Notes, Numbers, Quotes, Etc: @ASUMensGolf Season In Review

The Arizona State University men's golf team (NCAA #20 seed/#24 Golfweek/#20 Golfstat) with three freshmen in the lineup finished 16th at the NCAA Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., to conclude its first season under head coach Matt Thurmond that saw it win two tournaments had three players claim individual tournament honors.
 

Final honor for @Jareddutoit is @GolfCoachesAssn second-team All-American. Well deserved! @TheGolfCanada @GlencoeInv https://t.co/uu7gsnywO9

— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) June 23, 2017

THREE DEGREES: Seniors Jared du Toit (BS, Marketing), Nicolo Galletti (BA, Interdisciplinary Studies) and Ki Taek Lee (BA, Interdisciplinary Studies) all will have earned their degrees this year. Jared finished 30th in the final Golfstat rankings and 20th by Golfweek.
 

When you earn All @pac12 honors you join great list of @ASU_Alumni https://t.co/mwJlXED1af @a_delrey99 @Jareddutoit @kevingolfyu @ASUKarsten pic.twitter.com/QzsBW2ZSpi

— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) May 8, 2017

#FORKSUP FOR THE FRESHMEN: ASU was the only school in the 30-team NCAA Championship field with three freshmen in its regional lineup and was the only school to have three freshmen in the lineup once play began in Illinois.
 

Such great days ahead for @asumensgolf

— Matt Thurmond (@MattThurmond) June 2, 2017

JARED RECAP: Senior Jared du Toit earned first-team Pac-12 honors and second-team Pac-12 All-Academic honors, as the Kimberley, British Columbia, product graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and a 3.38 grade point average. Named captain in the fall, du Toit, who finished No. 30 in the final Golfstat rankings, notched eight top-10 finishes on the year, including five top-five finishes and medalist honors at The Prestige at PGA West after losing the previous tournament in a playoff at the Amer Ari Invitational. He finished his career with a 70.38 stroke average in 27 events (83 rounds) that included a 13 top-10 finishes and six top-five finishes. The Kimberley, British Columbia, product was named the 2016 Male Amateur of the Year by Canadian Golf Journalists and the 2015-16 Pacific Northwest Golf Assocation Player of the Year, as he notched a top-10 finish at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. He collected a 72-hole total 9-under 279 (67-71-70-71), to earn low-amateur honors becoming the first Canuck Amateur to record a top-10 finish at Canada's coveted championship since Doug Bajus in 1954. He earned GCAA and Golfweek Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2015-16 with five top-10 finishes.

"I had so much fun. All year we had different guys fighting for spots. It was cool for me as a senior to see all the young guys come so far throughout the year on and off the course. I loved the senior role, seeing into a little more of what the coaches have to go through and all the thought that goes into everything from lineup, to qualifying, to team meetings, and individual specifics…it was pretty eye-opening.  I learned a lot from that and I'd like to think I know a little more about how to kind of motivate and get the most out of people. All in all it was a very cool year for me and one I'll never forget."  — Jared du Toit

. @Jareddutoit got it done in the classroom as well https://t.co/9qXjDskUlQ

— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) May 31, 2017

TEAM WIN IN FAIRFAX: ASU came back on the final day with an 11-under 273 to win the AlisterMacKenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif., on Oct. 11, while senior Ki Taek Lee earned co-medalist honors with a 15-under 198 (66-64-68). The team win ended California's dominance as it had won its own tournament the previous 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 freshman Blake Wagoner the other. ASU shot 31-under 821 (275-273-273) to top Oregon State's 25-under 827.
 
THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL VICTORY: ASU, led by two freshmen, posted its second win of head coach Matt Thurmond's first season with a convincing 41-under 811 (266-265-280) victory at the 45th annual Thunderbird Invitational at ASU's Karsten Golf Course on March 18-19. ASU won by 20 strokes over UNLV, while the Sun Devil "B" team also played well, finishing third with an 18-under 834 (280-276-278). Two freshmen led the way, as Chun An Yu tied for second at 12-under 201 while Blake Wagoner finished fourth at 11-under 202.
 
YU!...IS THE WINNER: In just his third college tournament, freshman Chun An Yu took home the individual medal at the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson after shooting an 8-under 64 in the final round on Feb. 28. It marked the third individual medalist for head coach Matt Thurmond's squad. Ranked No. 16 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings at the time, An Yu shot a tournament-best 8-under on the par-4 holes and 10-under on the par-5 holes. He posted 32 pars, 18 birdies and one eagle. AnYu became became just the third Sun Devil freshman to win a tournament since Alejandro Canizareswon the 2003 NCAA title. Jon Rahm won two tournaments in 2012-13, while Jesper Kennegard won the Hawai Hilo Intercollegiate in 2008. Prior to Canizares winning the NCAA title and the National Invitational in 2003, freshman Paul Casey won the 1998 USC Southwestern Invitational, the Pac-10 title and the NCAA West Regional.

"I think that we just need to keep grinding, believe in ourselves, chase our goals, then one day our dreams will come true.  I have only been a part of the team for half of the season, but I really enjoyed how we treated each other, and competed with and for each other.  I believe next year will be even better."— Chun An Yu, Freshman

JARED WEARING KHAKIS WITH A TROPHY: Captain Jared du Toit took home the individual medal at The Prestige at PGA West on Feb. 22, as the senior shot a 9-under 204 at the Greg Norman Course in La Quinta, Calif. He beat some of the best in the nation, as the then top-ranked collegiate player in the nation according to Golfweek was Maverick McNealy, who finished tied for 18th at 1-over 214. Golfweek's third-ranked collegian was Sam Burns, who finished second at 5-under 209, as du Toit shot 3-under on the par-3 holes and 4-under on the par-4 holes. He had 13 birdies (tied for second) and one eagle en route to the win.  
ABOUT CHUN'S FIRST YEAR: Chun Yu put the finishing touches on a solid freshman season that started in January with an even-par 288. On a day where 84 rounds produced an average score of 77.25, he fired a 1-over 73 with two birdies. His even-par score tied for the fourth-best by a freshman at the 2017 finals. His 71.61 stroke averages is the second-best by a freshman in Sun Devil history, behind only Jon Rahm's 71.37 in 2012-13. Alex del Rey ended with a 72.14 stroke average, fifth-best by a freshman in Sun Devil history. In the final Golfstat rankings Chun finished 56th (No. 61 by Golfweek) and Alex del Rey 88th (125th by Golfweek).
 
FRESHMEN WITH #NCAAGOLF 2017 TOP-20 FINISHES
2. Mason Overstreet, Arkansas 70-68-72-71=281/-7
T8. John Augenstein, Vanderbilt 74-70-69-72=285/-3
T8. Viktor Hovland, Oklahoma State 68-74-68-75=285/-3
T19. Chun An Yu, Arizona State 69-73-73-73=288/E
T19. Justin Suh, USC 67-70-72-79=288/E
 
SUN DEVIL FRESHMAN SCORING AVERAGES (1985-2017)
1. Jon Rahm, 15, 2012-13, 71.37
2. Chun An Yu, 9, 2016-17, 71.61
3. Alejandro Canizares, 8, 2002-03, 71.65
4. Todd Demsey, 15, 1991-92, 72.10
5. Alex del Rey, 12 2016-17, 72.14
6. Phil Mickelson, 14, 1988-89, 72.14
7. Jesper Kennegard, 12, 2007-08, 72.16
8. Chan Kim, 8, 2008-09, 72.20
9. Paul Casey, 12, 1997-98, 72.30
10. Benjamin Alvarado Holley, 10, 2005-06, 72.50
 

"Playing in the NCAA Championship and competing at the most elite level of college golf gave me a different mindset towards the game and showed me what it takes to be an elite team.  I think the amount we grew as a team this year was tremendous and will only carry over and continue to grow next year.  We're gonna do some big things next year."  -Blake Wagoner, Freshman

Although the results are not what we expected, at least we all gave what we got out there. Huge… https://t.co/aYPG7YZ2O5

— Chun An Yu (@kevingolfyu) May 30, 2017

HEAD COACH REMINDER: Sun Devil first-year head coach Matt Thurmond coached James Lepp to the 2005 NCAA individual title, while also tutoring Cheng-Tsuung Pan (2015) and Nick Taylor (2008) to second-place NCAA finishes during his 15-year Husky tenure. Coach Thurmond also led UW to match-play quarterfinals in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and led the Huskies to six top-20 finishes prior to match play. He led UW to 12 top-20 NCAA finishes overall in 15 seasons, including third-place in 2005.
 
MATT THURMOND AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
2017: 16th
2015: 15th
2014: 15th
2013: 16th
2012: 6th (match play quarterfinals)
2010: 4th (match play quarterfinals)
2009: 3rd (match play quarterfinals)
2008: 7th
2006: 9th
2005: 3rd
2004: 6th
2003: 11th
2002: 11th
 

Well done @kevingolfyu w/ top-20 #NCAAgolf finish, along with FR stroke average second-best in @TheSunDevils history https://t.co/mCIbFSReCz

— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) May 30, 2017

HISTORICAL NOTE: ASU has now made the NCAA Finals in the 13 of the past 16 seasons and 31 of past 34.
 
MOST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
OKLAHOMA STATE, 70
TEXAS, 63
USC, 58
ARIZONA STATE, 53
 
NO ONE BETTER RECENTLY: This season marked the 14th anniversary of Sun Devil freshman Alejandro Canizares winning the 2003 title, the 24th anniversary of Todd Demsey winning the 1993 title, the 25th anniversary of Phil Mickelson winning the last of his three titles and the 34th anniversary of Jim Carter winning the 1983 title. ASU has had four NCAA medalists on six occasions as Carter (1983), Phil Mickelson (1989, 1990, 1992), Demsey (1993), and Canizares (2003) all have taken home the trophy in the past 34 seasons. No other program can match the Sun Devils' six NCAA champions since 1979, as only Oklahoma State (five), Illinois (two), Stanford (two), and UNLV (two) have had multiple winners in that time.
 
SUN DEVIL FINAL GOLFSTAT RANKINGS (2000-2017)
2016-17, 20
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
 
@ASUMENSGOLF HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
2016-17: 126-69-3
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