The Iowa women’s golf team teed off at the Dick McGuire Invitational on Sunday, and struggles on the green left the Hawkeyes low on the leaderboard.

The University of New Mexico’s Championship Course proved to be a stiff test for the team throughout the day, and the Hawkeyes shot a combined 33-over par in the tournament’s first two rounds. The score puts them in 16th place and 31 strokes behind leader Northwestern.

Coach Megan Menzel admitted the course was tough and said she believes the large greens may have been a factor.

"Overall, putting was a little bit of an issue for us as a team," the coach said. "I’d say that’s where we probably gave back the most strokes."

While the team didn’t put together the opening day it would have liked, junior Kristi Cardwell provided a prominent bright spot in the second round. She fired an even-par 73 to hold at 4-over on the day, putting her in a tie for 24th place. Menzel praised the Kokomo, Ind., native for her consistency from tee to cup.

Freshman Lauren English carded a two-round score of 152 (6-over), good for a tie for 45th place. Fellow freshman Shelby Phillips shot a 10-over 156 to put herself in a tie for 68th place. Senior Chelsea Harris turned in a 13-over 159, and junior Gigi DiGrazia shot a 15-over 161, which left them in ties for 82nd and 86th place, respectively.

The team will tee off at 9 a.m. today in a shotgun start. Live scoring will be available at GolfStat.com

— by Tork Mason