Iowa State Summer Golf Update

AMES, Iowa ? The Iowa State golf teams had a busy weekend with women's golfers competing in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championships at the Warren Golf Club in South Bend, Ind. and the Women's Western Golf Association National Amateur Championships in Rochester, Minn. On the men's side, Jacob Aaholm and Nate McCoy have also had active summers on the course.

Aaholm, a senior from Hornbaek, Denmark, spent the weekend competing in the Danish Match Play Championships at the S?ller?d Golfklub in Holte, Denmark. The third seeded Aaholm tore through the 64-player match play tournament, winning all his matches prior to the 18th hole in all but one round. In the finals, Aaholm knocked off Jeff Winther 3&1 to win the title.

“It's fantastic to be the national champion,” Aaholm said. “I hit the ball well and had good preparation up to the meet.”

Aaholm credits his time at Iowa State to helping him succeed back home.

“I have prepared myself well in the U.S.,” Aaholm said. “Before every tournament we play four qualifying rounds for a spot on the team and that has helped sharpen me.”

Nate McCoy has also been busy in the off-season. McCoy was one of 18 golfers competing at the Country Club of St. Albans in St. Louis for one spot at the U.S. Open Golf Championship. The junior West Des Moines, Iowa native finished with a two-round total of 140, placing him in a tie for sixth place. The spot went to All-American and NCAA individual medalist Scott Langley of Illinois.

Current Cyclone golfers Katelynn Hogenson and Kristin Paulson, along with incoming freshman Abbie Horan, competed at the U.S. Women's Public Links Championships. The tournament format consisted of 36-hole stroke play competition with the top 64 advancing to a match play tournament. Paulson advanced to the match play portion putting up scores of 75 and 76 on the way. Paulson was matched up with the seventh-seeded Nicole Zhang of Notre Dame in the first round. The Ottumwa native put forth a valiant effort on Zhang's home course, but fell 2&1.

All-Big 12 golfer Punpaka Phuntumabamrung competed at the Women's Western National Amateur Championship. After finishing in a tie for 12th in the 36-hole stroke play, the tournament went into match play. Phuntumabamrung began her first round with a 4&3 win over Ellie Arkin of Wisconsin. She went on to defeat another Badger, Carly Werwie, in the second round with a 3&1 victory.

In the round of 16, Phuntumabamrung carded a 2 up victory over Kim Donovan of Duke to advance to the quarterfinals. There she cruised to a 5&4 victory over Mia Piccio of Florida to set up an all-Big 12 semifinal against Jaclyn Jansen of Baylor. She lost to the eventual champion Jansen 2&1.

Players Mentioned

Jacob Aaholm

Katelynn Hogenson

Katelynn Hogenson

Nate McCoy

Nate McCoy

Kristin Paulson

Kristin Paulson

Punpaka Phuntumabamrung

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