Sun Devil Women's Golf signed a historic recruiting class last November, one that was ranked No. 1 in the nation by GOLF Channel. Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Beth Coulter, and Patience Rhodes represent one of the most talented groups of freshmen in program history. With the Fall season coming to an end and Spring a little over a month away, now is a good time to learn more about the three Sun Devil newcomers. First up in our "Get to Know" series is Paula Schulz-Hanssen.
Schulz-Hanssen is already making an impact in Tempe, qualifying for the lineup in three of the first four events of the season. She has shown improvement throughout the Fall, finishing higher at each subsequent tournament, peaking when she tied for T-32nd place at the Pac-12 Preview. Schulz-Hanssen has delivered an excellent round in all three appearances, carding a 72 in the second round of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate (only her second round as a Sun Devil), matching that with a 72 in the final round of the Windy City Collegiate, and capping that with another 72 in her final round of the Fall at the Pac-12 Preview. She looks to carry over the momentum built and confidence gained from a strong finish into the Spring season.
Paula Schulz-Hanssen was the No. 2 overall recruit in the country in the 2022 class. Another top European golfer chose to come to Tempe, continuing the program's tradition of success in the area. Schulz-Hanssen has followed in the footsteps of 2017 National Champion Sophia Zeeb and current standout Alexandra Forsterling, joining the Sun Devil family from Germany. She was the 2020 European Ladies' Amateur Championship after opening with back-to-back rounds of 66 and holding off her competitor in a playoff to win the title. That tournament also included current Sun Devils Linn Grant, Amanda Linner, Alessandra Fanali, and Alexandra Forsterling.
The St.Leon-Rot native is the first Sun Devil signee to have won the top European Amateur title since Carlota Ciganda back in 2004. She is currently ranked No. 19 on WAGR and has been as high as No. 7, making her the top recruit in this category to sign with ASU since Olivia Mehaffey in 2015. She also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2020 The Women's Amateur Championship and was a runner-up with Germany at the 2020 European Girls' Team Championships. Schulz-Hanssen finished in the top-10 of all but one of her six starts last year, which included a win at the Swiss International Ladies' Championship. Schulz-Hanssen most recently won the Junior Solheim Cup with Team Europe this year. Schulz-Hanssen competed with some of top amateurs in the world at the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur, traveling to the United States for a chance to compete at famed Augusta National Golf Course.
Here is more about Paula Schulz-Hanssen:
GET TO KNOW PAULA SCHULZ-HANSSEN
Hometown: St.Leon-Rot
High School/Prep School: Löwenrot Gymnasium
Major: Business communications
Favorite club: Driver
Favorite golf course: Nanea
Favorite professional golfer: Nelly Korda
Favorite non-golfer athlete: Kobe Bryant
What age did you start playing Golf: 3
Why do you love Golf: There is always something to get better at
Most memorable golf experience: Winning European Girls Team Championship 2020
Best food to eat before a round: Apple
Food you miss the most from back home: Schnitzel
Favorite place to eat in Arizona so far: Sauce
Pre-round routines or superstitions: I always use the same marker
Favorite thing about Coach Farr-Kaye: Caring personality
First impressions of Arizona State: Amazing team, endless opportunities to get better
What made you want to be a Sun Devil: It was always my dream, the best facilities in the world, amazing coaches
What is it like to play for Coach Farr-Kaye and Coach Estill: They like us for who we are and help us achieve our goals, they support us every day and believe in us
What does it mean to you to be a part of the historic Sun Devil Women's Golf program and represent the school with the most NCAA titles: I'm very proud to be a sun devil for life. It is great to be part of something so big and to keep their tradition going
Season goals: Win nationals with my team
Career goals: Play in the Solheim Cup
Favorite animal: Dolphins
Favorite Song: Just the way you are by Bruno Mars
Favorite TV Show: Friends
What motivates you to be your best: The feeling of making me and my family proud
Schulz-Hanssen is already making an impact in Tempe, qualifying for the lineup in three of the first four events of the season. She has shown improvement throughout the Fall, finishing higher at each subsequent tournament, peaking when she tied for T-32nd place at the Pac-12 Preview. Schulz-Hanssen has delivered an excellent round in all three appearances, carding a 72 in the second round of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate (only her second round as a Sun Devil), matching that with a 72 in the final round of the Windy City Collegiate, and capping that with another 72 in her final round of the Fall at the Pac-12 Preview. She looks to carry over the momentum built and confidence gained from a strong finish into the Spring season.
Paula Schulz-Hanssen was the No. 2 overall recruit in the country in the 2022 class. Another top European golfer chose to come to Tempe, continuing the program's tradition of success in the area. Schulz-Hanssen has followed in the footsteps of 2017 National Champion Sophia Zeeb and current standout Alexandra Forsterling, joining the Sun Devil family from Germany. She was the 2020 European Ladies' Amateur Championship after opening with back-to-back rounds of 66 and holding off her competitor in a playoff to win the title. That tournament also included current Sun Devils Linn Grant, Amanda Linner, Alessandra Fanali, and Alexandra Forsterling.
The St.Leon-Rot native is the first Sun Devil signee to have won the top European Amateur title since Carlota Ciganda back in 2004. She is currently ranked No. 19 on WAGR and has been as high as No. 7, making her the top recruit in this category to sign with ASU since Olivia Mehaffey in 2015. She also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2020 The Women's Amateur Championship and was a runner-up with Germany at the 2020 European Girls' Team Championships. Schulz-Hanssen finished in the top-10 of all but one of her six starts last year, which included a win at the Swiss International Ladies' Championship. Schulz-Hanssen most recently won the Junior Solheim Cup with Team Europe this year. Schulz-Hanssen competed with some of top amateurs in the world at the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur, traveling to the United States for a chance to compete at famed Augusta National Golf Course.
Here is more about Paula Schulz-Hanssen:
GET TO KNOW PAULA SCHULZ-HANSSEN
Hometown: St.Leon-Rot
High School/Prep School: Löwenrot Gymnasium
Major: Business communications
Favorite club: Driver
Favorite golf course: Nanea
Favorite professional golfer: Nelly Korda
Favorite non-golfer athlete: Kobe Bryant
What age did you start playing Golf: 3
Why do you love Golf: There is always something to get better at
Most memorable golf experience: Winning European Girls Team Championship 2020
Best food to eat before a round: Apple
Food you miss the most from back home: Schnitzel
Favorite place to eat in Arizona so far: Sauce
Pre-round routines or superstitions: I always use the same marker
Favorite thing about Coach Farr-Kaye: Caring personality
First impressions of Arizona State: Amazing team, endless opportunities to get better
What made you want to be a Sun Devil: It was always my dream, the best facilities in the world, amazing coaches
What is it like to play for Coach Farr-Kaye and Coach Estill: They like us for who we are and help us achieve our goals, they support us every day and believe in us
What does it mean to you to be a part of the historic Sun Devil Women's Golf program and represent the school with the most NCAA titles: I'm very proud to be a sun devil for life. It is great to be part of something so big and to keep their tradition going
Season goals: Win nationals with my team
Career goals: Play in the Solheim Cup
Favorite animal: Dolphins
Favorite Song: Just the way you are by Bruno Mars
Favorite TV Show: Friends
What motivates you to be your best: The feeling of making me and my family proud