RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – The University of Iowa men’s golf team moved up to ninth place on the leaderboard at the Puerto Rico Classic, shooting 282 (-6) on Monday to improve its team total by nine strokes in the second round.
Iowa leads No. 28 Purdue, No. 45 Marquette, College of Charleston and Maryland heading into the final round of play on Tuesday. Senior Ronan Kleu is tied for 15th on the leaderboard at four-under par (140) through 36 holes.
Kleu drilled four birdies and an eagle in the second round, including a 33 (-3) total on the course front nine at Grand Reserve Golf Club. He is five strokes back from leader Ben Lorenz of No. 16 Oklahoma; the medalist at the Puerto Rico Classic earns an invitation to the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open from March 2-5.
Four Hawkeyes finished even or better in the second round. Senior Mac McClear and junior Callum Macfie each posted rounds of 71 (-1). Macfie is the next-lowest Hawkeye through two rounds, tied for 32nd at one-under par (143).
No. 42 East Tennessee State remains five strokes ahead of the field heading into the final round after shooting 285 (-3) in the second round. The Buccaneers are 19-under par (557) through two rounds. The Puerto Rico Classic hosts eight Golfstat top-50 ranked teams, including nine top-100 individuals.
IOWA SCORECARD
| 9 | TEAM | 291 | 282 | — | -3 | 573 |
| T-15 | Ronan Kleu | 72 | 68 | — | -4 | 140 |
| T-32 | Callum Macfie | 72 | 71 | — | -1 | 143 |
| T-50 | Mac McClear | 75 | 71 | — | +2 | 146 |
| T-50 | Hogan Hansen | 74 | 72 | — | +2 | 146 |
| T-58 | Ian Meyer | 73 | 75 | — | +4 | 148 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“Conditions were a little easier today, but we definitely played better as a team. The guys had a good mindset and made fewer mistakes. It’s great to see everyone contributing and having all five players in each round until the end.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Kleu’s eight birdies lead the Hawkeyes (29) through 36 holes.
- Iowa has recorded three eagles at the Puerto Rico Classic, tying No. 24 Ohio State and No. 42 East Tennessee State for the most through two rounds.
- The Hawkeyes posted a 4.03 (+3) stroke average on par fours through the first two rounds, the second-best in the field.
UP NEXT
The final round of competition at the Puerto Rico Classic tees off tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. (CT).