OLYMPIA FIELDS, III. – Jon Rahm’s quest to become the fourth player in program history to win the United States Amateur Championship came to end Friday afternoon at Olympia Fields Country Club. The Sun Devil senior from Barrika, Spain, fell to University of Virginia junior Derek Bard in the quarterfinals, 1-down.
Rahm managed to accumulate a 3-up lead over Bard through 10, but failed to win another hole. Bard responded, besting Rahm on the par-4 eleventh, par-4 twelve, par-4 sixteenth, and ultimately the par-3 seventieth to seal his victory. Rahm never trailed in three rounds of match play until Bard’s win at 17.
The World No. 1 Amateur’s effort at this year’s championship proved to be his yet, improving from his Round of 16 finish last year.
Heading into the 2015-16 season, the rising senior had an impressive summer campaign. Aside from a top-8 finish at the U.S. Amateur, Rahm defended his title at the Spanish Amateur Championship posting a 72-hole total of seven-under-par, finishing three ahead of runner-up Scott Fernandez.
The 2015 recipient of the Ben Hogan Award given to the nation’s top collegiate golfer, looks to build on an already impressive Sun Devil career in 2015-16. This past season Rahm posted three first-place finishes including a win at the NCAA San Diego Regional, and led the Sun Devil’s in scoring (69.15). In total Rahm boasts a 70.48 stroke average in 40 collegiate events, with 55 rounds in the 60s, and seven career wins. He has posted par or better in 82-of-124 career rounds.
JON RAHM ROUND-BY-ROUND 2014-15
Itani Quality Homes Collegiate 68-66-77=211/+1/T19
Alister MacKenzie Invite 66-71-77=214/+1/T20
Bill Cullum Invite 67-67-69=203/-13/1
Warrior Princeville Makai Invite 67-67-67=201/-15/5
Amer Ari Invitational 65-72-68=205/-11/T8
Prestige at PGA WEST 66-70-69=205/-11/T2
Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters 70-68-69=207/-9/T2
Duck Invitational 71-71-70=212/-4/1
ASU Thunderbird 65-64-66=195/-15/1
Western Intercollegiate 68-70-68=206/-4/3
Pac-12 Championships 70-68-74-68=280/E/T6
NCAA Regionals 73-64-69=206/-10/1
NCAA Finals 71-75-71-73=290/+1/T22
BEST NCAA SEASON STROKE AVERAGE
Bill Haas, Wake Forest, 2003-04, 68.93
Maverick McNealy, Stanford, 2014-15, 69.05
*Jon Rahm, Arizona State, 2014-15, 69.15
JON RAHM COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT WINS (7)
2015 NCAA San Diego Regional (May 14-16)
2015 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Apr. 3-4)
2015 Duck Invitational (Mar. 23-24)
2014 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 20-21)
2014 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Mar. 21-23)
2013 San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12)
2012 Bill Cullum Invitational (Oct. 21-22)
MOST @ASUMENSGOLF TOURNAMENT WINS
Phil Mickelson (1988-92), 16
Billy Mayfair (1984-88), 8
*Jon Rahm (2012-Present), 7
Alejandro Canizares (2002-2006), 6
Charlie Gibson (1972-75), 6
Paul Casey (1997-2000), 6
Todd Demsey (1991-95), 5