NORMAN, Okla. – University of Iowa junior Mac McClear shot 20 spots up the leaderboard Tuesday in the second round at NCAA Regionals. McClear joins teammate Ronan Kleu at Jimmie Austin Golf Club as the two Hawkeyes compete individually for a bid to the NCAA Championships later this month.
McClear is tied for 19th on the leaderboard at even par through two rounds. The Hinsdale, Illinois, native shot two-under par (70) in the second round, firing off three birdies over the course of four holes from No. 8 through No. 11 before tallying his lone bogey of the day on the 17th green.
McClear is positioned three strokes back from Kansas State’s Tim Tillmanns, who heads into the third round as the low golfer not on a top five team. The low finisher not on a qualifying team will advance.
“I played a little better today,” says McClear. “I put myself in a decent position going into tomorrow. There’s a couple of guys ahead of me for the one spot I’m looking for, but it’s definitely within reach, which is good.
My short game has been good so far. Putting, which has been kind of a struggle for me this year, has shaped up pretty nicely here. I’ve made a lot of good putts, which is nice. If I can just get my ball striking back to what it has been the last couple of tournaments, I’ll be looking really good. Just have to come out to tomorrow, shoot a low one and see what happens.”
Kleu shot 73 (+1) on the day, draining birdies on holes No. 8 and 18.
No. 18 Auburn sits atop the team leaderboard at 20-under par (556), six strokes ahead of top-ranked Oklahoma. No. 7 Texas, No. 27 Ole Miss, and No. 50 Utah round out the top five needed to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The third and final round in regional action is Wednesday.
IOWA SCORECARD
| T-19 | Mac McClear | 74 | 70 | — | E | 144 |
| T-59 | Ronan Kleu | 79 | 73 | — | +8 | 152 |
HAWKEYE NOTABELS
- McClear’s 26 pars are the second most in the field through 36 holes.
