
Alex joins his brother Carson and a number of other former Hawkeyes who have recently competed at the John Deere Classic: Vince India (2018); Brian Bullington (2018); Sean McCarty (1997, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2018); Carson Schaake (2015); Steven Ihm (2013, 2014); Raymond Knoll (2014); Aaron Krueger (2009, 2014); Guy Boros (12x, last in 2014).
“Some 20 years ago, the John Deere Classic adopted a philosophy that we would provide up-and-coming young players with the opportunity to prove themselves against the best in the world and to give our loyal fans a chance to get a look at them early in their careers,” John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson said. “With players like Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed having gone on to stardom, we think it has worked out well.”