ISU golfer Scott Fernandez will fight to defend his individual champion title from the Northern Intercollegiate at the VCU Shootout on Monday.

In 2011, Fernandez won the event, leaving Virginia with the lowest individual score, a total of 205 (-11).

After outplaying the runner-up by only one shot last year, coach Andrew Tank is confident Fernandez can do it again.

“If he can just play his game and not press too hard or try too hard, he can have a chance for sure,” Tank said.

Fernandez capitalized on the good weather at last year’s tournament by using the course to play to his strengths.

“[The course] suits my game; it’s pretty open, the par fives are long,” Fernandez said. “I’m one of the few guys that can reach [the green].”

The team as a whole will shoot to improve its performance from the Northern Intercollegiate in early September. Players and coaches alike were left disappointed after coming in ninth out of 11 teams.

“[I’m] looking for the guys to start improving from the last tournament,” Tank said. “Hopefully we can put ourselves in contention as a team and see what happens coming down the stretch.”

With two weeks between the Northern Intercollegiate and VCU Shootout, the team had time to evaluate weaknesses and improve.

Tank and assistant coach Patrick Datz have been working with players on putting and chipping during the time off.

“The guys have been out there grinding their short game,” Tank said. “Hopefully the work they’ve put in the last two weeks will show when we tee it up on Monday.”

The tournament will consist of 12 collegiate teams, playing two rounds Monday and the last on Tuesday morning. Players representing Iowa State include Fernandez, Borja Virto, Sam Daley, Zach Steffen and Collin Foster.

The VCU Shootout will be Foster’s first time competing in a collegiate tournament.

“It will be really exciting, I’m looking forward to it,” Foster said. “Last year, being a redshirt, you put in a lot of work, and you don’t really get to shoot very often.”

While Foster has never seen the course before, Daley competed in the tournament last year, tying for 27th while shooting 217 (+1) overall.

“[I was] disappointed because I actually played pretty well,” Daley said. “I had a couple of bad finishes in my rounds.”

Veteran and rookie players alike, Iowa State holds a good position to place well in the tournament.

The VCU Shootout can be followed in real time on GolfStat.com.