April 15, 2000
Tempe, Ariz.-- The sixth-ranked Arizona State men's golf team is in first place after 36 holes in the 28th annual Thunderbird/SAVANE Invitational, held at the ASU Karsten Golf Course (par 72, 7,027 yards). ASU shot a 281-286=567 (-9) and is one shot ahead of New Mexico (288-280=568/-8) in the 17-team field. Fresno State is two strokes off the lead at 7-under 569 (282-287) while Arizona is 6-under-par at 570 (283-287).
Junior All-American Paul Casey, who leads the Sun Devils with a 70.17 stroke average and entered the tournament at 23-under-par on the year, shot 69-69=138 (-6) and is tied for the individual lead with Rickard Sundgren of the Swedish National Team, who shot 69-69 as well.
Junior Jeff Quinney (Eugene, Ore.) shot a 68 in the opening round to lead the Sun Devils early. Quinney is looking to become just the second player to defend a Thunderbird title, as Phil Mickelson won titles in 1991 and 1992 and is the only two-time winner off the 28-year old tournament. He is currently tied for fifth after finishing his day at 3-under 141 (68-73).
Senior Jonas Runnqust posted a 69-72=141 (-3) and is also tied for fifth with Quinney along with four other players.
ASU shot 30-under-par 834 last year in the Thunderbird en route to a 17-stroke win over UCLA and was led by Quinney's Karsten record 62 in the final round.
Sophomore Matt Jones shot 75-73=148 (+4) and is tied for 47th. Jones shot 73-68-69=210 (-6) in the Las Vegas Intercollegiate on March 10-12 and finished at 76-69-73=218 (+2) to lead the Sun Devils last weekend at the U.S. Collegiate Championships in Mexico. Junior Jin Park shot 80-72=152 (+8) and is tied for 73rd.
TCU's Brad Guetz posted a hole-in-one on the 209-yard No. 12.
Play resumes Sunday morning at 7 a.m. ASU also hosts the Pac-10 Championships on April 24-26 at Karsten Golf Course. ASU has won four of the past six Thunderbird tournaments and the past five Pac-10 titles.
Thunderbird/SAVANE NOTES: A Pac-10 school has won the Thunderbird every year since 1989, as ASU has won titles in 1989, '90, '91, '92, '94, '96, '97 and '99 and Pac-10 foes Arizona (1993) and UCLA (1998) won the titles in years ASU could not claim the crownASU has won the Thunderbird title in four of the past six years...UCLA's Brandon Ditullio (72-77=149/+5) won the 1998 Thunderbird title, as did UCLA...Stanford is the only Pac-10 team not represented at this year's Thunderbird...Jin Park's 80 in the first round matched his worst score on the year, but he notched a 72 in the second round.
TEAM SCORES FROM ASU Thunderbird/SAVANE Invitational (36 holes/par 288-288=576): 1. Arizona State 281-286=567 (-9), 2. New Mexico 288-280=568 (-8), 3. Fresno State 282-287=569 (-7), 4. Arizona 283-287=570 (-6), 5. Oregon-290-283=573 (-3), 6. Swedish National Team 287-290=577 (+1), 7. Oklahoma 291-290=581 (+5), 8. TCU-295-288=583 (+7), T9. UNLV 288-297=585 (+9), T9. UCLA 289-296=585 (+9), 11. Oregon State 294-294=588 (+12), 12. ASU Maroon 291-298=589 (+13), 13. California 303-288=591 (+15), 14. USC 304-290=594 (+18), l5. Washington 296-299=595 (+19), 16. Colorado State 302-297=599 (+23), 17. Washington State 303-297=600 (+24).
Top Individual Scores (par 72-72=144)
T1. Paul Casey, ASU 69-69=138 (-6)
T1. Richard Sundgren, Sweden 69-69=138 (-6)
T3. Derek Gillespie, Arizona 69-71=140 (-4)
T3. Michael Letzig, New Mexico 69-71=140 (-4)
T5. Jeff Quinney, ASU 68-73=141 (-3)
T5. Par Nilsson, Sweden 69-72=141 (-3)
T5. Jonas Runnquist, ASU 69-72=141 (-3)
T5. Nick Watney, Fresno State 70-71=141 (-3)
T5. Andy Doeden, TCU 72-69=141 (-3)
T5. Ricky Barnes, Arizona 71-70=141 (-3)
Other Arizona State Scores: T47. Matt Jones, ASU 75-73=148 (+4), T73. Jin Park, ASU 80-72=152 (+8)
Arizona State Maroon Scores: T11. Brady Stockton, ASU-M 74-68=142 (-2), T32. Chris O'Connor, ASU-M 73-73=146 (+2), T60. Shane McMenamy, ASU-M 74-76=150 (+6), T81. Ryan Whitaker, ASU-M 73-81=154 (+10), T86. Tyler Erickson, ASU-M 71-84=155 (+11).
Arizona State Individuals: T37. Jason Hause 75-72=147 (+3), T52. Kurt Mayr 76-73=149 (+5).