SALT LAKE CITY, Utah ??Six strokes down, 18 holes to play, on a windy day.?Any chance for a comeback? Probably not when you consider that of the 72 golfers, only five would eventually break par in the final round.
Enter Arizona State senior Jon Rahm. Six strokes back with 18 to play, faced with windy conditions at the par-71, 7209-yard, Salt Lake Country Club which played at a tough 73.73 average across four days of competition, Rahm had an uphill and windy climb.
He ultimately accepted the challenge and defied the odds. By virtue of carding a final 3-under round 68, Rahm captured the 2016 Pac-12 Individual Men’s Championship, becoming the ninth player in program history to earn this honor. Rahm joins Arizona State Freshman women’s golfer Linnea Strom in the honor, marking the third all-time Pac-12 Individual title sweep in school history.
SUN DEVILS SWEEPING PAC-12 GOLF INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
2016: Jon Rahm and Linnea Strom
1999: Paul Casey and Grace Park
1990: Phil Mickelson and Brandie Burton
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ALL-TIME ARIZONA STATE PAC 10/12 MEDALISTS
Jon Rahm, 2016
Paul Casey, 1998-2000
Scott Johnson, 2007
Phil Mickelson, 1990
Dan Forsman, 1981
Tony Grimes, 1981
Jim Bertoncino, 1980
Scott Watkins, 1979
Dan Croonquist, 1979
Jockeying for position atop the leaderboard with California’s K.K. Limbhasut who entered the day with a six-stroke advantage, Rahm rose rapidly early on in the round. Posting consecutive birdies first on holes three and four and then seven and eight, the Spaniard garnered a share of the lead at 13-under through eight. He then faced a bout of adversity at the turn, first bogeying the par-4 ninth, before doubling the par-4 10th, driving him back to 10-under. He would ultimately flip the script playing at 2-under for the remainder of the round, to enter the clubhouse at 12-under 272 (70-66-68-68). In the end the World Amateur No. 1’s 72-hole total would hold at the top, as Limbhasut would fall to 7-under.
“My key was patience,” acknowledged Rahm. “I knew I had to get off to a good start, make some birdies, so I wouldn’t have to make birdies towards the end because I knew the back nine was going to be tough. I tried to be a little more strategic in my play. Think about it a little more, hit more fairways and that’s what I did today.”
Rahm has now recorded three wins on the 2015-16 season, 10 all-time, and is a perfect 11-for-11 in top-10 finishes. If he is able to finish within the top-10 the remainder of the season, he would become just the second player in program history to do so, and the first since Chris Hanell in 1997.
JON RAHM COLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT WINS (10)
2016 Pac-12 Championships (Apr. 29-May. 1)
2016 ASU Thunderbird Invitational (Apr. 2-3)
2015 Tavistock Invitational (Oct. 18-20)
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
Jon Rahm (2012-present), 10
Billy Mayfair (1984-88), 8
Alejandro Canizares (2002-2006), 6
Charlie Gibson (1972-75), 6
Paul Casey (1997-2000), 6
Todd Demsey (1991-95), 5
In what has been a remarkable two-year tear for the Ben Hogan Award semifinalist, he has finished within the top-10 in 24-of-26 events, when accounting for all worldwide tournaments, collegiate, amateur, and professional in which he has competed since 2015.
Taking home team honors, Stanford won its third-consecutive league title, recording a final 18-under, 1402.
The No. 10 Sun Devils closed the tournament at 19-over 1,439 (359-352-364-364) placing in third out of the field of 12. Courtesy of garnering a 43-stroke edge over cross state rival Arizona, the Sun Devils captured the clinching point of the 2015-16 Territorial Cup Series, granting Arizona State the coveted cup for a third-consecutive athletic season.
Aiding in the Tim Mickelson’s squads 10th top-10 finish of the season, Max Rottluff and Jared du Toit each finished tied for 19th, closing at 4-over 288 respectively. Senior Alberto Sanchez competing in the final conference tournament of his collegiate career collected a four-day, 12-over 298, placing tied for 38th. Rounding out the Sun Devil lineup Nicolo Galletti finished tied for 50th at 18-over, while Tobias finished close behind at 19-over.
Up next, the Sun Devils ready for NCAA Regionals slated to commence Monday, May. 16. The site will be announced Thursday at 6:30 a.m. PT on Golf Channel.
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE AT THE PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS: For just the fifth time in Pac-12 history, a same-school duo swept the individual crowns with Jon Rahm and Linnea Strom both winning the titles this season. It marks the third time the Sun Devils have notched the feat.
SAME SCHOOL PAC-12 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
2016: Jon Rahm/Linnea Strom (ASU)
2011: Martin Trainer/Sophia Popov (USC)
2001: Ricky Barnes/Lorena Ochoa (UA)
1999: Paul Casey/Grace Park (ASU)
1990: Phil Mickelson/Brandie Burton (ASU)