With a new season and a group of young faces, this season’s Cyclone women’s golf team will try to prove people wrong.

One of the biggest losses for this season’s team is the graduation of Fiona Watson, a four-year letter winner and qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.

However, Watson has traded the clubs for a desk and will be an assistant to head coach Julie Manning.

This year’s squad is comprised of senior Christina Young of Hoffman Estates, Ill., junior Julie Swanson of Ames, and five sophomores and freshmen.

Manning believes sophomores Cathy Ennis, a member of last season’s National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team, Noel Jacobusse, Heather Elenbaas and Glynnis McMath will provide experience and leadership for this year’s squad.

“I’ll be surprised if the lineup is the same all year because the practices are very intense,” Manning said.

Manning is impressed with the new class and believes that freshmen Erin Denefe, from Ottumwa; Henna Chou, from Overland Park, Kan., and Lauren Bennett, from Norman, Okla., will have a good chance to play.

Each of them were signed to scholarships.

“They’re all from winning backgrounds,” Manning said.

This fall, the Cyclone women’s golf team will play its first year in the Big 12, and Manning believes it will be tough to predict the top teams in the conference.

However, Manning said she believes that Oklahoma State would be one of the tougher teams in the conference.

Despite the youth and inexperience of this year’s squad, Manning is optimistic about this season.

“I’m very excited about this team; they all gel together,” Manning said. “I think this team will surprise a lot of people.”

The Cyclones open their season September 5- 6 at the Illinois State Redbird Classic in Normal, Ill.