The ISU women’s golf team will try to return to its winning ways Monday at the Marilynn Smith Invitational in Lawrence, Kan. The two-day tournament will start with 36 holes Monday and finish Tuesday with 18 holes.

“I’m looking forward to the trip, and we are looking to win it,” coach Julie Manning said. “It is nice that it is such a short trip, too, as we have been on the road a lot lately.”

Twelve teams will compete in the tourney, including Iowa, Denver, Illinois State, Kansas State, UTEP, Wichita State, Western Illinois, Missouri-Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Arkansas-Little Rock and host school Kansas.

Manning looks for the toughest competition to come from Denver, Kansas and Illinois State.

One bonus for the team is that on the first day it will get to use carts. A 36-hole walk can leave legs worn out, and Manning said she thinks it will be a real treat for the team.

A slight shakeup in the traveling team might bring about some lower scores, Manning said.

Lisa Meshke, Louise Kenney and Christi Athas remain, but two freshmen will take the other spots. Karly Pinder will get another try on the team, and Jessica Shin will be traveling to her first tournament as a collegiate golfer.

“Jessica Shin in the last 10 days has shown the spark that we saw in the recruiting process,” Manning said. “She is one of the best on our team with the driver, hitting them long and straight.”

Shin said she is ready for her first tournament.

“I’m really excited. I’m just going to go out and play with confidence,” Shin said. “Lisa and [Kenney] are great captains, and it helps to have pretty much the whole team here.”

Kendra Hansen and Stef Nelson will also travel with the team and will compete in the tournament as individuals. This will be the first time that Hansen, the team’s other freshman, isn’t playing with the team.

“I think it is good for Kendra to not be under the max pressure of needing a low score for the team,” Manning said.