IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s 12-0 start last season led some to label the Hawkeyes a fluke. A blowout loss to Stanford in the Rose Bowl only seemed to confirm those suspicions. Iowa is intent on proving that it’s still a national contender and the Hawkeyes should have a team capable of doing so.

Iowa is a favorite to repeat as Big Ten West division champions. The Hawkeyes return 13 starters from last year, when they finished 8-0 in the West and fell inches shy of a playoff berth. Quarterback C.J. Beathard had a strong first season as the starter despite a litany of injuries. If Beathard can stay healthy, a run at Big Ten Player of the Year isn’t out of consideration. Iowa’s defense, which let up just 20.4 points per game, will be led by Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Desmond King.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Rookie Iowa State coach Matt Campbell has already invigorated a program starved for signs of hope. Turning that enthusiasm into sustained success will be a much tougher task. Campbell, just 36 and the youngest Power Five coach in the country, has given a team long stuck in the Big 12 basement plenty of reasons to believe in his vision.

Campbell pulled together one of the best recruiting classes in recent memory last winter despite an extremely late start, and his 2017 class is currently among the top in the Big 12. Campbell has also promised flashy new uniforms — and he and his staff’s ability to navigate social media has only added to the notion that Campbell is the key to a bright future for the Cyclones.

But Iowa State has won just five games over the past two seasons, and it’ll have to replace nearly its entire offensive line from 2015. The Cyclones open the season on September 3rd against Northern Iowa.

After a Runner-Up finish last year Alex Bireline was able to seal the deal on a championship at the 2016 Tournament of Champions at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.  Bireline shot a weekend total (-1) 206 to take the title at the 58th annual event.

Alex was Runner-Up in the 2015 tournament by one shot to Evan Schuler and he said it felt good to play well on the final day this year and get a championship under his belt. Bireline shot rounds of 69-67-70 on the weekend to earn the win.  He said he was aiming to shoot 69 on the final day and couldn’t complain about how it ended up.

Zach Christensen of the Atlantic Golf and Country Club made a strong charge on Sunday and climbed within three strokes on the round by shooting a 2-under 67.

Bireline had a big chip in for birdie on 14 that was a big turning point and he said his nerves calmed down a bit after that hole and even more so after saving par on the 16th after hitting a tree on his tee shot.

Bireline said it was fun to win the title on his home course and was glad to keep it home after Evan Schuler’s win last year and he hopes someone else from the course can bring it home next year.

CHICAGO (AP) – Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the St. Louis Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.

Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 following a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.

The Cardinals split a four-game series with major-league leading Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak.

Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh in relief of Mike Leake for the win.

Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.

The final round of the 58th Annual Tournament of Champions will begin with the first groups teeing off at 9:00 Sunday morning at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club.  The forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures in the low 80’s.

In the Open division, Alex Bireline of the Atlantic Golf and Country Club has the lead at two under par 136, three strokes better than first round leader Eric Boehlert of Briarwood Club.  Ross Martens of Rosman-Glendale Course is five strokes off the lead and Darby McLaren and Zach Christianson, both of the Atlantic Golf and Country Club are tied for fourth, six strokes back.

In the Senior division, past champion George Garetlos has a one stroke lead over past champion Del Miller and a two stroke edge over Kim Peters of Crestwood Hills, while four other golfers, inncluding Daryl Armstrong of Crestwood Hills are just three strokes off the lead.

The Super Senior division looks to be a two-man showdown Sunday, with Jim Campbell of Albia Country Club holding a two stroke lead over past champion Arnie Leistad.

CLICK HERE for the Sunday tee times.  As is tradition, groups will begin on both hole #1 and #10.