Golfers Ready For Spring Swing

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State women's golf team and head coach Christie Martens are looking to continue on its past success by making a school-record sixth consecutive NCAA Regional. The Cyclones qualified for the NCAA Championship for the first time last season and Martens are hoping to make it back to the national finals again in 2015.

“Celia (Barquin) and Cajsa (Persson) have kind of made it their thing that they want to make it to match play,” Martens said. “It is the first year of match play at the NCAA Championships and the top eight teams will play in it.”

The Cyclones will be relying on their lone senior, Chonlada Chayanun, to reach their goals. Chayanun is looking to finish out one of the best Iowa State careers, where she holds the top spot for career stroke average at 75.01.

At the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational in the fall, Chayanun fired an Iowa State record 65 in the opening round of play. Persson, a junior, is also looking to contribute as one of the leaders this spring.

“Chonlada has grown so much just looking back at her freshman year and her picture,” Martens said. “She looks like a little kid compared to what she does now. It is pretty amazing. Her drives are amazing and her approach shots are really good. If she can become an elite player between 10 and 40 yards, she is really going to be able to accomplish some great things this season.”

Martens also has a pair of freshmen who were exceptional in the fall in Barquin and Nattapan Siritrai. Both recorded a third place finish and Barquin is the team leader in stroke average at 73.1.

“I was playing really good this summer and that carried on into the fall,” Barquin said. “It was my first time playing as a team in a really long time and it was a lot of fun. As a team we have been talking about [our goals]. We don't want to think about just going to nationals. We have the goal to be in the top eight and as an individual I just want to play my best and see if I can get into the top-10.”

The spring season opens up at the Central Florida Challenge, Feb. 8-10.