The Arizona State men's golf team came back on the final day with an 11-under 273 to win the Alister MacKenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif., on Tuesday, while senior Ki Taek Lee continued his hot play to start the year as he earned co-medalist honors with a 15-under 198 (66-64-68).
The victory marks the first of head coach Matt Thurmond's tenure, an admirable feat considering the event represents just his second at the helm. The Maroon and Gold last medaled at the 2016 Albuquerque NCAA regional this past spring.
"We want to be finishers and in the toughest conditions," said coach Thurmond. "We were at our best today and I am immensely proud of how this team fought throughout day and finished strong."
The team win ended California's dominance as it had won its own tournament the past seven years. ASU shot 30-under on the par-5 holes and had five eagles to lead the tournament in both categories, with Lee and senior Jared du Toit carding two each and Blake Wagoner the other.
A four-year veteran in the desert, Lee entered play Monday with six collegiate top-10 finishes to his credit and on the heels of a career-best second-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational. Propelled by a barrage of exceptional rounds, including a career-best 64 in Monday afternoon's second round, the La Quinta, California native garnered co-medalist honors with Conner Kumpula of Oregon State.
Lee's senior counterpart Jared du Toit carded 68-65-67 to finish tied for fourth. Recording five top-10 finishes in 2015-16, the Arizona State captain and top Canadian amatuer earned his first top-5 finish of the new campaign.
"It is easy to take Ki Taek and Jared for granted," expressed Thurmond. "They are such great competitors that you count on them to always find a way to score."
Freshman Blake Wagoner just got better each day, going 73-69-68 to finish tied for 27th at 3-under 213, while Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez had scores count on two days, shooting 68-76-70 for a 1-over 214.
Thurmond was quick to acknowledge the exceptional play of the freshman duo, "I am especially proud of our two freshman Blake Wagoner and Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez. They really brought it the final round when conditions and the course setup were much tougher."
Tobias Eden made birdies in three of his final four holes to give the Sun Devil first four some breathing room as he finished 73-75-73 for a 2-over 221 (73-75-73).
FIRST ROUND RECAP
Paced by strong play from Lee, senior Jared du Toit, and freshman Alex Del Rey Gonzalez, the Maroon and Gold signed off on a cumulative nine-under 275. Three weeks removed from recording a career-best second-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational, Lee opened play at a torrid pace, carding six birdies to one bogey in the morning's outing. Team captain du Toit shook off a consecutive bogey start playing the remainder of the round at 5-under par, en route to posting a 3-under 68. Slotted in the two spot in the team's five player rotation, Del Rey Gonzalez shined bright early, playing the round at 3-under 68. Collecting four birdies over a six-hole stretch, Del Rey Gonzalez jockeyed for position atop the leaderboard with Lee for a better portion of the round. Junior Tobias Eden and freshman Blake Wagoner rounded out the rotation each finishing the round at two-over 73.
SECOND ROUND RECAP
Picking up where he had left off early, Lee quickly garnered sole possession of first-place courtesy of bogey-free 7-under 64, marking the best round of his collegiate career. Opening his outing on the par-3 5th to the tune of consecutive birdies, Lee refused to relent the top spot carding birdies on holes 13, 17, and three as well as an eagle on the par-5 15th. Lee's Sun Devil counterpart du Toit, nearly matched his exceptional, tournament-best 64, as the top-Canadian Amateur improved three strokes from the morning's round, signing off on a six-under 65. Propelled by a round highlighted by a four-under four-hole stretch, du Toit climbed 15 spots into a sixth-place tie with California's Collin MoriKawa. Flipping the page on his previous outing of 73, Blake Wagoner fired an impressive two-under 69 to move back within the tournament's top-50. Eden and Gonzalez shot rounds of 75 and 76 respectively.
UP NEXT
The team will have just a five-day hiatus, before traveling to Orlando, Florida for the Tavistock Cup hosted Oct. 16-18. In the Maroon and Gold's last appearance at the event Sun Devils turned pro Jon Rahm and Max Rottluff finished one and two respectively as Arizona State garnered a second-place finish.
ALISTER MACKENZIE INVITATIONAL/MEADOW CLUB
FAIRFAX, CALIF. (PAR 71/6,734 YARDS)
FINAL TEAM SCORES
1. Arizona State 275-273-273=821/-31
2. Oregon State 270-278-279=827/-25
FINAL INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T1. Ki Taek Lee 66-64-68=198/-15
T1. Connor Kumpula, Oregon State 68-64-66=198/-15
T4. Jared du Toit 68-65-67=200/-13
T27. Blake Wagoner 73-69-68=210/-3
T48. Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez 68-76-70=214/+1
T71. Tobias Eden 73-75-73=221/+8
The victory marks the first of head coach Matt Thurmond's tenure, an admirable feat considering the event represents just his second at the helm. The Maroon and Gold last medaled at the 2016 Albuquerque NCAA regional this past spring.
"We want to be finishers and in the toughest conditions," said coach Thurmond. "We were at our best today and I am immensely proud of how this team fought throughout day and finished strong."
The team win ended California's dominance as it had won its own tournament the past seven years. ASU shot 30-under on the par-5 holes and had five eagles to lead the tournament in both categories, with Lee and senior Jared du Toit carding two each and Blake Wagoner the other.
A four-year veteran in the desert, Lee entered play Monday with six collegiate top-10 finishes to his credit and on the heels of a career-best second-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational. Propelled by a barrage of exceptional rounds, including a career-best 64 in Monday afternoon's second round, the La Quinta, California native garnered co-medalist honors with Conner Kumpula of Oregon State.
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Opening his round in a fashion very much so indicative of his recent play, Lee eagled the par-5 1st, to quickly regain a share of the lead. Lee would then play the remainder of the front nine at two-under recording birdies on holes four and seven respectively, making the turn at four-under. Despite dropping a stroke on the 16th, Lee would maintain a share of the lead, culminating in the first collegiate victory of his career.Sun Devils win. Ki Taek Lee wins. @asumensgolf @ktl2013 pic.twitter.com/VNUaAn6NXU
— Matt Thurmond (@MattThurmond) October 11, 2016
Lee's senior counterpart Jared du Toit carded 68-65-67 to finish tied for fourth. Recording five top-10 finishes in 2015-16, the Arizona State captain and top Canadian amatuer earned his first top-5 finish of the new campaign.
"It is easy to take Ki Taek and Jared for granted," expressed Thurmond. "They are such great competitors that you count on them to always find a way to score."
Freshman Blake Wagoner just got better each day, going 73-69-68 to finish tied for 27th at 3-under 213, while Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez had scores count on two days, shooting 68-76-70 for a 1-over 214.
Thurmond was quick to acknowledge the exceptional play of the freshman duo, "I am especially proud of our two freshman Blake Wagoner and Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez. They really brought it the final round when conditions and the course setup were much tougher."
Tobias Eden made birdies in three of his final four holes to give the Sun Devil first four some breathing room as he finished 73-75-73 for a 2-over 221 (73-75-73).
Not physically present, but with the team in spirit was another boss, not named Ki Taek Lee. Coach Thurmond addressed the aid of a notable sixth man in the team's tournament success, "We have to recognize our sixth man this week, the "Boss" Bruce Springsteen. He was with us on the way to and from the course every day and we played with his blue-collar spirit every hole. On our final nine we played with the same passion he has in the fourth hour of a concert. Thanks Boss!"Thanks for all the support Sun Devil fans! Special thanks to @goodwalkspoiled for coming out to watch and cheer on the team.
— Matt Thurmond (@MattThurmond) October 11, 2016
FIRST ROUND RECAP
Paced by strong play from Lee, senior Jared du Toit, and freshman Alex Del Rey Gonzalez, the Maroon and Gold signed off on a cumulative nine-under 275. Three weeks removed from recording a career-best second-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational, Lee opened play at a torrid pace, carding six birdies to one bogey in the morning's outing. Team captain du Toit shook off a consecutive bogey start playing the remainder of the round at 5-under par, en route to posting a 3-under 68. Slotted in the two spot in the team's five player rotation, Del Rey Gonzalez shined bright early, playing the round at 3-under 68. Collecting four birdies over a six-hole stretch, Del Rey Gonzalez jockeyed for position atop the leaderboard with Lee for a better portion of the round. Junior Tobias Eden and freshman Blake Wagoner rounded out the rotation each finishing the round at two-over 73.
SECOND ROUND RECAP
Picking up where he had left off early, Lee quickly garnered sole possession of first-place courtesy of bogey-free 7-under 64, marking the best round of his collegiate career. Opening his outing on the par-3 5th to the tune of consecutive birdies, Lee refused to relent the top spot carding birdies on holes 13, 17, and three as well as an eagle on the par-5 15th. Lee's Sun Devil counterpart du Toit, nearly matched his exceptional, tournament-best 64, as the top-Canadian Amateur improved three strokes from the morning's round, signing off on a six-under 65. Propelled by a round highlighted by a four-under four-hole stretch, du Toit climbed 15 spots into a sixth-place tie with California's Collin MoriKawa. Flipping the page on his previous outing of 73, Blake Wagoner fired an impressive two-under 69 to move back within the tournament's top-50. Eden and Gonzalez shot rounds of 75 and 76 respectively.
UP NEXT
The team will have just a five-day hiatus, before traveling to Orlando, Florida for the Tavistock Cup hosted Oct. 16-18. In the Maroon and Gold's last appearance at the event Sun Devils turned pro Jon Rahm and Max Rottluff finished one and two respectively as Arizona State garnered a second-place finish.
ALISTER MACKENZIE INVITATIONAL/MEADOW CLUB
FAIRFAX, CALIF. (PAR 71/6,734 YARDS)
FINAL TEAM SCORES
1. Arizona State 275-273-273=821/-31
2. Oregon State 270-278-279=827/-25
FINAL INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T1. Ki Taek Lee 66-64-68=198/-15
T1. Connor Kumpula, Oregon State 68-64-66=198/-15
T4. Jared du Toit 68-65-67=200/-13
T27. Blake Wagoner 73-69-68=210/-3
T48. Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez 68-76-70=214/+1
T71. Tobias Eden 73-75-73=221/+8