From the first time he stepped into the tee box in tournament action this fall until the final putt of the fall slate, junior golfer Jason Knutzon has been the best Cyclone golfer.

Knutzon, who finished the fall with a school-record setting stroke total en route to his second career individual championship at the 17-team Red Raider Intercollegiate Championship in Lubbock, Texas on Oct. 21 and 22.

But Knutzon’s trophy wasn’t the only hardware with space on the plane back to Ames as Iowa State managed to overcome a two-stroke deficit to claim the team title at the rain-shortened tournament.

Iowa State completed the tournament with a final total of 583 strokes, two strokes ahead of runner-up Kent State.

“It was a fabulous tournament,” said Sale Anderson, men’s head golf coach. “They finally fired on all cylinders.”

“Jason was just outstanding,” Anderson said. “He was pretty awesome.”

Knutzon’s performance was indicative of previous tournaments this fall, as the junior golfer didn’t post an 18-hole round score higher than 75. With that, he was able to set the lowest fall stroke average record at 72.4.

Knutzon’s rounds in the tournament were 72-67 (139) to complete the tournament at five strokes under par, to win the tournament by five strokes over Kent State’s Ben Curtis and Arkansas-Little Rock’s Alex Maynard, who both managed to score even par 144.

Despite the solid first round performance, Knutzon didn’t lead his own team in scoring, as junior Jon Levy posted a one-round score of 70, good for two-under par.

Levy managed to fade somewhat the second day as he finished the tournament with a final card of 147 strokes, good enough for a 15th place tie.

“That was a breakthrough round for Jon,” Anderson said. “My hat is off to him.”

Anderson credited the team with a solid effort.

“The weather was horrible,” the coach said. “They cancelled the second round on Monday because of heavy rains, and we played one round on Tuesday.”

Senior Donnie Teeter continued to have a solid fall with his tie for 20th place. Teeter shot a total score of 149 strokes, two behind Levy.

True freshman Aaron Patton continues to perform admirably for the cyclones with his 149 stroke total, good enough to tie Teeter for 20th place.

Anderson had high praise for the freshman’s performance.

“Aaron continues to step up,” Anderson said. “He is an unusual freshman in the fact that he plays like an upperclassman.”

“We are thankful we have him and are glad he is here.”

The final Cyclone golfer is Travis Korver. The senior continues to dig his way out of an early season slump on his way back to last year’s form. Korver posted a 151 stroke total, good enough for 32nd place, finishing two strokes back of Patton and Teeter.

Other teams of interest include fellow Big 12 opponents Texas Tech, Kansas Sate and Missouri.

The Red Raiders finished in a tie for 11th place in the team title standings as the host school posted a final tally of 606 strokes.

The Wildcats found themselves in 14th place after the tournament standings were posted. Kansas State’s final score was 611 strokes.

The Missouri Tigers continue to struggle this fall with their 16th place finish. The Tigers claimed their finish with a 619 stroke total.

Tying the Red Raiders for 11th place finish was intrastate rival Drake.

The Bulldogs were powered by Ben Poehling with his 150 stroke total, good enough for an 11th place tie.

The Golden Flashes of Kent State claimed their second place finish, despite leading the tournament after the first day of action. The team finished with a 585 stroke total, just two strokes behind ISU.

Despite the strong performance of his club, Anderson feels the results were not a direct result of his resignation at the end of the 1996-97 school year.

“They are well aware that this is my last year and because of that, they aren’t going to leave anything on the course at any tournament,” Anderson said. “You have to give it a lot of heart and they gave it their best shot.”

In regards to the last go around, Anderson said he is enjoying it.

“I realize it is the last time at each venue and it is a lot of fun,” Anderson said. “Right now though, our goal is to return to the national tournament and that is what we are focused on.”