Fernandez Qualifies To The Open Championship

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State All-American golfer Scott Fernandez established himself as one of the greatest golfers in Cyclone history during his record-setting career from 2012-15.

His brief professional career is already appearing to be a giant success as well.

The Granada, Spain, native accomplished an enormous feat in his young career yesterday by qualifying for the 2016 Open Championship, July 14-17 at historic Royal Troon.

Fernandez' chance to compete on the world's stage was attained by finishing second at a final stage qualifier at the Gailes Links Club in Scotland on Tuesday. Fernandez was 6-under, carding rounds of 70-66 (136). His final-round 66 was the second-best score of the day and his two-day total gave him a runner-up finish, defeating Colin Montgomerie, who was the third and final qualifier out of Gailes Links, by one shot.

Fernandez will now take his game to Royal Troon (July 14-17), a course which will host its ninth Open Championship (1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2016).

After graduating from Iowa State in 2015, Fernandez turned professional and has played primarily on the European Challenge Tour, Europe's equivalent to the PGA Tour's development circuit the Web.com Tour. Fernandez has played in nine Challenge Tour events and two European Tour outings since turning pro. He made his lone cut on the European Tour at the 2015 Australian PGA Championship.

Without a doubt, Fernandez ranks as one of the most accomplished golfers in Iowa State history. He ended his career with career school records in victories (4), top-10 finishes (29), rounds in the 60s (28) and stroke average (72.09).

His 2012-13 campaign is still the greatest single-season effort in the history of Iowa State golf. He was named second-team All-American (Golfweek and CGAA), All-Big 12 First-Team and was awarded Iowa State's Male Athlete of the Year. He ended the season with a school-record 71.27 stroke average, finishing in the top-10 in eight of 10 tournaments.

Fernandez also represented Europe in the 2013 Palmer Cup and became the first Cyclone to make the Ben Hogan Award watch list. In 2014, he helped the Cyclones qualify for their first NCAA finals appearance in 53 years.

Fernandez is the third Cyclone to play in the Open Championship. Jason Knutzon competed in 2011, and John Benda played in the 1979 and 1980 Open Championships.