IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s golf team earned its second championship of the season at the Hawkeye Invitational on Saturday. Senior Mac McClear was the individual medalist, shooting a season-best 206 (-10) through 54-holes.
The Hawkeyes combined for 276 (-12) in the third round, the program’s best 18-hole outing since Feb. 15, 2022, in the second round of the Puerto Rico Classic. The score also marks Iowa’s best round at the Hawkeye Invitational since shooting 270 (-18) during round three in 2019.
Iowa has won three of the last four Hawkeye Invitationals dating back to 2019 (event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The Hawkeyes have won 17 championships in the tournament’s history; 2023 marked the 29th edition of the event at Finkbine Golf Course.
After opening the tournament shooting 71 (-1) on Friday, McClear finished the second round shooting 68 (-4) on Saturday before closing out with a five-under par (67) third round. McClear did not lead outright until the 53rd hole of the 54-hole event, sinking his sixth and final birdie of the third round on No. 17 to create the winning separation.
The individual medalist honors are the fourth of McClear’s career, matching the second-most by a Hawkeye since at least 1961.
All five members of the Hawkeye lineup posted top-15 finishes at the event.
Junior Callum Macfie and sophomore Ian Meyer each tied for ninth, shooting 212 (-4) through three rounds. That effort was good for a season best for both golfers, with Macfie drilling birdies on two of his last three holes to climb the leaderboard.
Freshman Hogan Hansen was one stroke behind, tying for 13th at 213 (-3) in his first competition at Iowa’s home course. That also marks a personal best for the rookie. Senior Ronan Kleu tied for 15th at 214 (-2) for the weekend.
Iowa ultimately topped the field by five strokes, with last year’s champion, Kansas, finishing runner-up. McClear bested Jayhawk Gunnar Broin by one stroke on the individual board.
Also represented in the field were Central Arkansas, Creighton, Drake, Iowa State, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State, St. Thomas, Tarleton State, Kansas City, Western Illinois and Wichita State.
IOWA SCORECARD
| 1 | TEAM | 277 | 282 | 276 | -29 | 835 |
| 1 | Mac McClear | 71 | 68 | 67 | -10 | 206 |
| T-9 | Callum Macfie | 68 | 74 | 70 | -4 | 212 |
| T-9 | Ian Meyer | 69 | 74 | 69 | -4 | 212 |
| T-13 | Hogan Hansen | 74 | 69 | 70 | -3 | 213 |
| 15 | Ronan Kleu | 69 | 71 | 74 | -2 | 214 |
| T-53 | Felipe Pedraza* | 77 | 77 | 73 | +11 | 227 |
*Competed individually
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“It wasn’t pretty today, but coming down the stretch, they made the shots and they made the putts that they needed when it mattered. At the end of the day, no one is going to remember anything but those final six holes and the final scores. I am proud of the guys for stepping up on the last few holes and making some putts.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- The Hawkeyes previously won the Iowa Fall Classic on Oct. 17 at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa.
- McClear is Iowa’s 16th individual medalist in Hawkeye Invitational history; he previously finished fifth at the event in 2022 and second in 2021.
- Iowa tallied 64 birdies at the Hawkeye Invitational, nine more the next-best team total; McClear’s 16 birdies topped the field, while Macfie tied for the second-most with 15 birdies.
- The Hawkeyes were first in stroke average on par threes (3.1) and par fours (3.95); McClear finished five-under on par fours (3.83), tying for the best through three rounds.
UP NEXT
The Big Ten Championships take place April 28-30 at Galloway National Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey.
