For second-year golfer Maxwell Tjoa, over a decade of experience has made him an ideal match for Iowa’s program.
On a team once dependent on two-time Big Ten champion Mac McClear but now consisting of four upperclassmen, Tjoa has taken on more of a leadership role for the Hawkeyes. The golfer from Cedar Falls said his passion for the sport is more than what it may seem.
“I think one thing is how simple it is yet how hard it really is,” Tjoa said. “On paper, it seems pretty easy, but I like how complex it is.”
As a first-year in the 2023-24 season, Tjoa achieved a low round of 68 and a stroke average of 73.7 in the fall before nabbing a stroke average of 74.4 that spring. Tjoa said his motivation behind a strong start that carried over to a bigger team role this season was a fresh start.
“One thing that helped me was being new to college — no previous records — starting from a clean slate,” Tjoa said. “I wasn’t really thinking of it as stepping up into a higher role, just kind of still playing my game, helping with the freshmen where I can.”
Assistant coach Steven Ihm, who joined the program in July 2024, noted Tjoa as a player who exhibits regular stability.
“Max has always been very consistent,” Ihm said. “He’s starting to buy into our system, and he’s starting to use some of the drills that we use in practice.”
Ihm also noted how Tjoa’s consistency has shaped the second-year into a vocal asset for the team.
“He’s helping other guys realize that laying a good foundation — good fundamentals, which is what Max has — is good for everybody,” Ihm said. “He’s really stepped up that way, showing other guys if you commit to what we’re doing in practice, it can translate to tournament rounds.”
Tjoa’s success as a golfer has paired well with Iowa’s program, but his skills trace back to his high school career. As a freshman in 2019, Tjoa earned second-team All-State honors, later achieving first-team honors for three consecutive years. He also led Cedar Falls High School to a Class 4A team state championship in 2021.
Now, Tjoa credits golf as a sport helping enhance skills on and off the course.
“Time management, I would say, is a big one,” Tjoa said. “I’d say [it’s] just helping me grow as a person, managing all my schoolwork and the golf schedule throughout the season.”
This season, the eight-person Hawkeyes started strong in their fall campaign, placing fourth out of 15 teams at the Gopher Invitational on Sept. 8-9, behind Iowa State and Big Ten competitors Minnesota and Nebraska.
Ihm further praised Tjoa’s consistency as a major factor in his and the team’s success.
“It’s a great thing to have as a golfer,” Ihm said. “Max is very consistent, shows up every day, gives it his all, shows up for workouts. He’s definitely a very consistent guy all around.”
Ihm also noted Tjoa’s strong performance at The Hootie in Charleston, South Carolina, where he tied for ninth with an eight-under finish, calling it a good breakthrough for him.
“I would just love to see him continue down the path he’s on right now,” Ihm said. “It’s a skill to learn how to shoot deep under par, so seeing him play one of his best rounds was awesome. Having him probably have one of the best finishes of his college career was great. So, I expect him to continue that trend and continue to lay the foundation for a solid career.”