PALOS VERDES, Calif. – The Sun Devil Women's Golf team wrapped-up the 25th edition of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, Tuesday at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
Sun Devil senior Olivia Mehaffey (-5/208) was brilliant all tournament long, putting together three consecutive rounds under par on her way to a second-place finish. She continued her dominance of the Palos Verdes Golf Club, earning silver in a loaded field less than a year after capturing the 2019 Pac-12 Championship at the same location. For Mehaffey, it represents her 11 appearance in the Top-Five of an event and 20th Top-10 finish as a collegiate.
"Overall a solid finish for us as a team," Coach Missy Farr-Kaye reflected. "We are so excited for Olivia to have such a great finish to start her last Spring campaign. Alessandra's 66 was a fantastic round of golf today."
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Olivia Mehaffey looked sharp the entire way, carding her third consecutive round (-1/70) under par today. She finished the tournament with the second-best average on par five opportunities, going five-under on those particular holes. She lowered that total today with an excellent play on the par-five 16th hole, recording one of only 11 eagles in the tournament. She also took advantage of par-four chances, ending with the fifth-best scoring average.
Alessandra Fanali's career-low performance moved her up 22 spots over the course of the day and into the Top-15. She finished tied for 12th (E/213), making the most of her final two rounds. Fanali's 12 birdies were tied for the team lead and tied for the fourth-most of the tournament. She produced an incredible stretch of golf beginning on her third hole of the day. Fanali would go on to birdie four consecutive holes (9-12), part of a run in which she was below par on six of seven opportunities. She played bogey-free golf over her final 11 holes, helping her continue to make up ground on the rest of the field.
Linn Grant put forth yet another solid tournament, as the freshman has been a consistent part of the Sun Devil lineup. She ended the event tied for 18th (+2/215), the fifth-consecutive Top-20 finish to start her career. Grant's 12 birdies tied her with teammate Alessandra Fanali for the fourth-most of the tournament and most on the team. Four of those birdies came in the final round, including one on her first hole of the day.
Four Sun Devils finished the tournament with an average under par on par-five chances, including Raquel Olmos, who did her best work on those opportunities.
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
TEAM RESULTS
After ending the first day in a tie for seventh place, Arizona State moved up one spot in the team standings after each round, eventually climbing into fifth place. They finished a comfortable nine strokes (+7/859) ahead of sixth-place No. 2 Kent State, while also finishing well ahead of No 3. Wake Forest, No. 6 Stanford, No. 9 Florida, and 31 strokes ahead of No. 7 Arizona.
A big reason for the success was the number of birdies the Sun Devils were able to amass. The team produced 50 birdies, the second-most by any team. Arizona State was one of only three teams to record two eagles. The Maroon & Gold maintained the second-best scoring average on par four holes and finished seven-under on par five opportunities. Three different Sun Devils managed to birdie the par-four 12th hole, part of a stretch where the group had nine combined birdies (10-15).
TEAM STANDINGS
LOOKING AHEAD
Arizona State continues to navigate a grueling Spring schedule, one that should prepare them for postseason play. The Sun Devils have a quick turnaround before their next tournament, an event that presents yet another challenge.
"We only have two days at home then we will be back on the road for another stacked field in Guadalajara."
Arizona State heads to the IJGA Invitational hosted by the University of Virginia running Feb. 16-18. The three-day tournament takes place at Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico.
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).
Sun Devil senior Olivia Mehaffey (-5/208) was brilliant all tournament long, putting together three consecutive rounds under par on her way to a second-place finish. She continued her dominance of the Palos Verdes Golf Club, earning silver in a loaded field less than a year after capturing the 2019 Pac-12 Championship at the same location. For Mehaffey, it represents her 11 appearance in the Top-Five of an event and 20th Top-10 finish as a collegiate.
Not to be outdone, the performance of Alessandra Fanali was equally as spectacular. The sophomore shot the lowest round of the day (-5/66), making her way 22 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 12th. Not only was Fanali's round a career-low, she carded one of only five 66's in the tournament. It is already her sixth Top-15 finish and sixth round in the 60's of her young career.What a tournament by Olivia Mehaffey! ??
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) February 11, 2020
She continues her mastery of Palos Verdes Golf Club, earning a 2?nd place finish at the same site she won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship #ForksUp
All 3? rounds were under par for Mehaffey ???? pic.twitter.com/v7KPaAwJ5g
Arizona State continued to show improvement as the tournament progressed, lowering their score each day by any team. The Maroon & Gold (-2/282) finished on a high note, putting together the third best round of the day. Overall, the Sun Devils finished in fifth place in a field with eight of the Top-10 teams in the country and 12 members of the Top-25.??Career-low score ??
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) February 12, 2020
??Best round of the day by any golfer ??
??Only the 5?th 6?6? of the tournament ??
??Moved up 2?2? spots on the leaderboard ??
??6?th career Top-1?5? finish (T-1?2?)
There was a lot to like about Alessandra Fanali's performance today! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/7q26kZvmN8
COACH'S THOUGHTSThe squad kept working hard ????
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) February 11, 2020
The Sun Devils improved their score each day at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, putting together the 3?rd best round of the day to move into 5?th place #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/WhdMLrbcfe
"Overall a solid finish for us as a team," Coach Missy Farr-Kaye reflected. "We are so excited for Olivia to have such a great finish to start her last Spring campaign. Alessandra's 66 was a fantastic round of golf today."
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Olivia Mehaffey looked sharp the entire way, carding her third consecutive round (-1/70) under par today. She finished the tournament with the second-best average on par five opportunities, going five-under on those particular holes. She lowered that total today with an excellent play on the par-five 16th hole, recording one of only 11 eagles in the tournament. She also took advantage of par-four chances, ending with the fifth-best scoring average.
Alessandra Fanali's career-low performance moved her up 22 spots over the course of the day and into the Top-15. She finished tied for 12th (E/213), making the most of her final two rounds. Fanali's 12 birdies were tied for the team lead and tied for the fourth-most of the tournament. She produced an incredible stretch of golf beginning on her third hole of the day. Fanali would go on to birdie four consecutive holes (9-12), part of a run in which she was below par on six of seven opportunities. She played bogey-free golf over her final 11 holes, helping her continue to make up ground on the rest of the field.
Linn Grant put forth yet another solid tournament, as the freshman has been a consistent part of the Sun Devil lineup. She ended the event tied for 18th (+2/215), the fifth-consecutive Top-20 finish to start her career. Grant's 12 birdies tied her with teammate Alessandra Fanali for the fourth-most of the tournament and most on the team. Four of those birdies came in the final round, including one on her first hole of the day.
Four Sun Devils finished the tournament with an average under par on par-five chances, including Raquel Olmos, who did her best work on those opportunities.
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
| Position | Player | Team | Score vs. Par | Total |
| 1 | Kaleigh Telfer | Auburn | -6 | 207 |
| T2 | Olivia Mehaffey | Arizona State | -5 | 208 |
| T2 | Miranda Wang | Duke | -5 | 208 |
| 4 | Emilie Paltrinieri | UCLA | -4 | 209 |
| T12 | Alessandra Fanali | Arizona State | E | 213 |
| T18 | Linn Grant | Arizona State | +2 | 215 |
TEAM RESULTS
After ending the first day in a tie for seventh place, Arizona State moved up one spot in the team standings after each round, eventually climbing into fifth place. They finished a comfortable nine strokes (+7/859) ahead of sixth-place No. 2 Kent State, while also finishing well ahead of No 3. Wake Forest, No. 6 Stanford, No. 9 Florida, and 31 strokes ahead of No. 7 Arizona.
A big reason for the success was the number of birdies the Sun Devils were able to amass. The team produced 50 birdies, the second-most by any team. Arizona State was one of only three teams to record two eagles. The Maroon & Gold maintained the second-best scoring average on par four holes and finished seven-under on par five opportunities. Three different Sun Devils managed to birdie the par-four 12th hole, part of a stretch where the group had nine combined birdies (10-15).
TEAM STANDINGS
| Position | Team | Score vs. Par | Total |
| 1 | #12 Duke | -5 | 847 |
| 2 | #5 USC | +2 | 854 |
| 3 | #1 Texas | +3 | 855 |
| 4 | #19 UCLA | +6 | 858 |
| 5 | #4 Arizona State | +7 | 859 |
LOOKING AHEAD
Arizona State continues to navigate a grueling Spring schedule, one that should prepare them for postseason play. The Sun Devils have a quick turnaround before their next tournament, an event that presents yet another challenge.
"We only have two days at home then we will be back on the road for another stacked field in Guadalajara."
Arizona State heads to the IJGA Invitational hosted by the University of Virginia running Feb. 16-18. The three-day tournament takes place at Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico.
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).