In 1995-96, the Arizona State men's golf team won six tournaments, including its final one, the NCAA championship under Randy Lein. Almost two decades later, they almost have company.
The 2014-15 Sun Devil men's golf team won its fifth tournament of the year in easy fashion with a 25-under 815 (277-267-271) at the 43rd annual Thunderbird Invitational at ASU's Karsten Golf Course (par-70/6,970 yards). ASU joins Oregon, South Carolina, Illinois and Florida State as teams that have won five tournaments this year. Baylor finished second at even 840.
"Yeah, it is a big win," noted head coach Tim Mickelson, who has led ASU to seven tournament victories in his four years. "It is getting contagious...five out of six has been nice. Max (Rottluff) and Jon (Rahm) are the best one-two punch in the country and it is obviously great to have that in our back pocket. When you go back and look at the great NBA teams they all had a one-two punch, and that’s what we have going for us right now. The guys are just playing really well. We always have one or two guys to throw some good numbers around and that had been what’s carrying us the entire spring."
Rahm, just a junior and the No. 1 amateur in the world, fought off classmate Max Rottluff for his sixth career win. Rahm shot 15-under 195 (65-64-66) to top Rottluff by one. Max shot career-best 63 in the second round and finished at 14-under 196 (66-63-67). Rahm's 195 and Rottluff's 196 are the second- and third-lowest individual scores in the history of the tournament, topped only by Rahm 192 last year.
"Back-to-back feels great," said Rahm. "After the win in Oregon I thought it would be a really cool experience to potentially win again and show why I got to be number one. Max and I have always been close. I beat him by one in Oregon and beat him by one today. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Max the whole time. I was looking to see where he was all day. After I made my birdie on 15 he made a really good par on 16. That tee shot on 16 with the water and a five iron is not easy so it was hard. We both enjoyed doing it. To win by 25 shots is incredible. It shows we as a team are playing great. We are doing the rights and progressing each week. It’s just great to see what we are doing."
Rahm also became just the third back-to-back winner in tournament history, behind J.J. Spaun (San Diego State) in 2010 and 2011 and Phil Mickelson (1991-92).
MOST @ASUMENSGOLF TOURNAMENT WINS
Phil Mickelson (1988-92), 16
Billy Mayfair (1984-88), 8
Jon Rahm (2012-Present), 6
Alejandro Canizares (2002-06), 6
Charlie Gibson (1972-75), 6
Paul Casey (1997-2000), 6
SUN DEVIL SCORES
1. JON RAHM, 65-64-66=195/-15
2. MAX ROTTLUFF, 66-63-67=196/-14
T6. NICOLO GALLETTI, 70-72-67=209/-1
T8. KI TAEK LEE (I) 74-68-68=210/E
T24. BEN SHUR (I), 72-71-71=215/+4
T39. MATHIAS SCHJOELBERG (I), 74-70-73=217/+7
T43. ALBERTO SANCHEZ, 76-69-73=218/+8
T47. BROC JOHNSON, 77-71-71=219/+9
THUNDERBIRD SUCCESS
ASU has now won nine of the past 17 (1999-2001, 2003-04, 2008-09, 2014, 2015) Thunderbird Invitational Tournaments and has won the tournament 16 of the past 27 years...sixteen ASU teams have won the Thunderbird Invitational, with ASU winning the title in 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2015...ten Sun Devils have won the individual titles on 12 occasions, with Phil Mickelson (1991 and 1992) and Jon Rahm (2014 and 2015) the the only multiple winners. Other Sun Devil individual winners include Mark Sollenberger (1974), Jim Carter (1984), Larry Barber (1994), Todd Demsey (1995), Jeff Quinney (2000), Paul Casey (2001), Alejandro Canizares (2003) and Stephan Gross (2009-shared).
SEVEN ASU TEAM TOURNAMENT VICTORIES UNDER TIM MICKELSON
2014-15 (5)
Arizona Intercollegiate (Jan. 26-27, 2015)
Amer Ari Invitational (Feb. 5-7, 2015)
Prestige at PGA WEST (Feb. 16-18, 2015)
Duck Invitational (Mar. 23-24, 2015)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational (April 3-4, 2015)
2013-14 (1)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-23, 2014)
2011-12 (1)
Bill Cullum Invitational (tied for team title but no playoff) (Sept. 17-18, 2011)
BEST SUN DEVIL MEN’S GOLF HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS (2005-06 TO PRESENT)
2005-06: 142-52-5
2013-14: 130-54-4
2008-09: 129-52-2
2014-15: 128-10-1
SUN DEVIL MEDALISTS UNDER TIM MICKELSON
Jon Rahm (Jr.) ASU Thunderbird Invitational (April 3-4, 2015)
Jon Rahm (Jr.), Duck Invitational (Mar. 23-24, 2015)
Max Rottluff (Jr.), Arizona Intercollegiate (Jan. 26-27, 2015)
Jon Rahm (Jr.), Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 20-21, 2014)
Max Rottluff (Jr.), Alister MacKenzie Invitational (Oct. 13-14, 2014)
Jon Rahm (So.), ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-23, 2014)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12, 2013)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 21-22, 2012)
Spencer Fletcher (Sr./co-medalist), Bill Cullum Invitational (Sept. 17-18, 2011)
LOWEST THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL TEAM TOTAL SCORE
1. Arizona State 25-under 815 in 2015
2. Arizona State 35-under 817 in 2014
3. Arizona State 43-under 821 in 2004
4. Arizona State 40-under 824 in 2003
LOWEST THUNDERBIRD INDIVIDUAL TOTAL SCORE
1. Jon Rahm (Arizona State) 21-under 192 in 2014
2. Jon Rahm (Arizona State) 15-under 195 in 2015
3. Max Rottluff (Arizona State) 14-under 196 in 2015
4. Ben Kern (Kansas State) 14-under 199 in 2006
T5. Alex McMahon (Arizona) 13-under 200 in 2014
T5. Alejandro Canizares (Arizona State) 16-under 200 in 2004
T5. Bret Guetz (TCU) 16-under 200 in 2002