Sophomore Alex del Rey led the @SunDevilMGolf team in the first round of the Amer Ari Invitational, shooting a 1-under 71 at the Amer Ari Invitational held in Waikoloa, Hawaii at the Waikoloa Kings' Course (par-72/7,074 yards). Classmates Blake Wagoner is tied for 38th at even 72, while Chun An Yu and Koichiro Ishika are both at 1-over 73 and tied for 48th. Freshman Mason Andersen is at 3-over 75.
Freshman Paul Chaplet, playing as an individual, also is 1-under after the first round.
Texas leads the field at 9-under 279, while ASU is 13th at 1-over 289.
AMER ARI INVITATIONAL
FEB. 1, 2018/1ST ROUND
13. ARIZONA STATE 289/+1
T27. Alex del Rey 71/-1
T27. Paul Chaplet (I) 71/-1
T38. Blake Wagoner 72/E
T48. Chun An Yu 73/+1
T48. Koichiro Ishika 73/+1
T48. Tobias Eden (I) 73/+1
T75. Mason Andersen 75/+3
THE FIELD (CURRENT GCAA RANK): Oklahoma State (1), Georgia Tech (4), Auburn (9), Stanford (11), Texas Tech (13), Texas (16), Southern California (18), Arizona State, Oregon State, Osaka Gakuln, San Jose State, Texas Christian, California-Davis, Colorado, Hawaii-Hilo, Hawaii-Manoa, Oregon, Pacific.
ASU'S PAST SUCCESS AT AMER ARI: Arizona State has found the winner circle more than once in Hawaii, not only as a team, but with individuals as well. In the 27 years this tournament has been played ASU has had 3 medalists: Jesper Kennegard (2009), Chris Hanell (1996) and Todd Demsey (1994). They have also won it twice as a team, once in 1995 and most recently in 2015.
FALL STANDOUT: The biggest fall standout for the Sun Devils was sophomore Alex del Rey, Alex was able to but up two of his best collegiate rounds in the 2017 fall season. His top moment of the fall is when he shot a final round 65 in the Maui Jim to take the first-place medal, and led his team in winning the whole tournament.
TOURNAMENT FUN FACT: The Amer Ari was first played in 1991, Arizona State was invited to come and play in the annual tournament but chose not to because ASU great Phil Mickelson had a chance to play in the Phoenix Open.