By Lindsay Gaesser, SDA Media Relations
Simi Valley, Calif.—In a nail-biting finish, Jon Rahm took home the individual title at the Bill Cullum Invitational on Tuesday. The junior set a tournament record with his 13-under 203 (67-67-69), breaking his previous record of 204 when he won the title in 2012.
FOUR COLLEGIATE WINS FOR JON RAHM
Jon Rahm (Jr.), 2014 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 20-21, 2014)
Jon Rahm (So.), 2014 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-23, 2014)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), 2013 San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12, 2013)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), 2012 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 21-22, 2012)
The final round went down to the wire as Rahm and Southern California’s Rico Hoey jockeyed for position on the player leader board. It came down to the 18th hole, which Hoey eagled to finish at 12-under. Tied for first with Hoey, Rahm headed into the final hole of the tournament. Calm and composed, Rahm gutted out the win, carding a birdie to finish at 13-under.
SUN DEVIL MEDALISTS UNDER TIM MICKELSON (FALL 2011-PRESENT)
Jon Rahm (Jr.), Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 20-21, 2014)
Max Rottluff (Jr.), Alister MacKenzie Invitational (Oct. 13-14, 2014)
Jon Rahm (So.), 2014 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-13, 2014)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), 2013 San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12, 2013)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), 2012 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 21-22, 2012)
Spencer Fletcher (Sr./co-medalist), 2011 Bill Cullum Invitational (Sept. 17-18, 2011)
“Anytime we have a guy win individually, we are going to be near the top of the leader board as a team,” said ASU head coach Tim Mickelson. “This week Jon gave us a chance to win as a team while he won as an individual.”
Although the Trojans took home the team title on Tuesday with a 31-under 833, the Sun Devils finished in second place with a 20-under 844 (279-278-287). Seventeen strokes separated Arizona State from the rest of the field.
“The goal is always to win,” said Mickelson. “Even though we didn’t come up with the win this time, we are gaining valuable experience that will pay off in dividends at the end of the season.”
Junior Max Rottluff also finished in the top 10. With a 5-under 211 (67-71-73), Rottluff tied for seventh overall. Freshman Tobias Eden, who was in the top 10 heading into the home stretch, carded a triple bogey and slipped back to 15th. Through 54 holes, Eden was 3-under 213 (71-70-72).
Sophomore Ki Taek Lee started off strong in the final round, but four bogeys on the back nine dropped him back to 27th. Lee finished at 1-over 217 (74-70-73). Senior Mathias Schjoelberg improved his score from the previous rounds and climbed 20 spots up the leader board. His 1-over 73 in the final round on Tuesday brought his three-round total to 9-over 225 (77-75-73), tying him for 62nd.
As a team, Arizona State carded the most pars (171) throughout the tournament and was second to Southern California in birdies. Rahm had the second-most birdies (19) to USC’s Hoey (20), and was 8-under on par-5 holes and 6-under on par-4 holes.
Next up, the Sun Devils head to Hawai’i to compete in the Makai Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. The event will be held at the St. Regis Princeville Resort, Nov. 3-5, in Princeville, Hawai’i.
| 2 | Arizona State | 279 | 278 | 287 | 844 | -20 |
| 1 | Jon Rahm (3) | 67 | 67 | 69 | 203 | -13 |
| T7 | Max Rottluff (1) | 67 | 71 | 73 | 211 | -5 |
| 15 | Tobias Eden (5) | 71 | 70 | 72 | 213 | -3 |
| T27 | Ki Taek Lee (2) | 74 | 70 | 73 | 217 | +1 |
| T62 | Mathias Schjoelberg (4) | 77 | 75 | 73 | 225 | +9 |