SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Sun Devil Women's Golf put forth a valiant effort, but were unable to crack the Top-8 after the fourth day at the NCAA Championship.
Arizona State needed to climb into eighth or higher to earn a spot in Match Play and keep their season alive, but ended up finishing ninth. The Sun Devils made an incredible run over their final nine holes and delivered one of the best rounds of the day to make it interesting. At several points throughout the round, Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team moved above the cut line, eventually narrowly missing a second-straight Match Play appearance.
ASU started the day in need of a big performance. That came on the front nine, which was the second half of the Sun Devils' round. Arizona State was not fazed by the pressure and went four-under over their final nine holes, nearly making a run into the Top-8. Nine birdies and one eagle highlighted the stretch, including a seventh hole in which the Sun Devils went four-under par. Three birdies also came on the second hole, as the Maroon & Gold attempted to improve their position. Grace Summerhays led the way with a four-birdie effort during a magnificent six-hole run. Alessandra Fanali ended the front nine under par, as did Ashley Menne. Alexandra Forsterling came through in a clutch situation, burying an Eagle putt to shave off two huge strokes.
BACK NINE
Starting on hole 10, the back nine represented the first nine holes for the Sun Devils. Grace Summerhays set the tone for what was to come, as she began her day with a birdie on 10. Summerhays had three of the team's eight birdies during the nine holes. The 13th hole proved to be lucrative, as three different Sun Devils recorded birdies. Alessandra Fanali bounced back from two early bogeys in a big way, going three-under over her final 14 holes including birdies on 15 and 17.
TEAM RESULTS
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye
On the 2022 season
"We've had a great year, we finished ninth in the championship, 7th ranked after being 20th in the fall, so there's a lot of good things to take away from the season and I'm really proud of them and really proud of how they finished even on the last five holes."
On how her team finished
"They kept fighting and we just needed a couple other teams to miss a few puts and it didn't happen and that's okay they did really well and I have a feeling they're going to come back really hungry."
On what can be taken from result
"It's going to be a young and hungry team [next year] so I'm really looking forward to it. I just see excitement, who knows what it'll be like the younger ones tend to come in really hungry with wanting to learn and soak it all in."
On the plans for the two seniors
"I think [the seniors] are both really excited to turn pro. They thought about maybe trying to stay another year but they're ready. They're both ready. They're excited to go to the next step of their career."
On Grace's performance
"Grace is just a fighter and she's such a great young spark to this team. She knows how to dig deep and I think she really wanted to end on a good note and feel really good about it and she's had such a good spring and had such a big impact on our team. I know she's disappointed we're not in match play. I don't think there's anyone that is going to come back hungrier to get into match play next year than Grace."
On the future of the program
"It's real exciting to have some real strong, young players that I think have a big impact on our team. I think they're going to be a lot of fun and the energy that they're going to have."
On the No. 1-ranked recruiting class
"They can't wait to come and play and I think it's going to be really exciting."
On the impact of the two seniors
"I can't thank Alexandra and Alessandra enough for their contributions to our program and their four years and great student athletes and so many amazing things. I'm so proud of them and so excited for them and their futures."
On having Giulia Molinaro and Anna Nordqvist
"It's wonderful when our former players come out. That support means a tremendous amount to us, and we want to return the favor for the guys next week and that's the thing about being at home. Their support is very special and very meaningful and our goal is to have one more go at this next year."
Freshman Grace Summerhays
On the message to her teammates
"I said to them as long as you give everything you got, and you put it all out there and you work really hard to stay in until the last put drops, then you have nothing to feel bad about and you have no regrets. I'm really proud of each one of them, they really represented Arizona State extremely well."
On coming through with a low round
"I talked to my dad after the round and just said that this is probably one of the most fun rounds I've ever had. It was kind of up and down but hitting the shots I did coming down the stretch was really fun and just knowing that my team and I were kind of making a charge at the end was really cool."
On entering college early
"Coming to college was a very smart decision on my part, this is exactly what I wanted to do and this tournament was exactly what I thought it was going to be."
On what was working for her
"My ball striking was very good today, especially on the back nine. I feel like a lot of my game is starting to come together so I'm excited."
On her offseason plans
"I think it will be nice to practice a little bit because the season is very go, go, go so I think being able to try and change my game a little bit more will be exciting and hopefully come back stronger in the fall."
On why the team wasn't able to advance
"I will say the first day we didn't play great, but our tee time affected that a lot I think everyone in the second wave struggled quite a bit with the wind and everything. Yesterday nothing was quite clicking. Some days you all play good or don't play good and it was just a mix of that."
Senior Alessandra Fanali
On it being her final round at Arizona State
"It was different today, because it was our last day playing for ASU so it was a tough day."
On her teammates stepping up
"The freshmen, sophomores, and juniors learned a lot from us and grew up with us this year. I'm happy for them and curious to see what's going to happen next year."
Assessing her senior season
"I'm happy that I won a tournament this spring season, played good today, and solid yesterday too."
On the challenges of Grayhawk
"This golf course since we've played here so many times, we knew that if we missed a shot, it was going to be a terrible shot the next shot. What I did differently from the first day was being confident with what I want to do, and my choice of that shot. That made me feel better with myself and that's why I managed to do well with the score."
UP NEXT
Sun Devil Women's Golf senior Alexandra Forsterling qualified for the 2022 U.S. Women's Open. The Berlin, Germany native competed in a qualifying event at Gainey Ranch Golf Club down the road in Scottsdale. In a field with 79 professional and amateur golfers competing for a spot in the LPGA Tour Major Championship, Forsterling finished tied for first to clinch her spot as one of three to advance.
Forsterling finished at two-under as the field was tasked with completing 36 holes in one day. Her first round 72 (E) was solid, but it was her second round 70 (-2) that clinched her entry into one of the world's most prestigious tournaments. She beat out several professional competitors with established resumes for the exclusive opportunity. The 2022 U.S. Women's Open will be held at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina. GOLF Channel will broadcast each day of the event, which takes place June 2-5.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Golf Channel will have live coverage May 24-25, the final two days of the NCAA Championship. Visit the Championship Central webpage. 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).
Arizona State needed to climb into eighth or higher to earn a spot in Match Play and keep their season alive, but ended up finishing ninth. The Sun Devils made an incredible run over their final nine holes and delivered one of the best rounds of the day to make it interesting. At several points throughout the round, Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team moved above the cut line, eventually narrowly missing a second-straight Match Play appearance.
"We had a really good day today and ended our season on a high note," Coach Farr-Kaye. "I'm so proud of this team. We made it hard for ourselves. There were two days that were not our best and that's probably the thing to focus on for next year."
The Sun Devils went four-under on the back nine, making up major ground despite the high pressure of the moment. The run was led by a freshman and a senior, as the promising future and the present success of the program were on full display. Freshman Grace Summerhays played like a seasoned veteran down the stretch, firing a 70 (-2) to move up 33 spots on the leaderboard. Alessandra Fanali nearly matched her after improving for the third consecutive round, shooting a 71 (-1) to cap her Sun Devil career. Calynne Rosholt was the third Sun Devil to tie for 40th in the individual race, while Ashley Menne had several massive birdies down the stretch to keep her team within striking distance, but it ultimately wasn't enough as ASU finishes the season ninth nationally.
The 2022 NCAA Women's Golf Championship continues for two more days, with Match Play quarterfinals and semifinals taking place tomorrow at Grayhawk Golf Club. The National Championship match will be played on Wednesday, with GOLF Channel providing live coverage throughout.
ASU started the day in need of a big performance. That came on the front nine, which was the second half of the Sun Devils' round. Arizona State was not fazed by the pressure and went four-under over their final nine holes, nearly making a run into the Top-8. Nine birdies and one eagle highlighted the stretch, including a seventh hole in which the Sun Devils went four-under par. Three birdies also came on the second hole, as the Maroon & Gold attempted to improve their position. Grace Summerhays led the way with a four-birdie effort during a magnificent six-hole run. Alessandra Fanali ended the front nine under par, as did Ashley Menne. Alexandra Forsterling came through in a clutch situation, burying an Eagle putt to shave off two huge strokes.
BACK NINE
Starting on hole 10, the back nine represented the first nine holes for the Sun Devils. Grace Summerhays set the tone for what was to come, as she began her day with a birdie on 10. Summerhays had three of the team's eight birdies during the nine holes. The 13th hole proved to be lucrative, as three different Sun Devils recorded birdies. Alessandra Fanali bounced back from two early bogeys in a big way, going three-under over her final 14 holes including birdies on 15 and 17.
TEAM RESULTS
| Place | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | To Par |
| 8 | Georgia | 303 | 291 | 298 | 290 | +30 |
| 9 | Arizona State | 302 | 290 | 302 | 290 | +32 |
| 10 | USC | 298 | 294 | 300 | 293 | +33 |
| 11 | LSU | 296 | 291 | 301 | 299 | +35 |
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
| Place | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | To Par |
| T40 | Grace Summerhays | 76 | 73 | 78 | 70 | +9 |
| T40 | Alessandra Fanali | 79 | 74 | 73 | 71 | +9 |
| T40 | Calynne Rosholt | 72 | 75 | 73 | 77 | +9 |
| T48 | Ashley Menne | 78 | 68 | 79 | 73 | +10 |
| T65 | Alexandra Forsterling | 76 | 75 | 78 | 76 | +17 |
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye
On the 2022 season
"We've had a great year, we finished ninth in the championship, 7th ranked after being 20th in the fall, so there's a lot of good things to take away from the season and I'm really proud of them and really proud of how they finished even on the last five holes."
On how her team finished
"They kept fighting and we just needed a couple other teams to miss a few puts and it didn't happen and that's okay they did really well and I have a feeling they're going to come back really hungry."
On what can be taken from result
"It's going to be a young and hungry team [next year] so I'm really looking forward to it. I just see excitement, who knows what it'll be like the younger ones tend to come in really hungry with wanting to learn and soak it all in."
On the plans for the two seniors
"I think [the seniors] are both really excited to turn pro. They thought about maybe trying to stay another year but they're ready. They're both ready. They're excited to go to the next step of their career."
On Grace's performance
"Grace is just a fighter and she's such a great young spark to this team. She knows how to dig deep and I think she really wanted to end on a good note and feel really good about it and she's had such a good spring and had such a big impact on our team. I know she's disappointed we're not in match play. I don't think there's anyone that is going to come back hungrier to get into match play next year than Grace."
On the future of the program
"It's real exciting to have some real strong, young players that I think have a big impact on our team. I think they're going to be a lot of fun and the energy that they're going to have."
On the No. 1-ranked recruiting class
"They can't wait to come and play and I think it's going to be really exciting."
On the impact of the two seniors
"I can't thank Alexandra and Alessandra enough for their contributions to our program and their four years and great student athletes and so many amazing things. I'm so proud of them and so excited for them and their futures."
On having Giulia Molinaro and Anna Nordqvist
"It's wonderful when our former players come out. That support means a tremendous amount to us, and we want to return the favor for the guys next week and that's the thing about being at home. Their support is very special and very meaningful and our goal is to have one more go at this next year."
Freshman Grace Summerhays
On the message to her teammates
"I said to them as long as you give everything you got, and you put it all out there and you work really hard to stay in until the last put drops, then you have nothing to feel bad about and you have no regrets. I'm really proud of each one of them, they really represented Arizona State extremely well."
On coming through with a low round
"I talked to my dad after the round and just said that this is probably one of the most fun rounds I've ever had. It was kind of up and down but hitting the shots I did coming down the stretch was really fun and just knowing that my team and I were kind of making a charge at the end was really cool."
On entering college early
"Coming to college was a very smart decision on my part, this is exactly what I wanted to do and this tournament was exactly what I thought it was going to be."
On what was working for her
"My ball striking was very good today, especially on the back nine. I feel like a lot of my game is starting to come together so I'm excited."
On her offseason plans
"I think it will be nice to practice a little bit because the season is very go, go, go so I think being able to try and change my game a little bit more will be exciting and hopefully come back stronger in the fall."
On why the team wasn't able to advance
"I will say the first day we didn't play great, but our tee time affected that a lot I think everyone in the second wave struggled quite a bit with the wind and everything. Yesterday nothing was quite clicking. Some days you all play good or don't play good and it was just a mix of that."
Senior Alessandra Fanali
On it being her final round at Arizona State
"It was different today, because it was our last day playing for ASU so it was a tough day."
On her teammates stepping up
"The freshmen, sophomores, and juniors learned a lot from us and grew up with us this year. I'm happy for them and curious to see what's going to happen next year."
Assessing her senior season
"I'm happy that I won a tournament this spring season, played good today, and solid yesterday too."
On the challenges of Grayhawk
"This golf course since we've played here so many times, we knew that if we missed a shot, it was going to be a terrible shot the next shot. What I did differently from the first day was being confident with what I want to do, and my choice of that shot. That made me feel better with myself and that's why I managed to do well with the score."
UP NEXT
Sun Devil Women's Golf senior Alexandra Forsterling qualified for the 2022 U.S. Women's Open. The Berlin, Germany native competed in a qualifying event at Gainey Ranch Golf Club down the road in Scottsdale. In a field with 79 professional and amateur golfers competing for a spot in the LPGA Tour Major Championship, Forsterling finished tied for first to clinch her spot as one of three to advance.
Forsterling finished at two-under as the field was tasked with completing 36 holes in one day. Her first round 72 (E) was solid, but it was her second round 70 (-2) that clinched her entry into one of the world's most prestigious tournaments. She beat out several professional competitors with established resumes for the exclusive opportunity. The 2022 U.S. Women's Open will be held at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina. GOLF Channel will broadcast each day of the event, which takes place June 2-5.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Golf Channel will have live coverage May 24-25, the final two days of the NCAA Championship. Visit the Championship Central webpage. 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).