Like most sports, Iowa State golf has an offseason.

A time to relax, give your body some time to heal from the hard work of the year and prepare for the upcoming season. Considering that Iowa State hasn’t played since October 14, there was plenty of time to take care of all the maintenance. 

Iowa State last played in a competitive event in October 2018 at Big 12 Match Play in Houston, Texas. The Cyclones finished in last place for the tournament, going 0-5 in all their matchups. 

Coach Andrew Tank said after the loss at Big 12 Match Play that the Cyclones had a “bitter taste in their mouths” but made it clear the responsibility would be on the players heading into the offseason. Tank made it clear there would be no room for excuses and each golfer would have to determine for themselves how they would approach the three-month hiatus. 

Junior Sam Vincent took his offseason and worked on his body and habits almost every day.

“I know we all worked on our bodies in terms of getting stronger and getting more mobile,” Vincent said. “I know that I want to hit the ball further this spring and I personally made sure my technique was consistent.”

Tank also made note throughout the fall portion of the season that he felt the team needed to focus on technique a bit more and improved in driving the ball to put yourself in a position to succeed.

Lachlan Barker, a sophomore, went home to Australia for the winter break, but he certainly brought with him the advice of his coach. That led to Barker playing a tournament in Australia. 

Barker competed in the Master of the Amateurs tournament and finished 16th overall. He competed to clean up his mechanics and test his form against real competition. 

“This offseason I really was tidying a couple things up,” Barker said. “I worked with my coaches and we developed a full-pitch shot, a shot that goes 70 yards for me and I’ve turned that into a weapon over the offseason.”

As the Cyclones head out to Arizona to compete in the Arizona Intercollegiate on Monday afternoon, Tank awaits the results of his team’s labor in the first tournament back from a long break.

“I think we had a productive couple months,” Tank said. “I am pleased with what I have seen, but it is one thing to do it in practice and another to take it on the course in competition, so I hope the work we did pays off.”