Former Iowa golfer Brad Hopfinger aims to advance pro career

MARION — For Brad Hopfinger, the goal is singular.

Play good golf this summer, then take a shot at another coveted professional tour.

Hopfinger is one of five golf pros who played collegiately at the University of Iowa that will compete at the Greater Cedar Rapids Open golf tournament, which runs Thursday through Saturday at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion.

'It's kind of cool to see how the program kind of resurfaced while we were there and how they have sustained success ever since,' said Hopfinger, who will tee off at 8:50 a.m. 'Iowa is becoming well-known for their golf team and it's kind of cool to see everyone get a chance to play professionally and have Iowa be a part of what allows us to do that.'

Hopfinger, 28, turned pro following his 2011 graduation from Iowa, where he closed his collegiate career as an all-Big Ten selection. On a team that included current Web.com Tour member Vince India, Hopfinger was an integral part of a program-best 10th-place team finish at the 2011 NCAA championships under former coach Mark Hankins.

'We had a great group that was able to accomplish a lot,' Hopfinger said. 'I think pushing each other to be competitive day in, day out in practices really helped all of us in the long run.'

Hopfinger, who just completed a second stint on PGA Tour Latinoamerica, eyes a return to the Web.com Tour, where he competed in 24 events between 2015 and 2016.

'You've just got to play solid and play up to your abilities,' said Hopfinger, who finished tied for third last weekend at the Waterloo Open. 'I don't have to do anything extraordinary, just got to play solid through (Web.com) Q (qualifying) school and I should get myself a good chance at a card for next year. My plan is to just keep improving until then and just go in with a lot of confidence.'

The first three-player group, which includes 2017 Iowa alum Carson Schaake, tees off at 7:15 a.m. Two more former Hawkeyes — Nate Yankovich and Steven Ihm — get started at 12:05 and 12:40 p.m., respectively.

Schaake tied for 13th last weekend at the Waterloo Open, as did 2015 Iowa alum Brian Bullington.

Bullington, 23, played on the 2016 PGA Tour Latinoamerica, but ended the season one spot short on the money list of retaining his tour card. After working on his game through the winter and spring, Bullington returned to action in May and finished second at the Saint Louis Open last month.

'It's been kind of a crazy year and a half, two years,' Bullington said. 'I've continued to get better and better each year. ... Overall, it's just been a very, very steady improvement. In this game, if you can get a little bit better each year, eventually you'll make it.'

Bullington is part of a three-player group that begins at 1 p.m. and includes former Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Drake player Dane Worley.

Waterloo Open champion Austin Quick (Phoenix, Ariz.) tees off at 12:20 p.m., as does 2015 GCRO champion Paul Apyan (Chattanooga, Tenn.).

What: 19th annual TrueNorth Greater Cedar Rapids Open

When: Thursday through Saturday; Thursday's tee times start at 7:15 a.m.

Where: Hunters Ridge Golf Course, Marion (7,007 yards, par-72)

Purse: The purse includes a $25,000 check to the winner

Golfers to watch: Matthew Jennings, who tees off at 8:25 a.m. Thursday, finished tied for second last year, four strokes behind Seth Fair. Paul Apyan, the 2015 champ, tees off at 12:20 p.m. and Andy Winings, the 2010 champion from Brownsburg, Ind., tees off at 12:35 p.m. Former University of Iowa golfer Steven Ihm, a regular on the Web.com Tour, tees off at 12:40 p.m.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com