“Disappointed.” “Sick.” “Last.”

The ISU men’s golf team hopes these are all words of the past.

The team tries to begin a new chapter Monday at the Fairway Club Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. The Cyclones hope to prove to themselves and the rest of the Big 12 Conference that they are better than a sour finish indicated last season.

“I remember how we unraveled under tough conditions,” senior Jeremy Lyons said. “I remember seeing us in 12th place, and it made me sick because we were better than that. It will drive us all year to prove to ourselves that we aren’t a last place team.”

The Cyclones want to use some better terms: wins, top-10 finishes and advancing to districts. That could be the case this season, head coach Jay Horton said.

“Everyone is really excited to get started,” said Horton, who is beginning his fifth year as coach. “We have added a lot depth this year and the guys know they can’t relax.”

The team was in the running for one of seven district spots, but fell short when they finished last at the Big 12 Conference tournament.

“All we had to do was beat Kansas at the Big 12 meet, but we fell on our faces and finished dead last,” Horton said. “They were selected to go and we weren’t. Everyone is hungry not to let things end like last year.”

This year’s squad will turn to the senior leadership of Lyons and the sophomore duo of Drew Dalziel and Tyler Swanson. Last season, in just the second tournament of his college career, Dalziel broke the school’s 54-hole record shooting rounds of 67-67-71 to win the Nestle Classic.

Swanson played 17 ISU events last year, posting a stroke average of 74.4. He will miss Monday’s event since he will be playing in the John Deere Classic, a PGA Tour event, which begins Thursday in Silvis, Ill.

Senior Clark Smith may enter this event as the hottest player.

Smith broke the course record at Veenker Memorial golf course Sept. 1, firing a 9-under-par 63. Horton had previously held the record with a 64.

“It was one of those days where you get on the train where nothing goes wrong,” Smith said. “I can’t really explain it. I made a lot of putts.

“Coach was as excited as I was, and everyone came out of the clubhouse to congratulate me right after the last putt.”

Junior Corey Schultz just wants the season to start.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I have been thinking about it all summer.”