Much like he expected to when he committed to the University of Iowa, sophomore Joseph Winslow made a big rise to success in the collegiate golf world. It just happened a lot faster than he, or anybody, could have predicted.

Winslow became the sixth Hawkeye in program history to earn All-America honors after tying for 13th at the NCAA Championships last season, and after a strong performance at the Golfweek Conference Challenge two weeks ago, Winslow's future is a success story in the making.

"He is a player that we feel really has unlimited potential," says Mark Hankins, who has guided the Hawkeyes to NCAA postseason play in four consecutive seasons. "He works as hard on his game as anybody. He is going to tell you that his goal is to make it on the PGA Tour after Iowa. I believe him when he says that, and I believe that he can accomplish that goal."

The Overland Park, Kan., native was the top high school recruit out of Kansas after his senior season in 2011 at St. Thomas Aquinas. Winslow was a Class 5A state champion three consecutive seasons and was a five-time Midwest Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year.

Winslow committed to the UI after finding the school, golf program, and community fit every condition in his checklist. He chose to attend after narrowing his choices to Iowa, TCU, Texas A&M, and Central Florida.

"The thing that interested me most in Iowa is where the program was going and what coach Hankins has done with the team," says Winslow. "Clearly, guys were getting a lot better up here, and my goal is to get better every season. With the track record that coach Hankins has developed, and the direction the program is going, this was the best option for me."

For Hankins, Winslow fit every condition from a recruit on his own checklist as well.

"He played in a ton of tournaments that summer, and we knew that Joseph loved to play golf, which is our top criteria from a recruit," says Hankins. "We were comfortable with him and his family, and felt he would be a great fit here."

Winslow's path wasn't clear of any obstacles his freshman season, however, as he didn't crack the starting lineup in the fall season and battled with a case of pneumonia. After learning the ropes from a star-studded team that included the likes of Chris Brant and Barrett Kelpin, Winslow was ready for collegiate golf.

Winslow made his collegiate his debut in the spring season at the Big Ten Match Play, and would go on to play in the LSU National Invitational, Hawkeye-Great River Entertainment Invitational, and Boilermaker Invitational before making a tremendous postseason run. Winslow helped Iowa advance past the NCAA Athens Regional and strung together three great rounds at the NCAA Championships. Winslow fired a three-round total of 2-over par to lead the Hawkeyes to a 22nd place team finish.

Don't expect the early success to spoil the ethic of the goal-driven Winslow, however.

"That was just one step in a long journey," says Winslow. "The ultimate goal is to be a PGA player, and that all starts with working hard every day and keeping your sights set on getting better each time out. No amount of success will change that."

In Iowa's most recent action, Winslow tied for 15th at the Golfweek Conference Challenge after a 1-over par final round. Winslow and the Hawkeyes return to play on Oct. 13 at the Rod Myers Invitational in Durham, N.C.