Disappointment.

This is one of the many terms Iowa State women’s golf coach Julie Manning has used to describe their performance during the fall slate.

After a recent trip to Florida, the women’s golf team found a new adjective to describe the season: optimism. With the recent trip, Iowa State found themselves walk away with a sixth place finish with a 54-hole team score of 963 strokes.

“We did a little better with this tournament than the previous two,” Manning said about her injury-rattled team.

“We have the talent to compete with our four veterans,” she said. “But everything that could have gone wrong has this fall.”

Manning’s team has found two veterans, juniors Fiona Watson and Cathy Matthews, had injuries which have hindered their performance on the course.

“I am happy we are getting off of the road for a while,” Manning said. “It will give us a chance to heal up. We are going to take a couple of weeks off before we start our winter training,” the coach said.

Among those performing for the Cyclones includes senior Gwynn Shepherd. Shepherd, coming off of a sixth place individual finish at the Big 12 Women’s Golf Preview, claimed a 19th place finish, 19 strokes behind the individual medalist.

“Gwynn has really stepped up for us after following the shadow of Missy Arthur, Beth Bader and Holly Duncan for the past three years,” Manning said. “She has really high goals for herself and has had a great fall.”

Matthews, despite the bad back, put up a gutsy performance with her 238 stroke performance to tie Shepherd.

Sara Linneman, finished three strokes back in a tie for 27th.

“Sara has been the most effected by their injuries,” Manning said. “Although it is nothing physical, it has taken a toll emotionally.”

Watson continues to perform despite her broken toes and all. Watson, finishing six strokes back of Linneman with her 247, claimed a 36th place finish.

Redshirt freshman Kay C. Elgert finished 13 strokes behind Watson to tie for 60th in the individual race. But praise continues to surround Elgert throughout the fall from Manning.

“Kay C. has had a lot of pressure on her,” Manning said. “But she is responding well to it.

“When you breakdown her high round scores and see that she has only two or three bad holes then it shows that she is knocking on the door.”

Manning is hoping to add another golfer for the spring schedule.

“We could possibly have a new recruit in January,” Manning said. “This is not a slap in the face to the girls, rather it is only to help them.”

“If, for instance, Kay C. isn’t playing well, then we will have someone who can step in and go,” Manning said.