Cyclones finish last at shortened Big 12 Championships

Photo: John Andrus/Iowa State Daily

Scott Fernandez, a returning starter for the ISU men’s golf team, won an individual title at the VCU Shootout last fall.

Alex Gookin

The ISU men’s golf team finished its season in disappointing fashion, finishing last at the Big 12 Championships in Hutchinson, Kan.

After a weather delay on the first day and the cancellation on Tuesday due to ice and cold weather, the three-day tournament was reduced to two.

The Cyclones struggled mightily on their first day of competition, shooting the worst first-round score of 306. Duncan Croudis (85) and Collin Foster (82) had the highest first round scores individually in the field of 45 golfers.

The team made up some ground in the second round, shooting 289, which was the second-best score of the second round, only behind Big 12 Champion Texas (281).

However, the Big 12 Championship ended much like it started for Iowa State, finishing with a tournament-high round of 309. The score dropped the team from contention after being the only team to break 900 strokes in three rounds.

Scott Fernandez led the team, tying for seventh place (72-72-73=217). No other Cyclone finished in the top 30, with Sam Daley finishing tied for 31st (75-73-80=228).

The meet was won by Texas (290-281-288=859), the defending national champion. Oklahoma State (285-292-286=863) and Oklahoma (296-293-280=869) finished out the top three.

Individually, Texas’ Brandon Stone took the Big 12 individual title shooting rounds of 70, 67, and 73 to finish even-par. Oklahoma State’s Talor Gooch finished three strokes behind, finishing his final day 4-over par.