By Cal Aboud, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
La Quinta, Calif. – To say the No. 9 Arizona State men’s golf team had a strong showing in the second round of the Prestige at PGA WEST would be an understatement. By virtue of a combined 19-under back-nine, the Sun Devils climbed three spots to capture the first place position heading into the final round of the tournament. Finishing at 15-under 269 on the day, the Sun Devils improved to 12-under for the tournament. Entering the round ten spots behind day-one leader No. 23 LSU, the Maroon and Gold now hold a five-shot lead.
ABOUT THE 269: Arizona State has posted two rounds of 269 this season. Prior to this year the team had just three rounds of 269 or better since 1993-94.
SUN DEVIL LOW ROUNDS (1993-94 TO PRESENT)
2015, ASU Thunderbird Invitational, 267/-13 (second round)
2007, UH Hilo Intercollegiate, 267/-13 (second round)
2016, Prestige at PGA West, 269/-15 (second round)
2015, Alister MacKenzie Invitational, 269/-15 (second round)
2004, Ping Arizona Intercollegiate, 269/-15 (second round)
Pacing Arizona State are Jon Rahm and Jared du Toit, who enter Wednesday's final 18 holes at six-under, tied for fourth. Rahm the current World Amateur No. 1, after standing at 1-over thru nine, recording six birdies, including four-consecutive on holes 14-17 en route to a five-under, 66.
Du Toit recorded his second-consecutive 3-under, round of 68. The junior’s round was highlighted by immense ups and downs. After opening with birdies on holes 2 and 5, Du Toit posted bogey and double-bogey on 6 and 7. He then eagled the par-5 8th before stringing together consecutive birdies on 10-12.
Rahm and Du Toit each sit just two shots back of the leader heading into the final day.
La Quinta native Ki Taek Lee made his mark on the afternoon firing a four-under, 67, recording four birdies on the back-nine. Lee is currently tied for 12th, at one-under for the tournament.
Senior Alberto Sanchez also had a nice outing finishing at three-under, 68. Sanchez a cumulative one-over for the event, finds himself positioned tied for 23rd.
Tobias Eden who sat at five-over for his round thru nine, quickly flipped the script contributing four birdies to the Maroon and Gold back-nine scoring exposé. The sophomore stands at seven-over, tied for 46th.
Holding a lead heading into the final round of play for the first time this season, the Sun Devils seek to capture their first team title of 2015-16.
Arizona State is slated to conclude play at the Prestige at PGA WEST Wednesday, beginning at 9:10 a.m. PT/10:10 a.m. MT, paired with No.5 Stanford and N0. 28 LSU. Live scoring will be available via Golfstat.com.