The ISU women’s golf team is getting hot at the right time.

After finishing no higher than 13th through most of the spring season, the Cyclones recorded two consecutive top-10 finishes to close out the regular season. They ended up in eighth place at the Northwestern Invitational on April 4 and recorded a season best sixth-place finish at the Mountain View Invitational a week earlier.

It was the first time they’ve placed in the top 10 since September 2005. The sixth-place finish is their highest since October 2004.

Coach Christie Martens said there isn’t one obvious reason for the sudden turnaround.

“I think that they’ve just been practicing hard, and all their dedication is paying off,” Martens said.

One player that has contributed to the hot streak is junior Christi Athas, who broke the ISU 54-hole school record with a score of 213 at the Northwestern Invitational. That came a week after Athas shot a career-low round of 69 en route to a second-place finish at the Mountain View Invitational, also a career best.

“Different parts of my game have been great at different times during the season, and at the Mountain View Invitational my game finally came together,” Athas told ISU media relations. “I feel confident in my abilities, and have given it my all each and every tournament.”

Martens also happens to be confident in Athas’ abilities.

“She’s just got the right attitude,” Martens said. “She can be a strong force in the Big 12 [tournament].”

Sophomores Karly Pinder and Kendra Hanson have also made large contributions in the last two invitationals. Pinder matched Athas’ performance in round one of the Mountain View Invitational, also recording a career-low round of 69. A week later, Hanson recorded her career-low round of 70 at the Northwestern Invitational. Hanson had a career-low 54-hole score of 224 at the same tournament.

Martens said she’s impressed with the way both players have stepped up.

“70 is the lowest she’s ever shot, and she could’ve shot lower,” Martens said of Hanson. “Karly [Pinder] also had a personal best. This is really the first time this year we’ve been having a few people step up and shoot under par.”

Martens also said the morale of the team has seen a change with this recent hot streak.

“It’s really exciting when they get off the course and know they’ve shot a personal best,” Martens said. “I think they’re really starting to feel like all their hard work is paying off.”

It’s paying off at just the right time for the Cyclones. With the regular season over, their next trip will be to Lincoln, Neb., to play in the Big 12 championship.

The team said it is just trying to stay focused and continue the success it’s been having.

“I like to look at the Big 12 tournament as just another golf tournament,” Athas told ISU media relations. “I don’t want to put extra pressure on this tournament.”

The Big 12 championship is April 17 to 19.