5 takeways from ISU men’s golf second-place finish in Virginia

Nick+Voke%2C+seen+here+at+the+Iowa+State+practice+facility+in+October+2013%2C+will+return+to+the+VCU+Shootout+on+Sept.+21-22+to+defend+his+individual+title+in+2014

Nick Voke, seen here at the Iowa State practice facility in October 2013, will return to the VCU Shootout on Sept. 21-22 to defend his individual title in 2014

Mike Randleman

1) A triumphant return: After missing last season’s postseason with a broken collarbone and a concussion due to a longboarding accident, Voke won the Janney VCU Shootout in his first collegiate start since his recovery.

2) ISU success: Voke’s victory resulted in the third Cyclone victory in the past five years at the Janney VCU Shootout. Voke joins the ranks of Nate McCoy (2010), Scott Fernandez (2011) to win at VCU. He is also the first Cyclone to earn medalist or co-medalist honors since Scott Fernandez earned co-medalist honors in March of 2013 at the Furman Intercollegiate.

3) Another near miss: In 2013-2014, the ISU men’s golf team recorded five runner-up finishes. This week, the ISU men’s golf team was on the cusp of victory once again, only to finish six shots short.

4) Final round surge: Though Iowa State fell short, a late rally propelled the team from third place to second. Led by a four-under-par total of 68 from Scott Fernandez, Iowa State posted the lowest 18-hole round of the tournament (a six-under-par total of 288) and were within two shots of the lead late in the final round.

5) Virginia vanquish: Just like at VCU in 2013, the Cyclones finished runner-up to Virginia Tech. Last year it was by 20 shots, this year by six. They also finished runner-up to Virginia last season at the Jim West Intercollegiate.