SUN DEVILS EARN ANOTHER TOP-10 FINISH: The Arizona State University men’s golf team (#12 Golfweek/#7 Golfstat) finished ninth at the NCAA Championships in Eugene to close the 2015-16 season that saw it lay claim to another Ben Hogan award winner. Sun Devil fifth-year head coach Tim Mickelson led the Sun Devils to its 52nd NCAA Championship appearance, which is fourth-best. ASU has made the NCAA Championship in the 12 of the past 15 seasons and 30 of past 33. It also won its seventh NCAA Regional, tied for second with Clemson for most all-time. Jon Rahm earned several national awards including All-Pac-12 first-team honors, while junior Jarod du Toit and senior Max Rottluff earned second-team All-Pac-12.
MOST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
OKLAHOMA STATE, 69
TEXAS, 62
USC, 57
ARIZONA STATE, 52
TOP 10: ASU's ninth-place finish was its 13th top-10 finish in the past 24 seasons (1993-2016), third-most in the nation behind only Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State who have done it 15 times in that span. Clemson and Texas have 11 top-10 finishes in that same time frame.
JON WINS BEN HOGAN AWARD...AGAIN: Colonial Country Club in conjunction with Friends of Golf (FOG) and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) named Sun Devil senior Jon Rahm the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Ben Hogan Award presented by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) on May 23. Rahm is the only two-time recipient of the award since its inception in 1990. Paired with finalists Maverick McNealy of Stanford and Beau Hossler of Texas, the Spaniard earned the award at a black-tie banquet hosted at Colonial Country Club in an event representing the commencement of the PGA TOUR’s Dean & DeLuca Invitational. The award is presented annually to the top college golfer– accounting for NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA divisions – takes into consideration all collegiate and amateur tournaments and is decided by a 25-person committee. By virtue of taking home the honor, Rahm earned both an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s 2017 Dean & DeLuca Invitational, as well as a $30,000 grant for Arizona State men’s golf program for the second straight year.
JON WINS JACK NICKLAUS AWARD: Jon Rahm (Bachelor of Arts, Communications, 2016) received the name of another one of golf's all-time greats attached to it in 2015-16, just like the Ben Hogan award he has claimed twice. Weeks removed from becoming the first two-time winner of the Ben Hogan Award, Rahm won the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Barbasol. The Nicklaus Award recognizes the top players at the Division I, II, III, NAIA and NJCAA levels. Rahm, John Coultas (Florida Southern), Addison Lambeth (Huntingdon), Peter French (Johnson & Wales (FL)) and Kerry Sweeney (Eastern Florida State) earned the award. He became just the second Sun Devil to earn the award, as Phil Mickelson won it three times from 1990-92. Rahm will also receive an exemption to the 2017 Memorial Tournament.
JON ALL-AMERICA HONORS NOTE: Jon Rahm became the first Sun Devil to earn first-team All-America honors twice in a career since Alejandro Canizares did the same in 2003 and 2006. That nod pushed the Sun Devil all-time first-team All-America honors to 25, behind only Oklahoma State (57), Houston (30) and Florida (28), since the GCAA began recognizing All-Americans in 1958. Also an honorable mention All-America pick in 2013 and 2014, Rahm became the second Sun Devil -- and the first since Chris Hanell in 1997 -- to record a top-10 finish in every outing in a season as he notched the feat in all 13 tournaments. His nation's best 69.41 stroke average is the seventh-best in NCAA history after firing a 69.15 last year, third-best. He posted nine top-five finishes and in 41 rounds shot par or better 35 times (22 rounds in the 60s) this season. Not only did he lead the nation in scoring average (69.41), according to Golfstat he also was the nation's leader in score versus par (-1.78), par-4 scoring (3.93) and birdies (171) and was second to NCAA champion Aaron Wise of Oregon (4.45) in par-5 scoring (4.51). He ended his 53-tournament career with a 70.21 stroke average in 165 rounds. He posted 77 rounds in the 60s and 117 of his rounds were par or better. His score counted in 156 of this 165 rounds (.945). He posted 671 birdies and 39 eagles in his collegiate career.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS (1958-PRESENT)
Oklahoma State, 57
Houston, 30
Florida, 28
Arizona State, 25
SUN DEVIL TWO-TIME FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Jon Rahm: 2015 and 2016
Alejandro Canizares: 2003 and 2006
Todd Demsey: 1993 and 1994
Phil Mickelson: 1989-92 (four-time selection)
Billy Mayfair: 1987 and 1988
Jim Carter: 1983 and 1984
Howard Twitty: 1970 and 1972
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
Ryan Moore, UNLV, 2004-05, 69.29
Ryan Moore, UNLV, 2003-2004, 69.38
Jon Rahm, Arizona State, 2015-16, 69.41
Patrick Rodgers, Stanford, 2013-2014, 69.41
RECENT GRADUATES: ASU's three seniors all took place in graduation ceremonies in May as Jon Rahm (BA, Communication), Max Rottluff (BS, Marketing) and Alberto Sanchez (BA, Communication) all earned their Arizona State degrees.
ASU IN THE REGIONALS: With the team victory and Jon Rahm’s title at the 2016 Albuquerque Regional May 16-18, ASU has won or tied for a NCAA regional title seven times. ASU tied with Arizona in 1991 and tied with New Mexico in 1998. It won the title outright in 1995, 1999, 2001 2009 and now 2016. In addition to Rahm’s two titles (2015 as well), Sun Devil Paul Casey won a 1998 individual regional title outright followed by Jeff Quinney (1999), Benjamin Alvarado Holley (2007) and then Jesper Kennegard in 2009. Matt Jones shared medalist honors in 2001. ASU is tied with Clemson for second-most NCAA Regional titles, as only Oklahoma State (11) has more.
SUN DEVILS AS NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
Jon Rahm, 2016 and 2015
Jesper Kennegard, 2009
Ben Alvarado, 2007
Matt Jones, 2001 (shared)
Jeff Quinney, 1999
Paul Casey, 1998
ONE OF THE BEST: Eugene was the site of the final collegiate tournament for Sun Devil sensation and 2015 and 2016 Ben Hogan Award winner Jon Rahm (B.A., Communications, 2016). He won 11 collegiate tournaments, second only to Phil Mickelson’s 16 in ASU history.
JON RAHM’S 11 COLLEGIATE WINS
2016 NCAA Albuquerque Regional (May 16-18)
2016 Pac-12 Championship (April 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 (2012-16), 11
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
EAGLE UPDATE FOR RAHM/MAX: Jon Rahm finished with 39 eagles in his 165-round career. Dating back to 1993-94 when Golfstat started tracking college statistics, only three other Sun Devils posted 15 eagles in their careers prior to Jon and classmate Max Rottluff arriving at ASU, as 2003 NCAA champion Alejandro Canizares had 15 eagles in 152 career rounds and Scott Pinckey (121 rounds) and Niklas Lemke (151 rounds) had 16 eagles in their career. Rottluff finished with 20 eagles in 149 career rounds.
ASU NCAA TOP FIVE FINISHES (1983-PRESENT)
Alejandro Canizares (Fr.) 1st/2003 (Stillwater, Okla.)
Todd Demsey (So.), 1st/1993 (Lexington, Ky.)
Phil Mickelson (Sr.), 1st/1992 (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Phil Mickelson (So.), 1st/1990 (Tarpon Springs, Fla.)
Phil Mickelson (Fr.), 1st/1989 (Edmond, Okla.)
Jim Carter (Jr.), 1st/1983 (Fresno, Calif.)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), T2nd/2013 (Atlanta, Ga.)
Jon Rahm (Sr.), T3rd/2016 (Eugene, Ore.)
Darren Angel (Fr.), T3rd/1996 (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Chez Reavie (Fr.), T4th/2001 (Durham, N.C.)
Phil Mickelson (Jr.), T4th/1991 (Pebble Beach, Calif.)
Paul Casey (So.), 4th/1999 (Chaska, Minn.)
Joey Snyder (Jr.), T5th/1995 (Columbus, Ohio)
SUN DEVIL TEAM ROUND-BY-ROUND
Fighting Illini Invitational 285-288-282=855/+15/3rd
The JackRabbit 304-280-281=865/+1/2nd
Alister MacKenzie 277-269-273=819/-33/T2nd
Tavistock Invitational 285-294-290=869/+5/2nd
The Amer Ari Invitational 290-271-281=842/-22/T3rd
The Prestige at PGA West 287-269-288=844/-8/2nd
Southern Highlands 291-288-303=882/+18/T4th
Lamkin Grips SD Classic 287-287-297=871/+7/4th
ASU Thunderbird 277-274-285=836/-16/4th
Western Intercollegiate 357-351-368=1076/+26/8th
Pac-12 Champ. 359-352-364-364=1439/+19/3rd
NCAA Regional 286-296-294=876/+12/1st
NCAA Championship 290-281-286-291=1,148/+28/9th
SOME IMPROVEMENT GOING ON HERE: Tim Mickelson took over a program in the summer of 2011 that was 89-86-3 in head-to-head record in the previous year. In 2011-12, the young squad was 62-96-1, but his 2012-13 team that made the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship was 125-89-1. A look at the past 11 seasons of head-to-head for ASU.
@ASUMENSGOLF HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
2015-16: 149-34-3
2014-15: 163-39-2
2013-14: 130-54-4
2012-13: 125-89-6
2011-12: 62-96-1
2010-11: 89-86-3
2009-10: 115-63-6
2008-09: 129-52-2
2007-08: 115-75-4
2006-07: 112-58-4
2005-06: 142-52-5
2015-16 SUN DEVIL ROUND-BY-ROUND (NCAA LINEUP)
JON RAHM 2015-16
Fighting Illini Invitational 69-74-68=211 (+1/T9)
The Jackrabbit 75-69-70=214 (-2/ 10)
Alister Mackenzie Invitational 68-63-66+197 (-16 /2)
Tavistock Collegiate Invitational 71-70-69=210 (-6/1)
Amer Ari Invitational 71-68-70=209 (-7/T8)
Prestige at PGA West 70-66-69=205 (-8/T3)
Southern Highlands Masters 69-69-78=216 (E/T5)
Lamkin Grips SD Classic 72-72-70=214 (-2/T5)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational 66-64-68=198 (-15/1)
Western Intercollegiate 72-67-70=209 (-1/T8)
Pac-12 Championship 70-66-68-68=272 (-12/1)
NCAA Regional 69-71-72=212 (-4/1)
NCAA Championship 71-68-69-71=279 (-1/T3)
JARED DU TOIT 2015-16
Fighting Illini Invitational 73-73-72=218 (+8/T27)
The Jackrabbit 76-69-73=218 (+2/T14)
Alister Mackenzie Invitational 67-68-68=203 (-10/T8)
Tavistock Collegiate 74-77-72=223 (+7/T28)
Amer Ari Invitational 71-67-72=210 (-6/T10)
Prestige at PGA West 68-68-73=209 (-4/7)
Southern Highlands Masters 75-71-75=221 (+5/T19)
Lamkin Grips SD Classic 71-72-72=215 (-1/8)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational 74-67-72=213 (E/T17)
Western Intercollegiate 67-69-74=210 (E/T12)
Pac-12 Championship 69-70-72-77=288 (+4/T19)
NCAA Regional 72-73-75=220 (+4/T5)
NCAA Championship 72-73-71-74=290 (+10/T45)
NICOLO GALETTI 2015-16
The Jackrabbit 79-75-70=224 (+8/T34)
Wyoming Southern 67-70-69=206 (-10/1)
Alister Mackenzie Invitational 74-70-70=214 (+1/T44)
Tavistock Collegiate 73-84-78=235 (+19/T66)
Amer Ari Invitational 75-78-81=234 (+18/T106)
Lamkin Grips SD Classic 78-79-82=239 (+23/T83)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational 77-72-69=218 (+5/T33)
Western Intercollegiate 74-74-75=223 (+13/61)
Pac-12 Championship 75-75-74-78=302 (+18/T50)
NCAA Regional 74-79-80=233 (+17/T43)
NCAA Championship 78-71-82-76=307 (+27/84)
MAX ROTTLUFF 2015-16
Fighting Illini Invitational 75-72-76=223 (+13/T50)
Alister Mackenzie Invitational 68-68-69=205 (-8/T14)
Tavistock Collegiate Invitational 68-70-74=212 (-4/2)
Western Refining All-American 74-65-74=213 (E/T7)
Amer Ari Invitational 75-67-72=214 (-2/T30)
Southern Highlands Masters 77-74-74=225 (+9/T42)
Lamkin Grips SD Classic 73-70-77=220 (+4/T15)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational 66-70-71=207 (-6/8)
Western Intercollegiate 67-66-75=208 (-2/T4)
Pac-12 Championship 72-71-73-72=288 (+4/T19)
NCAA Regional 71-83-72=226 (+10/T17)
NCAA Championship 72-71-70-75=288 (+8/T37)
ALBERTO SANCHEZ 2015-16
Fighting Illini Invitational 68-70-69=207 (-3/3)
The Jackrabbit 76-69-68=213 (-3/T8)
Alister Mackenzie Invitational 75-70-71=216 (+3/T55)
Tavistock Collegiate 73-77-75=225 (+9/T37)
Amer Ari Invitational 76-69-67=212 (-4/T20)
Prestige at PGA West 75-68-76=219 (+6/T34)
Southern Highlands Masters 70-77-78=225 (+9/T42)
Lamkin Grips SD Classic 71-76-78=225 (+9/T32)
ASU Thunderbird Invitational 71-76-75=222 (+9/T48)
Western Intercollegiate 75-74-73=222 (+12/T56)
Pac-12 Championship 73-74-77-72=296 (+12/T38)
NCAA Regional 77-73-75=225 (+9/T13)
NCAA Championship 75-71-76-71=293 (+13/T60)
ASU TEAM TOURNAMENT VICTORIES UNDER TIM MICKELSON
2016 NCAA Albuquerque Regional
2015 Arizona Intercollegiate
2015 Amer Ari Invitational
2015 Prestige at PGA WEST
2015 Duck Invitational
2015 ASU Thunderbird
2014 ASU Thunderbird
2011 Bill Cullum Invitational
SUN DEVIL NCAA FINISHES YEAR-BY-YEAR (PAC-12/10 ERA; 1978-79 TO PRESENT)
2016: 9th
2015: T-24th
2014: DNC
2013: T-5th (0-1 match play)
2012: DNC
2011: 18th
2010: T-8th
2009: T-5th (0-1 match play)
2008: T-17th
2007: T-18th
2006: 11th
2005: T-11th
2004: T-21st
2003: 6th
2002: DNC
2001: 6th
2000: T-25th
1999: 5th
1998: 5th
1997: T-5th
1996: 1st
1995: 4th
1994: T-9th
1993: 6th
1992: 2nd
1991: 3rd
1990: 1st
1989: 5th
1988: 10th
1987: 16th
1986: 8th
1985: 11th
1984: 9th
1983: DNC
1982: 3rd
1981: 5th
1980: T-20th
1979: 8th
SUN DEVIL FINAL GOLFSTAT RANKINGS (2000-2016)
2015-16, 7
2014-15, 11
2013-14, 26
2012-13, 28
2011-12, 81
2010-11, 24
2009-10, 15
2008-09, 7
2007-08, 23
2006-07, 17
2005-06, 6
2004-05, 13
2003-04, 6
2002-03, 9
2001-02, 51
2000-01, 5
1999-00, 4
MOST CONSECUTIVE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
OKLAHOMA STATE, 65 (1947-2011)
HOUSTON, 36 (1952-1987)
CLEMSON, 23 (1982-2004)
STANFORD, 22 (1950-1971)
ARIZONA, 21 (1987-2007)
NORTH TEXAS, 21 (1947-1967)
TEXAS, 19 (1979-1997)
USC, 19 (1973-1991)
ARIZONA STATE, 19 (1964-1982)
PURDUE, 19 (1949-1967)
ARIZONA STATE, 18 (1984-2001)