The best the Big 12 conference has to offer in women’s golf will be on display in central Iowa starting Monday at the Big 12 Conference Women’s Golf Championship at the Harvester Golf Course.

The ISU women’s team will play host to the three-day tournament at the Harvester, located 35 miles southeast of Ames. The tournament is the fifth annual conference tournament and the first chance for the Cyclones to host a golf tourney since 1996.

“This is the first time we have hosted the Big 12 Tournament, and we are thrilled to have it in Iowa,” ISU women’s golf coach Julie Manning said in a press release.

Texas and Oklahoma State are the favorites in the race for the team title. The Longhorns are ranked ninth while the Cowboys are 15th. Leading the Cowboys is senior Maria Boden, who leads the conference with a 73.96 stroke average.

Lisa Meshke leads the Cyclones with a 77.2 stroke average, good for 20th in the league.

The teams will play 18 holes each day. Tee times start at 8 a.m. each day, and the Cyclones are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday morning.

– Jeff Stell