The Iowa men’s golf team improved an already solid roster by signing its first recruit for 2010.

Iowa head coach Mark Hankins announced on Monday that Ian Vandersee, a senior at Valley High in West Des Moines, signed a national letter of intent to attend Iowa in the fall.

Vandersee has been one of the best high-school golfers in the state since his freshman year, placing in the top 15 at Iowa’s state golf tournament four years in a row — including a second-place finish this season.

The West Des Moines native also placed first in the U.S. Golf Association Boys Junior Amateur Qualifier — one of five top-10 finishes in amateur events this past summer.

He was also the only Iowa native to compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur. Vandersee will join a Hawkeye team who had four top-five finishes this fall after placing 17th in the nation in the 2008-09 season.

— by Clark Cahill