FEBRUARY 4, 2012

CHANDLER, Ariz. - The Drake men's golf team opened its spring campaign on Saturday (Feb. 4) competing at the Big Four Championship at the par-71, 6,984-yard Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz.

The Bulldogs started competition against 30th-rated Iowa in the morning session and despite shooting solid scores suffered a 5-1 setback to the Hawkeyes.

Drake was able to shave 12 strokes off its cumulative score against Northern Iowa in the afternoon round, but dropped a 5-1 outcome to the Panthers.

"Overall we played better in the second round dropping 12 strokes off our morning round, which is a good sign," Drake head coach Matt Lewis commented.  "We struck the ball pretty well today, we just didn't make many putts.  Where the other teams capitalized and made birdies, we didn't and part of that is just not being able to play outside.  That scoring and short game is the last thing that comes coming out of the winter without gaining valuable practice outdoors."

Junior Ben Lyons (Centennial, Colo.) accounted for the Bulldogs' triumph against Iowa besting Ian Vandersee of Iowa, 75-79, before redshirt freshman Devin Leland (Huxley, Iowa/Ballard) downed Ryan Horner of Northern Iowa, 75-79.

Lyons' 75 against Iowa equaled a career-low round at Drake, while freshman Dane Worley (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) cut four strokes off his career-best mark against the Panthers, registering a 71.

"I was encouraged that our guys shot better in the second round," said Lewis.  "Today was a gauge to see where everyone is at individually and collectively as a team and now it is back to working on our games before our next event."

Drake returns to action at the Jackrabbit Invitational (March 12-13) in Primm, Nev.

NO. 30 IOWA DEF. DRAKE, 5-1

Ben Lyons (DU) def. Ian Vandersee (IOWA), 75-79

Steven Ihm (IOWA) def. Blake Huser (DU), 69-74

Barrett Kelpin (IOWA) def. Devin Leland (DU), 71-81

Joseph Winslow (IOWA) def. Matt Ohl (DU), 71-82

Chris Brant (IOWA) def. Connor Steele (DU), 75-77

Brad George (IOWA) def. Dane Worley (DU), 74-75

Total Strokes: Iowa (439), Drake (464)

NORTHERN IOWA DEF. DRAKE, 5-1

Devin Leland (DU) def. Ryan Horner (UNI), 75-79

Yarri Bryn (UNI) def. Ben Lyons (DU), 71-76

Paul Bretl (UNI) def. Blake Huser (DU), 73-76

Glenn Walls (UNI) def. Matt Ohl (DU), 74-81

Michael Wetrich (UNI) def. Connor Steele (DU), 70-73

Braden Gael (UNI) def. Dane Worley (DU), 70-71

Total Strokes: Northern Iowa (437), Drake (452)