The ISU men’s golf team’s quick start during the opening round of the Roadrunner Intercollegiate on Monday didn’t last, and it slipped Tuesday from a tie for ninth place to 11th.

“We struggled today,” said ISU coach Jay Horton. “We had one good round, which was progress, but we need to be able to play a whole tournament.”

A 5-over-par 289 had the Cyclones in business after the first 18 holes Monday, led by Chris Baker’s 2-under-par 69. The good fortune faded, and the team recorded a 302 and a 305 on the final two rounds, finishing with an 896 for the tournament.

Baker’s 4-over-par 217 (69-72-76) finished him in a four-way tie for 13th overall. He led the Cyclones for the fourth time in seven tournaments.

“Baker played really well on Monday,” Horton said. “He had a good opening round. He struggled a little bit today, but I was pleased with the way he played this tournament.”

The Cyclones headed into the final 18 holes in ninth place out of 17 teams, but their weakest round dropped them two spots and out of a top-10 finish.

Junior Drew Dalziel and freshman Joe Cermak contributed top-50 performances for the Cyclones, shooting 224 and 226, respectively. Rodney Hamblin’s 229 and Curtis Foster’s 248 rounded out the scoring for Iowa State.

“I thought I hit the ball pretty well the past two days,” Dalziel said. “I hit the ball a lot better than in Florida, and the scores might not show it so much, but I think I hit the ball better than I have been lately.”

Progress was the resounding theme coming from the Cyclones after the tournament, and most left saying they felt confident they took steps forward.

“I thought I played pretty well,” Cermak said.

“I made some good shots. Scorewise it didn’t look that way, but I was able to make some good shots; it’s just a matter of putting it all together now.”

Going into the tournament, Horton had said the focus would be on playing more consistently and taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Despite fading down the stretch, Horton said he was encouraged that his golfers worked on achieving those goals.

“We worked hard over the winter, and I know I really worked hard at getting better, and it’s starting to show for us,” Cermak said. “We’ve been able to get out and make good shots and make progress, but we all just need to put it all together now.”

Horton also said the Cyclones can learn from this tournament, especially because of the strong opening round, but stressed the fact that one round does not make a tournament.

The Cyclones next hit the links Friday at St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the St. Croix Classic.