IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s golf team is set to compete in the Gopher Invitational in Independence, Minnesota, on Sunday at the Windsong Farm Golf Club hosted by the University of Minnesota.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The 54-hole tournament tees off on Sunday and finishes on Monday with the final 18 holes. The start time for the tournament is 7:15 am (CT) on Sunday and the final round on Monday will tee off at 7:15 am on hole No. 1 and 10.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
You can follow this week’s action by visiting scoreboard.clippd.com for live scoring. Links can be found on the men’s golf schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
THE FIELD
15 schools will be competing in the Gopher Invitational and will square off at Windsong Farm Golf Club. The field includes Baylor, Furman, Georgia Southern, Iowa State, Kent State, Marquette, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, Rutgers, St. Thomas, UNC Wilmington, and West Virginia.
THE COURSE
Windsong Farm is consistently rated among Minnesota’s top golf courses, and also nationally recognized as one of the top modern courses in the nation. Built in 2002 by course architect’s John Fought and Minnesota’s own Tom Lehman, and major course improvements completed in 2015, Windsong’s South course will offer ample challenges and enjoyment to golfers of all skill levels. While the John Fought designed North Course at Windsong offers breathtaking views, and classical inspired signature holes creating a fun yet challenging golf experience.
The Gopher Invitational has called Windsong Farm Golf Club home for the past 10 years. Windsong Farm is consistently rated among Minnesota’s top golf courses, with additional national recognition as one of the top modern courses in the nation. Opened in 2003, Windsong measures 7,380 yards and has a par 71 layout.
NOAH KENT EARNS RUNNER-UP AT 124TH US AMATEUR
Sophomore Noah Kent, competed in his first USGA championship, but fell in the finals of the U.S. Amateur to Jose Luis Ballester after 36 holes of match play on August 18. Kent finished the tournament as runner-up and earned invites to The Masters and the U.S. Open. Kent was looking to become the first Hawkeye to win the U.S. Amateur. Ballester came into the tournament as the world’s No. 10 ranked Amateur while Noah came in as the No. 560th ranked amateur.
STEVEN IHM NAMED ASSISTANT COACH
Ihm, a former student-athlete at Iowa competed on the men’s golf team from 2011-14. Ihm started his playing career at Indian Hills Community College where he led them to a Junior College National Championship and won the 2011 Phil Mickelson Award as the top freshman player in the NJCAA.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
The Hawkeyes welcomed in four fresh faces to their program this fall. They brought in three freshmen and a transfer.
- Gage Messingham, from Northern Colorado, was named the Big Sky Player of the Year in 2024 as well as first team all-conference and the all-tournament team. He had a scoring average of 72.03 with 10 rounds played in the 60s.
- Jack McCarty, a true freshman from Solon, Iowa led his team to three top-five finishes at the State Tournament. As a senior in high school, McCarty finished third in Class 3A State. His father, Sean McCarty, was a member of the Iowa men’s golf team from 1992-95.
- Chance Rinkol, a freshman from Leawood, Kansas was the 2021 Kansas 6A Individual Medalist. Rinkol posted a scoring average of 70.8 in 2023 and was ranked No. 46 in the Rolex Class in 2024. He was also the 2023 AJGA Joplin Junior Championship and Midwest PGA Junior Championship.
- Ryan Shellberg, a freshman from Prosper, Texas was tabbed No. 71 in the 2024 Rolex Class rankings. Shellberg placed second at the AJGA Mizuno Junior Championship and was a two-time all-region selection.
THE ROSTER
Hogan Hansen, Noah Kent, Josh Lundmark, Jack McCarty, Gage Messingham, Ian Meyer, Chance Rinkol, Ryan Shellberg, and Max Tjoa.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hawkeyes will compete in the Purdue Fall Invite on Sept. 22-23, at Kampen-Coaler Course.