ORIENTATION GUIDE: Women’s golf makes history

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Photo: Liz Ulrichson/Iowa State

Freshman Cajsa Persson chips her ball out of the sandtrap during the Big 12 Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at The Harvester.

Lauren Hedrick

The ISU women’s golf team has widespread talent.

The Cyclones concluded the season with the No. 22 spot in the nation by Golfweek and No. 28 by Golfstat. The team was one of the 24 selected for the NCAA Central Regional — its fourth-straight berth in regionals.

Iowa State finished in the top five in seven of its 10 tournaments. The team recorded a third-place finish at the 2013 Big 12 Championship, its best showing at the conference meet since it finished second in 1996.

The team’s success was attributed to the deep roster. All five players had competed in every tournament in the season and all averaged a score between 74.2-75.6, which ranked all five players in the top-225 individuals nationally, according to Golfweek.

Leading the pack was senior Punpaka Phuntumabamrung, ranked 62nd nationally by Golfstat, who took home the runner-up medal at the Big 12 Championship. Phuntumabamrung’s 133 career rounds is the most ever by a Cyclone golfer.

The women’s golf team displays global aptitude as all but one Cyclone is from another country. Four of them are from Thailand while one is from Sweden.