When the Iowa women’s  golf team heads to Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday for the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational, it will more than likely carry with it an added sense of expectation — it is the last regular season match of the year before Big Ten championships on April 26.

For sophomore Lauren English, that sense of pressure will most likely be greater than usual.

That’s because English was recently named Big Ten Player of the Week after her strong finish at the Challenge at Onion Creek in Austin, Texas, April 1 and 2.

In Austin, English carded a 54-hole final score of 216 (plus-6), her lowest score in her career, good enough to finish tied for eighth, her fourth top-10 finish this season.

The Hawkeyes hope that English will be able to parlay her strong play in Texas into another strong finish this weekend in Columbus.

Also seeking to stay hot is senior Kristi Cardwell, who also finished in the top 10 at the Challenge at Onion Creek (tied for 10th), her second top-10 finish of the season. Cardwell and sophomore Shelby Phillips have played in every event this year, often pacing the team.

Also competing for the Hawkeyes will be senior Gigi DiGrazia and freshman Briana Midkiff. 

Sophomore Nicole Rae will compete as an individual.

The 54-hole tournament will take place Saturday and April 21 at the par 72, 6,268-yard Scarlet Course at the Ohio State University Golf Club. Nine of the 11 schools competing are Big Ten schools, in addition to Augusta State and Kent State.