THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s golf team will head to Chandler, Arizona, for a one-on-one match against Colorado on Monday. The event, which is the Hawkeyes’ first tournament of the spring season, will be played at the Ocotillo Golf Club.
THE FORMAT
Both teams will play an 18-hole stroke play scrimmage in Arizona. Eight players will be paired against each other. One point will be awarded for the front nine, one point for the back nine and a total point for the 18 hole round. Players can halve points for links.
THE LINEAGE
The Hawkeyes will travel with all eight players on the 2023 spring roster.
THE FINDING
Iowa will compete against the Buffaloes, who are ranked 71st in the Golfstat rankings. Colorado is led by head coach Anne Kelly and three underclassmen in freshman Morgan Miller and sophomores Natalie Vo and Lauren Gooding.
THE COURSE
The Ocotillo Golf Course received a 4 1/2 star review from Golf Digest and was voted one of the best places to play in the state of Arizona. This course features countless scenic waterfalls and lakes throughout the 18 holes. It offers a 27-hole experience with three nine-hole sections on the gold, blue and white courses. The course was designed by Ted Robinson, Sr., who has designed golf courses throughout the United States and many others in eastern Asia.
SHINE FRESHINE AS POSSIBLE
A trio of Hawkeye freshmen – Shannyn Vogler, Riley Lewis and Madison Dabagia – led the way during the fall season. Lewis paces the team with a 74.77 scoring average over nine rounds, while Vogler is second on the team with a 75.48 average. The trio had their best performance of the fall at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate on Oct. 17-18, when Lewis tied for 15th, Vogler tied for 22nd and Dabagia tied for 25th. The best individual performance came in Lewis’ final round 68.
LAST TIME
The Hawkeyes finished 15th at the Marilynn Sunflower Invitational, finishing with a 45-hole total of 805 (328-319-158). (The tournament was shortened due to weather.) Sophomore Paula Miranda, who led the way with a 196 (+16) (81-77-38) finish tied for 33rd. She picked up six birdies and two coming into her final nine holes where she shot a 38 (+2). As a team, the Hawkeyes racked up 15 birdies in their two-and-a-half-round event.
ON THE PERSON
The Hawkeyes have six spring contests before taking on Pittsburgh for the 2023 Big Ten Championship. The team will travel coast to coast, hitting Louisiana, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and California before heading north to final regular season tournament at the Lady Buckeye Invitational from April 15-16 in Columbus, Ohio.
JUST LOOKING
Iowa will head south for their first tournament from February 12-14, traveling to New Orleans for the Tulane Classic presented by Chad Brownstein.
