NAPLES, Fla. — The University of Iowa men’s golf team concluded round one of play at the Calusa Cup at Calusa Pines Golf Club on Sunday. Freshman Noah Kent and junior Ian Meyer are the low scorers for the Hawkeyes at 1-under par (71) and tied for eighth place. Iowa is tied for fifth place with 15th-ranked Georgia Tech as a team after carding 293 (+5). The Hawkeyes are just two shots behind No. 22 Georgia (291, +3) and four shots back from 30th-ranked Purdue (289, +1).
Kent played his first nine at even with a birdy and bogey. On hole 13, Kent had a mishap with his ball going into the water, but proceeded to birdie two of the final five holes to get to 1-under par for the round. Kent finished his first round with three birdies.
Meyer carded a seven (+3) on his first hole of the tournament. Meyer responded by birdieing the next two holes before birdieing hole 7 to get to even par for the front nine. Meyer was at even par going into hole 18 and had an eagle putt to get to 2-under par. The eagle putt barely missed, and he tapped in for birdie. Meyer had six birdies in the opening round, a team best.
Sophomore Hogan Hansen sits at 3-over par (75) in a tie for 26th. Freshman Max Tjoa and senior Mac McClear are in a tie for 30th at 4-over par (76).
No. 16 Florida leads the eight-team field at 5-under par (283).
HAWKEYE SCORECARD
| T5/8 | Team | 293 | — | — | +5 | 293 |
| T8 | Ian Meyer | 71 | — | — | -1 | 71 |
| T8 | Noah Kent | 71 | — | — | -1 | 71 |
| T26 | Hogan Hansen | 75 | — | — | +3 | 75 |
| T30 | Mac McClear | 76 | — | — | +4 | 76 |
| T30 | Max Tjoa | 76 | — | — | +4 | 76 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“We talked about being resilient coming into this week. Ian starting out with a triple-bogey and figuring out a way to keep himself in it; to finish at 1-under par is so impressive. I can’t tell you how much mental strength and character it takes to do that. I am so proud of Ian.
“Noah is comfortable at this course. He has played it several times. He was very confident coming into the week. The goal was to get himself in a position where he has a chance to win on the last day. You can’t win it the first day, so he played patient and took what came to him. A solid 1-under par round that has him where he wants to be.”
HEAR FROM FRESHMAN NOAH KENT
“My putting was good. I didn’t have a 3-putt and was making all the putts I need to. It was a pretty clean round, just a mistake on hole 13 when I hit it in the water going for the green. Besides that, I’ll take a 71 round here the next two days.”
HEAR FROM JUNIOR IAN MEYER
“Obviously a tough first hole. That seven added up quick. I just free willed it from there. Made a couple birdies the next two holes and got it back. I stayed solid, I hit my driver well today. I putted well. I hit all my putts inside 6-feet, made a couple long ones, which was good. That’s what you must do out here to play well.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Meyer is one of four golfers playing six holes under par.
- Hansen had 15 pars, tied for the most in round one.
- Meyer’s par five average of 4.25 (-3) tied for first with two other golfers on Sunday.
- Meyer’s par-three average of 2.50 (-2) ranks first among all 42 golfers.
- Iowa’s 62 pars as a team ranks first after the first round.
UP NEXT
The second round of the Calusa Cup tees off on Monday at noon (ET).