CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye was named the 2019-20 Division I Golf Pride Grips West Region Coach of the Year, the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) announced yesterday afternoon.
The award comes on the heels of another successful season for the Sun Devils under the direction of Coach Farr-Kaye. Arizona State spent the entire 2019-20 season inside the Top-5 of every major national poll, finishing at No. 3 in the final Golfstat poll of the season. Farr-Kaye had her team in position to be one of the favorites to not only win a Pac-12 title, but a National Championship as well. The Arizona State alum led her alma mater to victories at three different events, as she challenged her team with one of the toughest schedules in the country. ASU never finished outside the Top-5 as a team at any tournament, placing fourth or higher in six of seven competitions.
With a National Championship as a player (1990), Assistant Coach (2009), and Head Coach (2017) in her trophy case, Farr-Kaye already boasts one of the most impressive résumés in Women's Collegiate Golf. She is showing no signs of slowing down, as the program continues to compete at the highest level year after year. Farr-Kaye put together a talented roster in 2019-20, with depth that was drawing comparisons to the 2016-17 team that won the NCAA Championship. During that season, Farr-Kaye took home 2017 WGCA & Golfweek National Coach of the Year honors, in addition to being tabbed as the WGCA West Region Coach of the Year.
Farr-Kaye was instrumental in the development of WGCA First Team All-American Linn Grant, who enjoyed a brilliant freshman season in Tempe. The Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach also had a significant impact in helping Olivia Mehaffey and Alessandra Fanali earn WGCA All-American Honorable Mention distinction. All three Sun Devils finished in the Top-45 of the final Golfstat rankings under the tutelage of Farr-Kaye.
Arizona State started the season off strong with a fourth-place finish at the loaded ANNIKA Intercollegiate, helping them move into the Top-5 in the first edition of the rankings. They would maintain their spot in the Top-5 for the remainder of the season, playing smart and consistent golf.
It did not take long for the squad to pick up their first victory of the season. The Sun Devils won the Team Championship at the Stanford Intercollegiate in just their third tournament of the year. Arizona State (-10/842) put together the seventh-lowest score vs. par over 54 holes in program history. It was a total team effort that helped ASU earn its ninth title in the Missy Farr-Kaye era and the sixth overall victory at the Stanford Intercollegiate, the first since 2009.
The Sun Devils enjoyed the perfect start to their Spring campaign, earning their second event victory of the season at the Duel in the Desert Tri-Match. Arizona State defeated No. 16 UCLA and Denver at Superstition Mountain Prospector Golf Course in Gold Canyon, Arizona. This represents the second consecutive year that ASU won this event hosted by Denver.
Arizona State was playing their best golf right before the season was cut short, as the coaching staff had the team clicking at the right time of year. The Sun Devils capped the abbreviated season off with a dominant victory at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, with Linn Grant capturing the Individual Title. Coach Farr-Kaye's team (-12/852) proved they were in a different class compared to the rest of the field, cruising to a 19-stroke win while posting the sixth-lowest total vs. par over 54 holes in program history. To put the Sun Devils total of 852 (-12) into perspective, no other team finished below par, with 12 of the 16 teams finishing 886 (+22) or worse. It was the 10th tournament victory in the Farr-Kaye era and the first time the Sun Devils won two titles in the same season since their National Championship run in 2017.
A big reason for the success of the program can be credited to recruiting. The entire Sun Devil Women's Golf coaching staff, led by Missy Farr-Kaye with significant involvement from Assistant Coach Michelle Estill, has displayed a relentless attitude when trying to find the top talent from around the World.
This past season, Arizona State featured not only one of the most talented rosters in the country, but also one of the most diverse. The six members of the 2019-20 team come from five different European countries (Spain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden). This is a testament to the hard work that Farr-Kaye and company have put in on the recruiting trail. They continue to attract the top talent from around the globe.
A combination of experienced returners and talented newcomers give fans a lot to be excited about as it relates to the future of the Sun Devil Women's Golf program under the direction of Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye.
WGCA CRITERIA
The awards are determined by vote from the Division I Awards Committee upon review of the 10 highest ranked coaches in each region and their respective records for the full year.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com).
The award comes on the heels of another successful season for the Sun Devils under the direction of Coach Farr-Kaye. Arizona State spent the entire 2019-20 season inside the Top-5 of every major national poll, finishing at No. 3 in the final Golfstat poll of the season. Farr-Kaye had her team in position to be one of the favorites to not only win a Pac-12 title, but a National Championship as well. The Arizona State alum led her alma mater to victories at three different events, as she challenged her team with one of the toughest schedules in the country. ASU never finished outside the Top-5 as a team at any tournament, placing fourth or higher in six of seven competitions.
Farr-Kaye is one of three individuals to receive Regional Coach of the Year distinction, joined by Wake Forest's Kim Lewellen (East Region) and Texas' Ryan Murphy (Central Region). Lewellen was also named the National Coach of the Year by the WGCA.Missy Farr-Kaye of @SunDevilWGolf is the @WGCAGOLF ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?? pic.twitter.com/ueW1SbqCFz
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) April 29, 2020
With a National Championship as a player (1990), Assistant Coach (2009), and Head Coach (2017) in her trophy case, Farr-Kaye already boasts one of the most impressive résumés in Women's Collegiate Golf. She is showing no signs of slowing down, as the program continues to compete at the highest level year after year. Farr-Kaye put together a talented roster in 2019-20, with depth that was drawing comparisons to the 2016-17 team that won the NCAA Championship. During that season, Farr-Kaye took home 2017 WGCA & Golfweek National Coach of the Year honors, in addition to being tabbed as the WGCA West Region Coach of the Year.
Farr-Kaye was instrumental in the development of WGCA First Team All-American Linn Grant, who enjoyed a brilliant freshman season in Tempe. The Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach also had a significant impact in helping Olivia Mehaffey and Alessandra Fanali earn WGCA All-American Honorable Mention distinction. All three Sun Devils finished in the Top-45 of the final Golfstat rankings under the tutelage of Farr-Kaye.
Despite receiving high praise prior to the season, the Sun Devils still managed to exceed those expectations put forth in the preseason. The major national polls had Arizona State ranked anywhere from No. 8-12 in their initial poll, but that would quickly change thanks to the preparation and performance of Farr-Kaye's team.A special message from @OliviaMehaffey to the @WGCAGOLF West Region Coach of the Year, @missymkaye ?? #SunDevilFamily pic.twitter.com/b43ZhoALRi
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) April 30, 2020
Arizona State started the season off strong with a fourth-place finish at the loaded ANNIKA Intercollegiate, helping them move into the Top-5 in the first edition of the rankings. They would maintain their spot in the Top-5 for the remainder of the season, playing smart and consistent golf.
It did not take long for the squad to pick up their first victory of the season. The Sun Devils won the Team Championship at the Stanford Intercollegiate in just their third tournament of the year. Arizona State (-10/842) put together the seventh-lowest score vs. par over 54 holes in program history. It was a total team effort that helped ASU earn its ninth title in the Missy Farr-Kaye era and the sixth overall victory at the Stanford Intercollegiate, the first since 2009.
The Sun Devils enjoyed the perfect start to their Spring campaign, earning their second event victory of the season at the Duel in the Desert Tri-Match. Arizona State defeated No. 16 UCLA and Denver at Superstition Mountain Prospector Golf Course in Gold Canyon, Arizona. This represents the second consecutive year that ASU won this event hosted by Denver.
Arizona State was playing their best golf right before the season was cut short, as the coaching staff had the team clicking at the right time of year. The Sun Devils capped the abbreviated season off with a dominant victory at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, with Linn Grant capturing the Individual Title. Coach Farr-Kaye's team (-12/852) proved they were in a different class compared to the rest of the field, cruising to a 19-stroke win while posting the sixth-lowest total vs. par over 54 holes in program history. To put the Sun Devils total of 852 (-12) into perspective, no other team finished below par, with 12 of the 16 teams finishing 886 (+22) or worse. It was the 10th tournament victory in the Farr-Kaye era and the first time the Sun Devils won two titles in the same season since their National Championship run in 2017.
A big reason for the success of the program can be credited to recruiting. The entire Sun Devil Women's Golf coaching staff, led by Missy Farr-Kaye with significant involvement from Assistant Coach Michelle Estill, has displayed a relentless attitude when trying to find the top talent from around the World.
This past season, Arizona State featured not only one of the most talented rosters in the country, but also one of the most diverse. The six members of the 2019-20 team come from five different European countries (Spain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden). This is a testament to the hard work that Farr-Kaye and company have put in on the recruiting trail. They continue to attract the top talent from around the globe.
However, they did not have to go far to land a couple of prep standouts that will join the program next season. Ashley Menne and Breyana Matthews from Xavier High School in Phoenix look to continue the tradition of successful transitions from Xavier to Arizona State, a history that includes their future Head Coach and fellow former Gator Missy Farr-Kaye.If you can play, @missymkaye and her coaching staff will find you ????
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) February 3, 2020
Of the nearly 1?0?0? @TheSunDevils international student-athletes, @SunDevilWGolf claims 6? of those
Read more about the many nations represented in Sun Devil Athletics ??
??: https://t.co/jnGNgz1b0e pic.twitter.com/RggoSesFto
A combination of experienced returners and talented newcomers give fans a lot to be excited about as it relates to the future of the Sun Devil Women's Golf program under the direction of Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye.
WGCA CRITERIA
The awards are determined by vote from the Division I Awards Committee upon review of the 10 highest ranked coaches in each region and their respective records for the full year.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com).