Optimism is one of the similarities the two Cyclone golf teams have this fall.

After the loss of two all-Big Eight golfers, the Cyclone women are looking for a new identity under Head Coach Julie Manning’s 10th season.

Since the Cyclones lost Missy Arthur and Janea Carter to graduation, they look to seniors Beth Bader and Holly Duncan to provide leadership this season.

This year, six golfers will compete for five roster spots.

“At least one good golfer will have to sit out this first tournament,” Manning said.

Along with Bader and Duncan, the remaining three spots will belong to either junior Gwynn Shepherd, sophomores Cathy Matthews, Sara Linneman or Fiona Watson.

“I get more and more excited each practice, especially with our sophomores,” Manning said. “Before fall practice began, I was unsure of what this team would be like. But after seeing the efforts put in over the summer and throughout the fall, I am encouraged.”

Manning said she thinks her team can win tournaments this fall, one of which is the Illinois tournament, which fields 12 teams.

“I see Illinois as our toughest competition there,” Manning said. “Illinois, like ourselves, returned a lot of players.”

Dale Anderson will return as this year’s men’s golf coach for his 18th season. After a short vacation early in the fall practice session, Anderson has returned to the helm and looks forward to the new season.

“We finished in the upper division of the Big Eight last season,” Anderson said. “We are optimistic to build on what we did last year.”

After a disappointing 20th ended last year’s season at the NCAA Central Region golf tournament, the Cyclones are encouraged by their returning golfers.

“We did not have anyone graduate last year,” Anderson said.

Despite their youth, several players, including four sophomores, will have an impact on the team’s win column this year.

“We are hopeful to do better than last year,” Anderson said. “We have the potential to win every tournament we enter. We just need the work ethic to match their talent.”

Travis Korver will lead the Cyclones into the fall schedule. Korver, a junior from Orange City, won three tournaments last season, along with eight top 10 finishes.

Korver was also first team all-Big Eight last year.

Jason Knutzon returns after a breakthrough spring. The spring included three top 10 finishes along with a runner-up finish at the Southwest Missouri State Invitational. Knutzon’s runner-up finish came in a playoff loss.

Donnie Teeter, a junior from Algona, claimed runner-up at the season opening tournament last year. Teeter, a veteran on the squad, claimed three top 10 finishes.

Anderson said Teeter is “the best college player I have ever had, that has not won a tournament.”

Despite playing in only five tournaments last year, Chris Peterson, was the only other Cyclone to win a tournament last year.

Peterson, who will captain the squad this year, claimed the medalist honors at the Wichita State Shocker Classic. Peterson also finished in the top 10 of two other tournaments.

Anderson said, “Peterson is coming of age.”

Sophomore Corey Chambers also returns for the Cyclones this fall. Chambers, who made his collegiate debut at the Midwest Collegiate Championship, claimed three top 10 finishes. He finished in a tie for sixth in the tournament. Chambers played in all of the Cyclone tournaments last year except for one.

Jon Levy, a sophomore from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., will also be looked to for varsity rounds. Despite his lack of experience, Levy claimed third place at the Drake Relays Invitational last year.

“He also has great credentials as a high school player,” Anderson said.

Other players on the roster will include sophomore Jon Brackmann, redshirt freshman Adam Hart, senior J.D. Grimm, senior Dale McCarty and freshman Chris MacDonald.

The Cyclone women will debut their 1995-96 squad in the Illinois St. Redbird Invitational in Normal on Sept. 9. While the men will debut in the Big Four Championship in Waterloo on Sept. 9.