An ailing Jason Knutzon fought off the flu to lead the Iowa State men’s golf team to victory in the 17-team Boatman’s Billiken Intercollegiate Tournament in St. Louis on April 7 and 8.

The Cyclones, who claimed the team title, also made a clean sweep of the medalist honors with Knutzon’s first collegiate tournament win.

Iowa State totaled 898 strokes over the two-day tournament to win by 10 strokes over the team from Illinois St.

Head coach Dale Anderson said that Knutzon had become ill while travelling to St. Louis, but also brought some antibiotics along with him in case of an illness.

After their arrival in St. Louis, Anderson seriously considered sending for another player, but decided to allow Knutzon to play because of the distance back to Ames.

“Jason was truly sick, you could see it in his eyes,” Anderson said. “In fact, during the coaches meeting, I told the other coaches that Jason may not be able to play the second round of the first day of the tournament because of the illness.”

But Knutzon surprised Anderson and the tournament field with his 216 stroke performance. Eight strokes better than his nearest comeptitor.

Anderson walked away from the tournament admiring Knutzon.

“He showed quite a lot of guts and courage by winning,” the coach said.

Anderson added that he received some prodding from opposing coaches because his ailing player was winning the tournament.

Not only did Knutzon win the tournament, but he did it in decisive fashion by finishing eight strokes over a pair of golfers.

Missouri-Kansas City’s Robert Russell and Illinois State golfer Mike Cuching each took 224 strokes to complete the 54-hole tournament.

Knutzon carded a final total of 216 strokes over the tournament.

“This was his first outright collegiate victory,” Anderson said. “That is quite an accomplishment for a sophomore.”

Knutzon tallied final scores of 70-74-72, but he wasn’t the only Cyclone golfer in the top ten.

Senior Chris Peterson and junior Donnie Teeter joined the Iowa State contingent toward the top of the leader board.

Peterson posted a final card of 226 strokes en route to his fifth place finish, while Teeter finished in a tie for eighth place with a final total of 228 strokes.

Despite the Cyclones’ high finish, Anderson wasn’t totally happy with the team’s performance.

“Chris was hitting the ball really well,” Anderson said. “But he was having some putting woes.”

“Donnie needs to work on his short game a little more,” Anderson said. “He had 11 up and downs and he only made one.”

Up and downs are when the players do not hit the greens in regulation and how they follow it up with their next shot.

Travis Korver finished in a tie with six fellow golfers for a 17th place for ISU.

“We are going to work with him [Korver] some this week,” Anderson said. “We are going to try to switch drivers and work with his head a little this week, but it can be turned around.”

The final Iowa State golfer to participate was Jon Levy.

Levy, a sophomore, qualified with two rounds of 75, but couldn’t reproduce the scores in two of the three rounds in the tournament. Levy sandwiched a middle round of 74 around two 81s.

The tournament saw 90 individual golfers participate in the tournament.

Among the 17 teams in the tournament, the Cyclones were able to do battle against two intrastate rivals in St. Ambrose and Northern Iowa.

St. Ambrose finished in a tie for 10th place as a team and was led by golfer Skip Berkmeyer, who also ended in 10th with a 229 stroke total.

Meanwhile, the Panthers continued to gain high finishes from freshman John Panek.

The Panther golfer tied for 17th with a final card of 233 strokes, while leading the team to their 12th place finish.

The upbeat Cyclones will next be in action at the Shocker Classic this weekend in Wichita, Kan.

Anderson said that one spot will be open to go to Wichita and that he expects tough competition for the right to go.