Big 12 Meet Next For Cyclones

AMES, Iowa-- The Iowa State men's golf team has a lot riding on next week's 2007 Big 12 Men's Golf Championship, April 23-24 at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan. The Cyclones are still clinging for an outside chance for a NCAA Regional appearance. ISU is trying to make it back to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 1999 and a strong showing in Kansas would vastly improve its chances.

"The Big 12 is one of the most competitive conferences in the nation year in and year out," ISU head men's golf coach Jay Horton said. "If we play well like I know our team is capable of playing, I think we need to go in there thinking we can win. Obviously our ultimate goal is to win. However, with as strong as the conference is, if we go down there and play poorly, it is very easy to get 12th."

"When we were done with the fall season, we were really set up well to make Regionals," Horton said. "We have not had that tournament this spring that has been a resume builder for us. Even with that, our ranking is still good within our region, but we definitely need to show up next weekend to prove that we deserve a spot in the postseason. The teams we need to concentrate on at the Big 12 Championship are the former Big Eight schools (Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado)."

Prairie Dunes is no stranger to Big 12 Championship golf. The par-70, 6,593-yard layout will be hosting its eighth Big 12 men's golf championship and its first since 2004. The intimidating links-style track was the host of the 2002 United States Women's Open and the 2006 United States Senior Open. With its native fescue hovering around every fairway and tricky winds that vary throughout the day, golfers will utilize a plethora of shots and their grinding skills in order to tame the layout.

"Prairie Dunes is a great golf course and it consistently ranks as one of the best golf courses in the world," Horton said. "It is not overly long, but it has lots of fescue, tough greens and tough par-3s. It is major championship golf. It will require our full attention and your game and mind need to be sharp to be successful."

Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas have emerged as the favorites for the team title. All three are ranked in the top-30 of the latest Golfweek collegiate rankings, with Oklahoma State leading the pack at No. 9 nationally. The Cowboys will try and repeat as champions behind the efforts of junior Pablo Martin and sophomore Jonathon Moore. Martin, who is ranked No. 25 nationally, won both the Jack Nicklaus and Fred Haskins Awards last year given annually for the nation's best collegiate player. Moore, who is ranked 39th nationally, was medalist at the 2006 NCAA Championship to pace the Cowboys to the national title.

Unseasonably cold weather and an increased tournament load in the spring slowed down ISU's momentum it mounted in the Fall. The Cyclones did not finish worse than sixth in their five Fall tournaments, including a pair of tournament championships and one runner-up finish. ISU showed signs of returning to its early season form in its last tournament, an eighth-place showing in the 23-team Wyoming Cowboy Classic field.

"Two things have effected us this spring. One is the schedule and the other is the weather," Horton added. "We played an extra tournament this spring and it seems like we have been on the road every week since February. The constant travel can beat you down. Then you come back home from a long tournament to find snow in April. It is nice to be able to use the heated bay facility, but it is still not the same as playing outdoors in normal tournament conditions. I know that it has effected us and other outdoor spring sports here at ISU."

Junior Chris Baker has been one of ISU's most consistent players this season. A native of Brownstown, Ind., Baker has recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two tournaments, including tying for fifth at the Cowboy Classic in his last tournament. Baker, who leads the team with a 72.90 stroke average, recorded a career-best 209 at the Cowboy Classic, the fifth-best 54-hole score in school history. He also has had the most success at the Big 12 Championship than any other Cyclone, earning all-Big 12 honors as a freshman (tying for eighth) and tying for 27th last season. His final round 67 at the 2005 Big 12 Championship was the lowest score ever by a Cyclone in a conference tournament.

"Chris has been steady all season, but I think Chris would even tell you he has not played up to his potential this year," Horton said. "He has hit the ball extremely well all year, but we are looking to get rid of a few mental mistakes here and there. I think if he can do that he can beat anybody. He did not have the best fall, but he has steadily improved in the spring."

Junior Joe Cermak has also been a consistent force for the Cyclones this season, ranking second on the team in stroke average at 73.57. The Chicago, Ill., native has placed in the top-20 in seven of ISU's 12 tournaments this season.

"Joe has been really consistent as well," Horton said. "Joe was probably a little better than Chris in the fall, but Chris has been a little sharper this spring. I know all of our guys on the team look up to both Chris and Joe as leaders of the team."

Senior Rodney Hamblin (St. Paul, Minn.), junior Cedric Bertin (Bruz, France) and freshman Cameron White (Plymouth, Minn.) round out ISU's lineup for the Big 12 Championship.

For live up to date scoring from the Big 12 Championship, click here.

Players Mentioned

Chris Baker

Cedric Bertin

Joe Cermak

Rodney Hamblin

Cameron White

Sponsors

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