Men’s golf keeps all starters to build on historic season

Mike Randleman

In the 2013-14 season, the ISU men’s golf team had one of its most successful seasons in program history.

After missing out on the NCAA regional tournament in 2012-13, the Cyclones not only made it back to Regionals, but advanced to the NCAA Finals for the first time in 61 years.

Iowa State finished the regular season ranked No. 43 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, earning four runner-up finishes along the way.

Returning all five starters for this season, the Cyclones will look to build on its success from 2013-2014.

Seniors Scott Fernandez and Sam Daley will be leaders on a team that will look to finish in the top 25 for the first time in school history.

After earning All-American honors in his sophomore year, Fernandez followed up with seven top-10 finishes in his junior campaign and led the team in scoring average.

Daley also had his best season of his career and posted the program’s best finish at a conference championship since 1953, finishing in second-place at the 2014 Big 12 Championship.

Iowa State will also look for sophomores Ruben Sondjaja and Nick Voke to be big contributors after having two of the best freshman seasons in school history. The duo combined for eight top-10 finishes and 10 rounds in the 60s.

The Cyclones will also return redshirt junior Collin Foster, who competed in 33 of 39 rounds and earned his first career top-10 finish at the Hawkeye Invitational last season.

Sophomore Jack Carter also returns with twelve rounds under his belt.

For 2014-15, Iowa State will add a freshman from Spain, Jorge Utrilla.

Utrilla attended Blume Residence High School, the same school as teammate Fernandez as well as PGA Tour player Sergio Garcia.

Duncan Croudis and Zach Steffen graduated from the team. The two competed in just one tournament each in 2013-14.