Iowa State University defended its title by winning the 18th annual Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition presented in partnership with John Deere Golf, March 1. It is the 12th title for the Cyclones in the last 14 years. Isaac Mertz, Casey Sheehy, Dan Strey and Shane Lohman took the traveling trophy back to Ames, Iowa, along with a $4,000 first-place cash prize. Teams Massachusetts (2nd), Maryland (3rd), Wisconsin (4th), Arkansas (5th), Purdue (6th), Maryland (7th), Connecticut (8th), Purdue (9th) and Penn State (10th) rounded out the top 10, as 304 students on 87 teams from 44 colleges and universities participated in the competition.
The Turf Bowl challenged students from universities/institutions to identify turfgrass species, diseases, weeds, and insects, as well as answer questions on mathematics, growth, and development. The exam also allowed teams to collaborate for the case study portion and submit an essay that addressed business management facets of the golf course superintendent profession, while emphasizing the importance of communication skills. An increased emphasis on irrigation components added yet another dimension to the competition this year.