Some might say Monday is the biggest golf meet of the year in the state of Iowa.

It’s the Big 4 Championship — which features the men’s golf teams of all four Division I schools in the state.

Iowa State along with Iowa, Drake and the University of Northern Iowa will be competing at the Elm Crest Country Club in Cedar Rapids for bragging rights of the best team in the state.

Unlike recent years, Iowa State will go into the event as an underdog.

“It’s different to know that you aren’t the favorite to win a tournament, but I think that being the underdog will hopefully motivate us to play our best,” said freshman golfer Chris Baker.

Iowa State has already beaten intrastate rival Iowa this season at a tournament in Memphis. Contrary to that, Drake has beaten Iowa State, so the tournament is wide open.

“I’ve never experienced playing in the Big 4, but I can tell that it is a big tournament for us, and we definitely want to win this so we know that we’re the best in Iowa,” Baker said.

Iowa State’s season has been the same story — no one golfer has been dominant.

The team has been up and down all year.

Teeing off for the Cyclones will be Drew Dalziel, who has consistently been the No. 1 golfer for the Cyclones this fall.

Along with Dalziel will be Baker and Joe Cermak. Sophomores Rodney Hamblin and Dane Odden will also be on the roster.

The Elm Crest Country Club isn’t completely foreign to the ISU team, as Baker has played there before in a junior tournament.

“I played well, so I’m looking forward to playing the course again,” Baker said.

Horton said it is a tough course that requires patience.

“Any course is tougher this time of the year,” Horton said.

The Big 4 Championship will mark the final tournament of the fall for the men’s golf team.