The ISU womens golf team had a strong showing in their last competition of the fall season, finishing in second place at the Sunflower Invitational. The Cyclones were only three shots away from winning their third tournament of the season, losing out to Big XII rival Missouri.

After the first day of competition, the Tigers led the Clones by eight strokes. However, the ISU team closed the gap on day two to put pressure on the leaders.

“People don’t think we’re that great of a team or that we can hang with the top teams,” said senior Heather Elenbaas. “Closing on Missouri like that showed them that we can.”

The Tigers ended play with a two-day score of 916, followed by the Cyclones at 918. The other teams had a hard time keeping up with the top two, with host Kansas State finishing in third, 14 strokes behind Iowa State.

The invitational was played at the brand-new Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan.

“It doesn’t look like a new course. It’s very hilly and demanding,” Elenbaas said. “It’s the kind of course where you have to drive the ball in good spots or the course will eat you alive.”

For the second time this season, Lisa Meshke went to a playoff to decide the individual champion. This time Missouri’s Amelia Moses got the better of her, winning medalist honors with a score of 221. This earned Meshke her second runner-up finish of the year. Karla Schuldt from Northern Iowa finished at 226 to tie for third place.

One reason for the Cyclones’ success was that every golfer placed in the top 20. Meshke was followed by sophomore Laura Wells, who tied for seventh with a score of 232.

Sophomore Sarah Gilbert was one shot behind Wells, sharing ninth place. Elenbaas completed her season with a 236 performance, putting her in a tie for 12th. Senior Noel Jacobusse ended up at 238 for the tournament, tying for 17th place.

The Cyclones come to the end of a fall campaign that saw the team finish in the top two in half of the tournaments in which they competed.

“I think it’s a great way to end the fall season,” said Elenbaas. “Now we need to have a relaxing winter, practice hard with the weights and go at it again next spring.”