Completed Event: Men's Golf versus Git R Done Invitational on September 22, 2025 , , 3rd/12
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Men's Golf
Git R Done Invitational
3rd/12
Iowa State University Athletics
Men's Golf Ready For 2011-12 Campaign
09.08.2011 | Men's Golf
AMES, Iowa-Andrew Tank opens his second season as Iowa State's head men's golf coach with optimism about the Cyclones' chances in 2011-12.
Two outstanding upperclassmen return to the roster as top performers on last year's squad; Nate McCoy and Borja Virto. Tank is also bringing in a number of promising newcomers as his first recruits to the team. This could be a significant year for Cyclone men's golf.
McCoy will be a name that will continue ringing in your ears this season. A native of West Des Moines, Iowa, McCoy has already had an outstanding career at Iowa State and is on the verge of making history in his final season with the Cyclones.
McCoy had his greatest summer on the links and arguably the best in Iowa State history. He didn't lose a single event in the state of Iowa. He won the?Iowa Golf Association state four-ball, the Iowa Masters and the Herman Sani Invitational to help him earn IGA Player of the Year honors.
McCoy narrowly missed earning a spot at the U.S. Open, finishing fifth at a U.S. Open sectional qualifier in New Jersey.
Currently ranked 56th in the world according to Golfweek's Amateur World Rankings, McCoy has bragging rights. He has a 23-place lead on his father Mike, who is one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in Iowa.? Last year he took the trophy at the VCU Shootout in Richmond, Va., and he led Iowa State in stroke average (74.1). His career 73.9 scoring average has landed him in the third spot in career scoring average leaders since 1990 with the Cyclones.
Tank feels fortunate to have McCoy for one more season.
"McCoy will show the younger guys how we do things here at Iowa State," Tank said. "He's been through the experiences and challenges and is an outstanding golfer."
Virto, another standout upper-classman, is a junior from Gorraiz, Spain. His teammates and coach will count on his leadership in the 2011-12 campaign. Virto was second on the team in stroke average last season (74.60) and was the Cyclones' top finisher at the Big 12 Championships. He also had two top-10 finishes last season.
"Borja had a very strong spring and was our most consistent performer," Tank said. "It's nice to have a good player like him who knows what to expect from college golf."
Andrew Peter and Blake Waller redshirted last season and will bring depth to the returning team.
The success of the Cyclones this season will not rely solely on the last year's returnees, but rather, will depend on a slew of newcomers Tank brought in to round out the 2011-12 team.?
One of the top rookies is freshman Scott Fernandez, who is considered one of the best amateurs in Spain. A native of Granada, Spain, Fernandez has been a member of the Spanish National Team since 2007, representing Spain in many international events.
"On paper Scott has the best resume out of our new guys," Tank said. "By winning the European Team Championships, his game is very polished and he has the mentality to shoot low scores."
Indian Hills Community College transfer Zach Steffen joins the squad with experience helping his team win the 2011 NJCAA D-1 title. He placed 20th at the national tournament to help his team become the first "Northern" school to take the title. Steffen tallied five top-five finishes in his collegiate career and over the summer, placed third at the Iowa state match play tournament and fourth at the Ottumwa Amateur and Iowa Masters.
"The great part about Zach is that he's always been an Iowa State fan," Tank said. "He's comfortable here and he brings expertise about winning a team title."
Sam Daley comes to Iowa State from Wynnum, Australia. He is ranked third among all Australian juniors and won the Brisbane and Tasmanian Junior Championships.
"Sam is a really good competitor with a polished game," Tank said. "The fundamentals are there and you can see he's got a competitive drive. He's done a great job making the transition to a new country and he brings maturity even though he's only 17 years old."
New Zealander Duncan Croudis has held the Interprovincial title for the past three years and is the current medalist for New Zealand's 19 and under championship. Croudis has a great shot at making Iowa State's top-five.
"As a member of New Zealand's national team, he's done some international travel and competing," Tank said. "He's the kind of player that will shoot low scores."
Collin Foster also joins the team from Waukee, Iowa as a freshman. Foster was the 2010 Iowa Class 4A State Champion.
Tank has high expectations for an exciting season.
"I think regardless of how we perform on the course, I'm just excited to see everybody improve," Tank said. "The environment on the team is positive and everyone is already bonding and working hard. We're going to have a lot of fun and continue to get better, especially with the amount of talent on the team."
The Cyclones head to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the season-opener at the Wolverine Intercollegiate on September 12 and 13.?
At A Glance
Top Returnees: Nate McCoy (Sr.) and Borja Virto (Jr.)
Top Newcomers: Scott Fernandez (Fr.), Zach Steffen (So.), Sam Daley (Fr.) and Duncan Croudis (So.)
Player to Watch: Nate McCoy "Nate's performance this summer speaks for itself," Tank said. "We're really excited about what Nate can accomplish this year."
Cyclones competing at the Wolverine Intercollegaite: Nate McCoy (Sr.), Scott Fernandez (Fr.), Sam Daley (Fr.), Duncan Croudis (So.), Zach Steffen (So.)
Players Mentioned
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