If golf was a class, the ISU men’s golf team would have aced its midterms before failing the final.

In their last two meets, the Cyclones have started play well during their first two rounds before falling flat in the final round.

Last week, the team was fourth after two rounds before dropping to eighth after the third. In the meet before that, the Cyclones were in sixth position and again fell to eighth by the end of the tournament.

“We are young, and they are trying to get there,” head coach Jay Horton said. “They have all had success individually, and now we’re trying to do it collectively, as a whole.

“One person will do it, while a couple others slip back. We’re trying to learn [how to come through] as a team.”

The Cyclones will get another crack at passing their final-round tests Monday and Tuesday when they play in the Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Turlock, Calif.

Iowa State will continue to look for consistency throughout its lineup, a group in which anybody is capable of stepping up.

Last week, team leader Tyler Swanson struggled, tying for 66th, but senior Jeremy Lyons came up big, recording a top 10 finish.

“Tyler and Jeremy [are the ones] I look to, and the whole team looks to,” Horton said. “They’ve been there and done that, and typically when those two play well, we’re going to play well.”

A Cyclone newcomer also played well last week. Freshman Paul Huddle tied the school record and the tournament record at the Steve Kerr Invitational with his second round score of 66.

“Paul Huddle played great,” Horton said. “That was somewhat unexpected score-wise, but he has put so much work into [his game] every day in practice and has been working so hard this year that it is definitely deserved. That was a big lift.”

A good finish this week is especially important because many of the teams the Cyclones will face in their conference meet are competing.

Kansas, Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri and Wichita State — all teams the Cyclones face in the postseason — will be playing alongside Iowa State this week.

“Those are the groups we battle with year-in and year-out to advance on [in postseason play],” Horton said. “It’s an important meet from that aspect to see how you stack up in the region.”

The meet also kicks off a weeklong trip, as the team won’t get a chance to return home before its next meet. The Cyclones will travel straight to Lexington, Ky., for the Johnny Owens Invitational Thursday and Friday.