Completed Event: Women's Golf versus Stanford Intercollegiate on October 17, 2025 , , 9th/19
Final
Women's Golf
Stanford Intercollegiate
9th/19
Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Garner National Respect
03.02.2011 | Women's Golf
AMES, Iowa- One of the biggest stories in collegiate women's golf is happening right here. The Iowa State women's golf team has shocked the nation with its impressive start to the spring season, finishing runner-up (Lady Puerto Rico Classic) and first (Central District Invitational) against some of the best teams in the nation.
The Cyclones have jumped all the way to No. 11 nationally according to Golfstat and the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings list Iowa State as the 16th-best team in the nation. The highest ranking in the program's history comes on the heels of an impressive victory at the Central District Invitational last week, a tournament consisting of 10 top-50 teams.
The national press has certainly taken notice of the Cyclones' success. Golfweek picked Iowa State as its "team of the week" twice last month and Golfworld's Campus Insider selected the Cyclones as one of its "top-five teams in the country."
Northern teams aren't supposed to have this much success in February. However, Iowa State head coach Christie Martens has a special team, and with the access of outstanding facilities provided by the Iowa State administration for the women's and men's golf teams, the sky is the limit for the program.
"I think it's just exciting how well we have started," Martens said. "I was surprised that we played so well in Puerto Rico. I think playing the exhibition match we played in Florida really helped us get ready because the first day out of the van I think we looked pretty rusty. I want to thank our administration for allowing us to use the Bergstrom Indoor Facility, because that has really helped us make the transition. This is the first year we have used it and it has made a huge difference in their wedge game by being able to hit at greater distances and short little shots without losing their touch and feel on their wedges."
The Cyclones' strength is their fantastic depth. The top-five players are all capable of firing low scores while averaging under 75.0 strokes per round on the season. Each have had multiple top-10 showings, including four top-10 placings each from Victoria Stefansen, Laurence Herman and Punpaka Phuntumabamarung.
The luxury of tossing out a low round has made the Cyclones a tough team to beat.
"Our depth has really helped us this year," Martens said. "People always ask me what player I want to talk about and it could be a different player every week. So that's the really neat thing about it. They are all very steady and it's not like only one person is playing well and bringing the rest of the team up. It's just great to have that consistency."
As a team, Iowa State is the highest ranked team in the Big 12 in both the Golfstat and Golfweek ratings, making the Cyclones an early front-runner to win the Big 12 Championships held in April in Columbia, Mo.
The Cyclones still have plenty of work to do until then, however. Iowa State, which has recorded five of the top-eight 54-hole team scores in school history this year, hopes to keep the momentum and positive press going, competing at the Gator Sun Trust Invitational, March 6-7 in Gainseville, Fla.
"I think the recognition we have received is really exciting," Martens added. "Having people realize we have a great program is a great thing. Obviously, confidence is a huge part of golf and that recognition really makes a big difference."
The Cyclones have jumped all the way to No. 11 nationally according to Golfstat and the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings list Iowa State as the 16th-best team in the nation. The highest ranking in the program's history comes on the heels of an impressive victory at the Central District Invitational last week, a tournament consisting of 10 top-50 teams.
The national press has certainly taken notice of the Cyclones' success. Golfweek picked Iowa State as its "team of the week" twice last month and Golfworld's Campus Insider selected the Cyclones as one of its "top-five teams in the country."
Northern teams aren't supposed to have this much success in February. However, Iowa State head coach Christie Martens has a special team, and with the access of outstanding facilities provided by the Iowa State administration for the women's and men's golf teams, the sky is the limit for the program.
"I think it's just exciting how well we have started," Martens said. "I was surprised that we played so well in Puerto Rico. I think playing the exhibition match we played in Florida really helped us get ready because the first day out of the van I think we looked pretty rusty. I want to thank our administration for allowing us to use the Bergstrom Indoor Facility, because that has really helped us make the transition. This is the first year we have used it and it has made a huge difference in their wedge game by being able to hit at greater distances and short little shots without losing their touch and feel on their wedges."
The Cyclones' strength is their fantastic depth. The top-five players are all capable of firing low scores while averaging under 75.0 strokes per round on the season. Each have had multiple top-10 showings, including four top-10 placings each from Victoria Stefansen, Laurence Herman and Punpaka Phuntumabamarung.
The luxury of tossing out a low round has made the Cyclones a tough team to beat.
"Our depth has really helped us this year," Martens said. "People always ask me what player I want to talk about and it could be a different player every week. So that's the really neat thing about it. They are all very steady and it's not like only one person is playing well and bringing the rest of the team up. It's just great to have that consistency."
As a team, Iowa State is the highest ranked team in the Big 12 in both the Golfstat and Golfweek ratings, making the Cyclones an early front-runner to win the Big 12 Championships held in April in Columbia, Mo.
The Cyclones still have plenty of work to do until then, however. Iowa State, which has recorded five of the top-eight 54-hole team scores in school history this year, hopes to keep the momentum and positive press going, competing at the Gator Sun Trust Invitational, March 6-7 in Gainseville, Fla.
"I think the recognition we have received is really exciting," Martens added. "Having people realize we have a great program is a great thing. Obviously, confidence is a huge part of golf and that recognition really makes a big difference."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Pammy Chookeaw and Keeley Marx 5_12 interview
Monday, May 12
Christie Martens 5_12_25 availability
Monday, May 12
WGolf NCAA Regional Preview
Thursday, April 25
Women's Golf Reacts to NCAA Regional Invitation
Wednesday, April 24
