The Utah-Dixie Classic wasn’t exactly kind to the Iowa State women’s golf team. The Cyclones shot a two-round total of 648 during 36 holes to finish 17th in the 23-team field.

Texas Tech won the team title with a 606, while Texas A&M placed second with a total of 607.

“I was disappointed with the way we played,” Coach Julie Manning said. “I thought we were prepared and had done the things we had to do to get ready for a meet like this.”

The women struggled the first day in which they played 27 holes. The final nine holes were especially hard for the team, and left ISU sitting in 18th place.

On the second day, during the final nine holes, the Cyclones had to battle a torrential downpour of rain, which forced a shotgun start where all five team members played together with Manning alongside.

“Actually it was the best thing that could have happened,” Manning said. “It allowed me to coach all five of them at the same time. It was probably the most fun and valuable round that I’ve had as a coach.”

On the final day, the women shot three rounds of 38, a round of 39 and a 43 on the par-36 course. The solid scores just weren’t enough to get the team back into contention after the high scores of the previous rounds.

Fiona Watson once again led the team with rounds of 73 and 83 on the 72-par course. The senior tied for 36th out of the 123 golfers. TCU’s Angela Stanford and Texas Tech’s Jamie Vannoy tied for medalist honors with a score of 147.

ISU senior Sara Linneman tied for 68th with a score of 163 and Cathy Ennis shot a 164 to finish 73rd. Cyclone Noel Jacobusse shot a 169, while Cathy Matthews carded a 170.

“I think we came back and played pretty well on that second day,” Matthews said. “We persevered, and as a team we learned how to feed off each other. Tournaments like that just makes you work harder.”

On the weekend of April 18-19, the Cyclones will travel to Iowa City to compete in their last regular season tournament before the Big 12 Meet.

“It will be the top nine teams in the Midwest other than us at Iowa,” Manning said. “We are going to have a tough time avoiding coming in last the way we’re playing right now. We’re just flat out not competing as much as we are capable of. We’re better than what we are showing.”