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Hawkeyes Set to Compete in Highlands Invitational

Sports

September 14th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Chicago, Ill- The University of Iowa men’s golf team is set to compete in the Highlands Invitational in Chicago, Illinois, from Sept. 18-19 at

Chicago Highlands Club hosted by Wake Forest.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 

The 54-hole tournament tees off on Monday and continues Tuesday with 54-holes being played through two days. The start time for the tournament is yet to be announced.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

You can follow this week’s action by visiting golfstat.com for live scoring. Links can be found on the men’s golf schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.

THE FIELD

12 schools will be competing in the Highlands Invitational and will square off at Chicago Highlands Club. The field includes College of Charleston, Duke, Furman, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri,  Penn State, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Yale.

THE COURSE

Spanning 7,490 yards, Chicago Highlands Club is ranked the number one golf course in the state of Illinois and number 14th in the country by GolfDigest. GolfDigest also rated hole nine as one of the best hole designs in America.  Designed by Arthur Hills, who designed more than 200 golf courses, Chicago Highlands Club is a links-style course with a stunning view of the Chicago skyline.

HAWKEYES AT THE ANF FALL CLASSIC

The Hawkeyes are coming off their opening tournament of the fall season. The Hawkeyes placed second as a team at the ANF Fall Classic. Mac McClear won the event with a 12-under par after 54 holes. McClear became the first player to win the tournament twice.

MCCLEAR TIES SCHOOL RECORD

Fifth-year senior Mac McClear tied a school record winning his sixth induvial championship as a Hawkeye, previously set by Lonnie Nelson in 1976. McClear won the ANF Classic shooting a 12-under par after 54 holes. McClear carded a 67, 5-under par, each of his last two rounds. McClear is coming off a season where he had 9 top-25 finishes, co-Big Ten Champion, All-Big Ten Second Team recognition, and Division I PING All-Midwest honors.

HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS

The Hawkeyes welcomed in four fresh faces to their program this fall. They brought in two freshmen and two transfer students.

Cale Leonard, a sophomore from Ottumwa, Iowa. Cale started his collegiate career at Drake before transferring to Iowa. Leonard had a pair of top-25 finishes last year as a freshman at Drake.

 

Josh Lundmark, a graduate student from Hinsdale, Ill. Lundmark spent four years at Cornell before transferring to Iowa this fall. Lundmark was high school teammates with Mac  McClear where they won three state tournament titles together.  Lundmark led Cornell in stroke average each of his last two seasons

Maxwell Tjoa, a freshman from Cedar Falls, Iowa. Tjoa recorded the low round in 2022 for Iowa high school boys golf, shooting a 63 at Brown Deer Golf Course. Tjoa was named the 2022 Iowa Golf Association Boys Player of the Year.

Noah Kent, a freshman from Naples, Fla. Kent was named the Southwest Florida Player of the Year. Kent led his team to four top-12 finishes at state including finishing state runner-up. Kent set a Florida high school record after carding a 64 through 18 holes.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Hawkeyes will compete in the Fighting Irish Classic on Oct. 1-2, at Warren Golf Course.  Notre Dame is set to host the tournament.