Having been one of only 30 teams in the nation to participate in the NCAA championships in May, the Iowa men’s golf team is having a hard time quelling the urge to look up at even loftier expectations.

But the Hawkeyes want to do just that.

“It’s a matter of being present-minded,” head coach Mark Hankins said. “It’s not always easy to do when you have great success, but we have to forget about what we did at the end of last season.”

The Hawkeyes finished 17th at the NCAA championships in Toledo, Ohio, playing in their first postseason action since 1995. Even after the success, Hankins stressed that this year’s squad is a new team — especially after losing its team captains, including standout Cole Peevler.

“We lost Cole, and that’s a huge blow,” junior Vince India said. “But we all seem to be playing really well right now, and I don’t see any reason why we can’t make it back to where we were last year.”

With only one freshman on the roster, Hankins said he believes the team’s depth and experience will have a big effect. Every player on the nine-man roster should be in the running to make the five-man tournament squad, he said.

“Everyone on this team wants to be a starter, and without that kind of competition on the team, the guys up front just don’t perform as well,” Hankins said. “Each week, it is possible we could have a different lineup.”

Having intrasqaud competition to earn a tournament spot may seem like it could create hard feelings, but junior Dusty Koth — who has been in and out of the lineup throughout his Iowa career — said it is important to keep a positive attitude.

“If you go out there and put up good numbers, you are going to play,” he said. “Most of us have been playing golf long enough to know if your teammate beats you, the only person to blame is yourself.”

Iowa will begin the season in competition mode, because several Hawkeyes have competed in summer tournaments throughout the nation — some of whom have had great success.

India recently won the Iowa Open Golf Championship at Blue Top Ridge in Riverside on Aug. 22, and Hopfinger and sophomore Chris Brant finished in the top 10 in that tournament. Brant also finished third at the Iowa Amateur Championship on July 29.

The lone Hawkeye freshman — Warrensburg, Mo., native Ryan Marks — recently played in the U.S. Amateur Championships in Tulsa, Okla., along with sophomore Barrett Kelpin. Kelpin missed the cut to qualify for match play by just one stroke.

Hankins said the recent success from many players has made it difficult to decide who the five-man roster will be when the Hawkeyes open up the season.

“I’m going to choose the team that I think will give us the best chance to win,” he said. “The Iowa Open will have a lot to do with it, but having two players at the Amateur Championship makes it tough.”

The Hawkeyes will begin the season on Saturday at Blue Top Ridge, where they will cohost Golfweek’s Conference Challenge. The 54-hole tournament is the first collegiate tournament of the fall season and will consist of 15 teams from 15 different conferences.

“It’s very special from a golf standpoint, because all of college golf will be watching our tournament,” Hankins said. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase the course and our team.”