HAWK TALK

June 2016

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153 W hile the University of Iowa men's golf team's season may have ended, there is still one thing that hasn't. e Hawk- eyes' streak of consecutive NCAA Regional ap- pearances was extended to eight this year when they were selected to play in the NCAA Albuquer- que Regional in May. A streak that began in 2009 under former head coach Mark Hankins, Iowa has advanced to re- gional play in each of the last eight seasons, joining Illinois as the only Big Ten programs to compete at regionals in eight consecutive years. "is marked our eighth straight regional appear- ance and what an honor that is," said senior Nate Yankovich, who collected All-Big Ten laurels. "To be part of something like that is special." Playing at the University of New Mexico's Champi- onship Golf Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Hawkeyes fell short of advancing to the NCAA Championships following a 10th-place finish at the three-day, 54-hole event. Of the 14 teams to com- pete, not one shot below par, including the Hawk- eyes who carded a 925 (+61; 302, 314, 309). e five teams to advance to the NCAA Cham- pionships in Eugene, Oregon, included No. 14 Arizona State, TCU, No. 6 USC, No. 16 Southern Florida, and No. 22 San Diego State. "e whole week was a grind and the weather conditions tested our mental endurance," said UI head coach Tyler Stith. "I'm proud of our guys for the way they fought throughout regionals and the season." Junior Carson Schaake posted Iowa's best finish, carding a 224 (+8; 74, 78, 72) to tie for 11th indi- vidually — his fih top 20 finish of the year. e Omaha, Nebraska, native made par or better on 41 holes throughout the 54-hole event, includ- ing seven birdies. Schaake fell three strokes shy of qualifying as an individual for the NCAA Champi- onships. "is gives me confidence going into the summer," said Schaake. "ese were tough conditions and there were a lot of good teams here. I am excited for the summer season." While advancing to regionals is a big accomplish- ment, the Hawkeyes are le wanting more. "Qualifying for regionals is a big goal of ours going into each year, but it's also an expectation," said Stith. "We want to take the next step and advance to the NCAA Championships." e Hawkeyes have advanced to three NCAA Championships since 2009, but haven't been back since they captured a 22nd-place finish in Los Angeles in 2012. is time next year, the Hawk- eyes look to extend their current streak as well as starting a new one.

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