Despite several team setbacks, the ISU women’s golf team is back on top.

The Cyclones improved their 36-hole total by 15 strokes from their last tournament to finish in a tie for second place at the nine-team Ron Moore Classic Tuesday in Denver, Colo.

“We’ve come a long way in a 10-day period of (practice) time,” head coach Julie Manning said. “I feel really good about the direction we are heading.”

Manning said the team members are starting to come together and play as a team, despite some recent shuffles in the roster.

The squad recently experienced the loss of junior Lisa Meshke, who will be out for the rest of the Cyclone’s fall season due to a broken bone in her elbow, Manning said.

She said the team has also missed the scores from junior Louise Kenney.

Kenney missed one tournament while competing for the Scottish National Team and played tired at the Chip-N-Club Invitational after flying directly to Lincoln, Neb., from her competition in Scotland.

The Cyclones entered the tournament as defending champions and led the competition by three strokes going into the final 18 holes. Though the Cyclones shot 308 both days, they were unable to hold off Big 12 rival Nebraska, which crept ahead of the Cyclones on day two to take the team title by three strokes.

“It really came down to the last group on the last hole” and some intense pressure, Manning said.

Even without a victory, the down-to-the-wire play was a great learning experience for the Cyclone team, Manning said, adding there is a great possibility the team will be in similar positions to win in upcoming tournaments.

Manning said ISU golfers improved their scores by working on their mental focus.

“We’ve really tired to draw their attention to their attitude while on the golf course,” she said. “I want them to focus on not getting ahead of themselves or frustrated. I want them to focus on taking one shot at a time.”

The Cyclone women continued to post impressive scores in the individual competition, with three Cyclones coming home with top-ten medallist honors.

Louise Kenney was the top finisher for Iowa State, finishing two strokes behind the leader with a 77-75-152. Freshman Christi Athas posted her third top-10 finish in only her fourth tournament with the Cyclones, shooting a 79-74-153 to finish in a seventh-place tie.

Senior Leanne Owens fired an 81 on day two, tying for tenth place after leading the individual standings on day one with a score of 73, her lowest 18-hole score of the season.

“Louise, Christi, and Leanne are really starting to have some consistent play,” Manning said.

Claire Stephanson finished out the Cyclones’ top finishers, scoring 79-79-158 to finish in a tie for 20th place.

Stephanson has stepped up to help the team, Manning said, despite being a last minute addition to the team of Friday, when it was determined that Meshke would be unable to attend the tournament.

Iowa State returns to action at the Battle at the Lake Oct. 6 in Tulsa, Okla.