A beachfront view will set the stage early next week at the Adidas Fall Classic in Palm Harbor, Fla.

The competition, which is the ISU women’s golf team’s last tournament of the fall, will match the Cyclones against a large field of Big 12 competitors, including Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri and Baylor.

“This is our last tournament before the [winter] break,” said sophomore Erica Dahl. “We’ve been working on this since last February, so we should be at the peak of our game.”

Head coach Julie Manning said the atmosphere should be very relaxing for her golfers.

Senior Leanne Owens said it will be less tiring for the Cyclones to play 18 holes each day of the three-day tournament, instead of the traditional two-day 36-18-hole format that can provide a “grueling” first day of competition.

The Cyclones will have additional support on the greens from assistant coach Fiona Watson, who usually does not travel with the team to tournaments because of administrative and scholastic commitments.

Manning said she asked Watson to attend so they could ensure they are able to reach all of their athletes during the competition. Watson played for Iowa State from 1995-98.

“[Fiona] is a great time and she knows so much,” Owens said. “And after her recently playing for Coach, it’s good to bounce ideas off of her.”

Dahl said Watson’s experience is valuable to the ISU team.

“She has a great understanding of competition at this level,” Dahl said. “That can really help us to stay calm and focus.”

The tournament rules allow six team competitors with four scores counting, rather than the traditional five-member team.

Manning said the format will be a great opportunity for Dahl and seniors Claire Stephanson and Cindy Whitmore to compete under less pressure. She said the three have all had to take turns replacing scores for injured team leader Lisa Meshke.

“I want them to feel well about what they did [throughout the season],” Manning said.

The tournament, hosted by Notre Dame, will take place Sunday through Tuesday.