Hawkeyes Head to Indiana For Fighting Irish Classic

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa men’s golf team returns to action Oct. 4-5 at the Fighting Irish Classic in South Bend, Indiana. The tournament will be held at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course (7,020-yard, par 71) with 36 holes being played Sunday followed by the final round Monday.

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans can follow the action by visiting Scoreboard.Clippd.com for live scoring. Results and tournament updates will also be available through Iowa men’s golf social media channels.

THE LINEUP
Iowa’s five-player lineup will include third-year Ryan Shellberg, first-year Andrew Johannsen, third-year Grant Gudgel, second-year Bennett Warren and fourth-year Maxwell Tjoa.

THE FIELD
The 14-team field will include Augusta University, California, No. 23 UCLA, Georgia Southern, No. 4 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kent State, Louisville, Michigan State, No. 14 North Carolina, No. 6 Notre Dame, Purdue and No. 22 Texas A&M.
• The field consists of five ranked teams and five teams receiving votes in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll on Sept. 25.

THE COURSE
Designed by renowned architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 1999, the par-71 Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame stretches across 250 wooded acres of softly rolling terrain, native fescues, and meticulously manicured bent grass. Blending the traditional, walkable architecture of early 20th-century Irish and American courses with strategic bunkering and natural hazards. It has hosted major tournaments, including the 2019 U.S. Senior Open.

OF NOTE...
The Hawkeyes are receiving votes in the initial Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll that was released on Sept. 25. Iowa is 41st in the rankings with 15 points.
• Iowa led through the first 36 holes at the Inverness Intercollegiate before finishing in a tie for sixth place with an 872 total (283-289-300). The Hawkeyes were the only team under par following the first 18 holes.
• Second-year Bennett Warren notched the best finish of his collegiate career, tying for 19th place at the Inverness Intercollegiate on Sept. 13-15. He finished with a six-over par 219, which included a one-under par 71 in the second round. Warren posted career-low 219s in both fall tournaments.
• Fourth-year Maxwell Tjoa was the only Hawkeye to finish under par in all three rounds of the ANF Fall Classic, firing rounds of 71-69-69 en route to a seven-under par 209. He tied for fourth place in the tournament -- his sixth career top-10 showing.
• The Hawkeyes had four eagles during the two-day ANF Fall Classic, but it was second-year Bennett Warren who had the shot of the tournament. The Kansan had two eagles during the week to go along with his first ever albatross on the par five, 575-yard fourth hole during the final round.
• Third-year Jack McCarty tied for eighth at the Bluejay Invitational, competing as an individual. He had a career-best 65 in the first round -- a low round by a Hawkeye this season -- and finished tied for eighth in the tournament with a 54-hole total of 216.

ANF FALL CLASSIC CHAMPIONS
Iowa rallied from a 14-shot deficit following 36 holes to storm back and win the 2026 ANF Fall Classic on Sept. 9 at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course. The Hawkeyes fired a 15-under par 345 to claim the tournament title by four strokes over Western Kentucky. It was Iowa’s first win in the event since 2022.
• During the final round, Iowa had all five of its golfers finish under par, as the team counted two 68s, two 69s and a 71 in the six-play, five count format. Three Hawkeyes finished in the top 10 with first-year Andrew Johannsen and fourth-year Maxwell Tjoa tying for fourth with seven-under par 209s, while third-year Grant Gudgel was tied for 10th with a 213.

WHAT A DEBUT
First-year Andrew Johannsen carded a four-under par 68 in his first collegiate round as a Hawkeye. The Johnston, Iowa, native matched his 68 in the final round, helping Iowa rally from a 14-stroke deficit to win the 2026 ANF Fall Classic. He finished in a tie for fourth place in the event.
• Johannsen had the first round lead at the Inverness Intercollegiate after shooting an opening round 68. He notched his second top 20 finish, tying for 19th place with a 219 at the tournament.
• Through two tournaments, Johannsen has a 71.33 scoring average over six rounds, which sits second on the team.

STEADY MAX
Fourth-year Maxwell Tjoa has been the top Hawkeye in each of the team’s first two tournaments. He tied for fourth at the ANF Fall Classic with a seven-under par 209 with a pair of four-under par 68s. He also led the team at the Inverness Intercollegiate, tying for 14th place with a 217 (70-74-73).
• Tjoa, who has a team-leading 71.00 scoring average over six rounds, has finished in the top 20 in both tournaments this fall and in 10 tournaments in his career. He has six career top 10 finishes.

RETURNING KEY PLAYERS
Third-year Ryan Shellberg returns after earning PING All-Midwest Region and second-team All-Big Ten honors a season ago. The Prosper, Texas, native posted a 71.95 scoring average and he earned a spot to compete at the NCAA Columbus Regional, becoming the first Hawkeye to qualify since 2023. Shellberg had two top 10 finishes, including winning the 2026 Hawkeye Invitational and he was runner-up at the 2026 Calusa Cup.
• Fourth-year Maxwell Tjoa is back after posting a 72.15 scoring average during the 2025-26 season. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native carded a career-low 65 at the Fighting Irish Classic in South Bend, which included a hole-in-one. Tjoa had 15 rounds at or below par during the season.
• Third-year Grant Gudgel enters his second year with the Hawkeyes (and third collegiate season) after pacing the team with a 71.75 scoring average in 2025-26. The Oklahoma native had three top 10 finishes, including tying for sixth at the Hawkeye Invitational at Blue Top Ridge.
• Second-year Bennett Warren is the team’s fourth returning letterwinner. The Kansan had a 74.64 scoring average with six rounds at or below par. He paced the team at the Big Ten Championships, tying for 34th.

FINKBINE GOLF COURSE RENOVATION
Finkbine Golf Course, the home of the Iowa men’s and women’s golf teams, is in the midst of a major renovation. Led by architect Scott Hoffman and managed by Troon, the project is modernizing the layout, enhancing playability for all skill levels and incorporating sustainable turf practices. Privately funded by Fritz and Mary Lee Duda, the renovation aims to position Finkbine as one of the premier collegiate golf courses in the Midwest.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will close out the team portion of the schedule at the Fallen Oak Collegiate from Oct. 17-19 in Biloxi, Mississippi.