After a last-place finish one week ago, the ISU men’s golf team makes its way to Rhode Island, giving it a chance to bounce back from a disappointing season opener.

The Cyclones will tee up in the Adams Cup Monday and Tuesday.

ISU head coach Jay Horton said the tournament gives his team a good early season test, as well as allows it to see a different part of the country.

“It’s been a good tournament. They always have a lot of good teams out there,” Horton said. “I like to take the kids somewhere different. I’ve never been to Rhode Island, and I don’t think anyone on the team has.”

The Cyclones will face stiff competition, as they take on two teams — Indiana and Michigan State — who finished in front of them at the Notre Dame Invitational. Host Rhode Island qualified for the NCAA Championship one year ago.

“Through our successes that we’ve had over the years, as our team is getting better and better, it’s opened the door for me to get into better and better tournaments,” Horton said. “You hear in all sports about strength of schedule. I’m trying to increase our strength of schedule. I want to get into the best tournaments we possibly can.”

Going into the Notre Dame Invitational last week, Horton set an eighth-place finish as a goal for his team. They went on to finish 15th, coming in last.

Junior Drew Dalziel led the team with a tie for 32nd place.

This week Horton hasn’t set a goal for his team, other than to improve.

“A personal goal for myself is to get better,” Horton said. “When we went to the last tournament I mentioned eighth, [but] I never want them to think about being average. I always want to win golf tournaments. This tournament I don’t have any expectations, [other than] I have an expectation not to finish last.”

Iowa State gets a boost from Curtis Foster, who will see his first action of the year. Foster was injured in a car accident last spring that also involved teammate Tyler Swanson. Foster suffered a broken bone in his back, but has been cleared to play.

“He’s ready,” Horton said. “He brings as much mental toughness to the team as anybody. He’s a pretty determined kid, and I know he wants to go out there and play well.

“Curtis is a big, strong guy, and he’s flexible to begin with, and I think that helped him in the accident. He gets better and better every day he goes out there, he gets stronger and stronger.”

Swanson is still recovering from the accident.

Foster saw extensive time last season as a freshman and Horton is looking for leadership from him.

“I hope it adds some confidence and toughness [to the team],” Horton said. “I think Curtis brings a lot of qualities leadership-wise, somebody the guys can look up to and see what he’s gone through to come back.”

Redshirt sophomore Dane Odden will also see his first action as a Cyclone, looking to give the team a boost.

“It’s all confidence,” Horton said. “Golf is so much mental, more than physical. I know these guys can play; it’s just having confidence to go out and do it on the road.”