The ISU men’s golf team has seen some success this season with one first-place, two third-place and two fourth-place finishes.

One of the freshmen on the team, Scott Fernandez, has been a major factor to its success, placing in three top 10s with one of them being first place at the Virginia Commonwealth Shootout this past September.

Fernandez, who is from Granada, Spain, was introduced to the game of golf at the age of 3, but he did not start playing until the age of 5.

“I have been playing this game my whole life really,” Fernandez said.

Growing up, Fernandez indulged in two main competitive sports — golf and skiing. Skiing is a high-risk, extreme sport and can be dangerous.

At the age of 11, Fernandez decided he had to make the decision between the two sports in which he wanted to continue to pursue. He competed on the national team in skiing, but he decided — with the risk that sport could have — to drop it and continue in golf.

“There was a point in my life [when] I was competing at the same level in each sport, but I knew I couldn’t continue in both at such high levels,” Fernandez said. “I still enjoy skiing for fun, but I am always careful that I don’t get hurt.”

Growing up, every kid has some dream of what they want to do with their life, whether it be becoming a professional football player, professional basketball player or the President of the United States.

Fernandez has always dreamed of becoming a professional golfer and being able to play on the PGA or the European tour. His coach, Andrew Tank, said Fernandez is on the right track of reaching that goal.

“I believe that Scott can become one of the top players in the country and has already shown flashes of that,” Tank said. “He’s got all the shots and all the talent he needs to reach his goal of being able to play on the PGA Tour.”

Being a freshman and new to the college experience can be difficult. Fernandez not only has to deal with those difficulties, but he is also from another country.

Fortunately, coming to Iowa State has been easier for Fernandez because of one particular person, Borja Virto.

Virto, a junior, is also from Spain. Fernandez and Virto are friends who played together on the Spanish National team.

Knowing that Fernandez wanted to come to the United States, Virto told Tank to take a look at recruiting him and bringing him to Iowa State.

“We were able to have a few Skype conversations and due to good timing and having Borja already here and who Scott trusted, definitely helped being able to get him to come here,” Tank said.

Time management is critical for any student-athlete, with practice and studying both needing critical attention. As a freshman, Fernandez has been able to manage his studies and his golf game by using techniques he learned while he was in Spain.

“While in Spain, we had to be able to manage our time very well,” Fernandez said. “We would practice, study, practice and study. So I have brought that same technique to manage my time here.”