ANOTHER FINALS APPEARANCE: The fourth-seeded Arizona State University men's golf team -- also ranked fifth by both Golfweek and fourth by Golfstat -- competes at the NCAA Championships held May 27-June12 at Grayhawk Golf Club (7,289 yards/par-70) in Scottsdale, AZ. Sun Devil sixth-year head coach Matt Thurmond leads the Sun Devils, who under 2008 National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee and Pac-12 Coach of the Century Randy Lein won the 1996 team title and won the 1990 title under 2002 ASU Hall of Fame and 2009 NGCA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Loy. It marks the 57th NCAA Championship appearance for the program, which is fourth-best. ASU has now made the NCAA Finals in the 17 of the past 20 seasons and 35 of past 38.
MOST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
OKLAHOMA STATE, 74
TEXAS, 67
USC, 58
ARIZONA STATE, 57
NOT EASY TO GET HERE: Getting to Grayhawk isn't easy, as eight teams ranked in the Golfstat top 30 after regional action had their season's end. Not advancing to the NCAA Championship this year were Pac-12 champion Washington (9), Illinois (19), Notre Dame (20), LSU (21), Tennessee (22), Clemson (24), South Carolina (28) and Purdue (29).
WHAT TIME, WHERE AND WHOM ARE WE SWINGING THE STICKS WITH?: ASU will tee with North Carolina and defending NCAA champion Pepperdine in the first two rounds. ASU will go off No. 1 at 11:52 a.m. on Friday (May 27) and at 6:32 a.m. on Saturday (May 28) off No. 10.
LAST YEAR AT NCAAS: The Sun Devils tied for third at the 2021 NCAA Championship officially by reaching the semifinals of match play. It marked ASU's best finish since its won the 1996 title.
PAST SEVEN: The Sun Devils have now made the NCAA Finals in the past seven seasons, the fifth-best mark in the nation. Texas (15), Oklahoma (11), Oklahoma State (9) and Vanderbilt (8) are the only schools with longer streaks.
GOT TWO GOING: Arizona State in 1990 is the only program to have its men's and women's teams win the NCAA golf championships in the same season.
HISTORY: The Sun Devil men won NCAA titles in 1990 (head coach Steve Loy) and 1996 (Randy Lein).
SUN DEVIL NCAA CHAMPIONS
Alejandro Canizares, 2003
Todd Demsey, 1993
Phil Mickelson, 1992
Phil Mickelson, 1990
Phil Mickelson, 1989
Jim Carter, 1983
REMINDER: Sun Devil sixth-year head coach Matt Thurmond coached James Lepp to the 2005 NCAA individual title, while also tutoring Cheng-Tsuung Pan (2015) and Nick Taylor (2008) to second-place NCAA finishes during his 15-year Washington tenure. Coach Thurmond also led UW to match-play quarterfinals in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and to six top-20 finishes prior to match play. He led UW to 12 top-20 NCAA finishes overall in 15 seasons, including third-place in 2005. ASU finished 16th in his first year wearing the maroon and gold, finished 13th in 2018 and 16th in 2019. Last year ASU posted the best stroke-play score and topped North Carolina before falling to Oklahoma in match play.
MATT THURMOND AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
2021: 3rd (match play semifinals)
2020: COVID
2019: 16th
2018: T-13th
2017: 16th (first year at ASU)
2015: 15th
2014: 15th
2013: 16th
2012: 6th (match play quarterfinals)
2011: DNC
2010: 4th (match play quarterfinals)
2009: 3rd (match play quarterfinals)
2008: 7th
2007: DNC
2006: 9th
2005: 3rd
2004: 6th
2003: 11th
2002: 11th
NO ONE BETTER RECENTLY FOR THIS: This season marks the 19th anniversary of Sun Devil freshman Alejandro Canizares winning the 2003 title in Stillwater, the 29th anniversary of Todd Demsey winning the 1993 title, the 30th anniversary of Phil Mickelson winning the last of his three titles and the 39th anniversary of Jim Carter winning the 1983 title. ASU has had four NCAA medalists on six occasions as Carter (1983), Mickelson (1989, 1990, 1992), Demsey (1993), and Canizares (2003) all have taken home the trophy in the past 39 seasons. No other program can top the Sun Devils' six NCAA champions since 1979, as only Oklahoma State (six), Illinois (two), Stanford (two), UNLV (two) and Clemson (two) have had multiple winners in that time.
THE FORMAT: The 2022 NCAA Championships will see the team champion determined via match play for the 13th straight time, as 2009 was the first time the winner wasn't awarded by total strokes since 1965. The top 15 teams after 54 holes of stroke play will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match play competition and the 72-hole stroke play individual champion. The top eight teams after 72 holes of play will compete in match play quarterfinals and semifinals on Tuesday, May 31. The championship match is set for Wednesday, June 1.
CHAMPS FROM THE PAC-12: Pac-12 teams ASU (1990, 1996), Cal (2004), Stanford (2019, 2007 and 1994), UCLA (2008) and Oregon (2016) have won NCAA men's golf titles in the past 30 years. Other Pac-12 title years are are: Stanford (1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1953), UCLA (1988) and Arizona (1992).
MEDALISTS FROM ASU/PAC-12: ASU has had four NCAA medalists on six occasions: Jim Carter (1983), Phil Mickelson (1989, 1990, 1992), Todd Demsey (1993) and Alejandro Canizares (2003). Other Pac-12 winners include: Frank Tatum Jr. of Stanford (1942), Scott Simpson of USC (1976 and 1977), Ron Commans of USC (1981), Tiger Woods of Stanford (1996), James Lepp of Washington (2005), Jamie Lovemark of USC (2007), Kevin Chappell of UCLA (2008), Max Homa of California (2013), Cameron Wilson of Stanford (2014) and Aaron Wise of Oregon (2016).
NCAA CHAMPIONS: A look at the schools that have produced the most NCAA individual champions and the year the most recent champion took home the title.
NCAA MEN'S GOLF MEDALISTS BY SCHOOL
13-Yale, Tom Aycock, 1929
9-Oklahoma State, Matthew Wolff, 2019
8-Harvard, J.W. Hubbell, 1916
8-Houston, Billy Ray Brown, 1982
7-Princeton, G.T. Dunlap, 1931
6-Arizona State, Alejandro Canizares, 2003
6-Texas, Justin Leonard, 1994
SIX TITLES: Dating to when ASU joined the Pac-10 in 1978-79, no school in the nation has had more NCAA individual champions than Arizona State's six. Oklahoma State also has had six winners in that time, while Illinois, UNLV and Stanford have had two each.
SUN DEVIL NCAA TOP-10 FINISHES (1983-PRESENT) BY YEAR
Ryggs Johnston (So.), 3rd/2022 (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Cameron Sisk (Jr.), 8th/2022 (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Chun An Yu (Jr.), 3rd/2019 (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Jon Rahm (Sr.), T3rd/2016 (Eugene, Ore.)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), T2nd/2013 (Atlanta, Ga.)
Jesper Kennegard (So.), T9th/2009 (Toledo, Ohio)
Alejandro Canizares (Fr.) 1st/2003 (Stillwater, Okla.)
Chez Reavie (Jr.), 9th/2003 (Stillwater, Okla.)
Chez Reavie (Fr.), T4th/2001 (Durham, N.C.)
Paul Casey (So.), 4th/1999 (Chaska, Minn.)
Darren Angel (Jr.), T7th/1998 (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Scott Johnson (Sr.), T10th/1997 (Chicago, Ill.)
Chris Hanell (Sr.), T10th/1997 (Chicago, Ill.)
Darren Angel (Fr.), T3rd/1996 (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Joey Snyder (Jr.), T5th/1995 (Columbus, Ohio)
Scott Johnson (So.), T8th/1995 (Columbus, Ohio
Todd Demsey (Jr.), T7th/1994 (Dallas, Texas)
Chris Hanell (Fr.), T10th/1994 (Dallas, Texas)
Todd Demsey (So.), 1st/1993 (Lexington, Ky.)
Phil Mickelson (Sr.), 1st/1992 (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Phil Mickelson (Jr.), T4th/1991 (Pebble Beach, Calif.)
Phil Mickelson (So.), 1st/1990 (Tarpon Springs, Fla.)
Phil Mickelson (Fr.), 1st/1989 (Edmond, Okla.)
Billy Mayfair (Sr.), T9th/1988 (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Jim Carter (Jr.), 1st/1983 (Fresno, Calif.)
SUN DEVIL NCAA FINISHES YEAR-BY-YEAR
PAC-12/10 ERA (1978-79 TO PRESENT
2021: T-3rd (1-1 in match play)
2019: 16th
2018: T-13th
2017: 16th
2016: 9th
2015: T-24th
2014: DNC
2013: T-5th (0-1 match play)
2012: DNC
2011: 18th
2010: T-8th
2009: T-5th (0-1 match play)
2008: T-17th
2007: T-18th
2006: 11th
2005: T-11th
2004: T-21st
2003: 6th
2002: DNC
2001: 6th
2000: T-25th
1999: 5th
1998: 5th
1997: T-5th
1996: 1st
1995: 4th
1994: T-9th
1993: 6th
1992: 2nd
1991: 3rd
1990: 1st
1989: 5th
1988: 10th
1987: 16th
1986: 8th
1985: 11th
1984: 9th
1983: DNC
1982: 3rd
1981: 5th
1980: T-20th
1979: 8th
SUN DEVIL NCAA TOP-10 FINISHES (1983-PRESENT) BY PLACE
Alejandro Canizares (Fr.) 1st/2003 (Stillwater, Okla.)
Todd Demsey (So.), 1st/1993 (Lexington, Ky.)
Phil Mickelson (Sr.), 1st/1992 (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Phil Mickelson (So.), 1st/1990 (Tarpon Springs, Fla.)
Phil Mickelson (Fr.), 1st/1989 (Edmond, Okla.)
Jim Carter (Jr.), 1st/1983 (Fresno, Calif.)
Jon Rahm (Fr.), T2nd/2013 (Atlanta, Ga.)
Ryggs Johnston (So.) 3rd/2021 (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Chun An Yu (Jr.), 3rd/2019 (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Jon Rahm (Sr.), T3rd/2016 (Eugene, Ore.)
Darren Angel (Fr.), T3rd/1996 (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Chez Reavie (Fr.), T4th/2001 (Durham, N.C.)
Paul Casey (So.), 4th/1999 (Chaska, Minn.)
Phil Mickelson (Jr.), T4th/1991 (Pebble Beach, Calif.)
Joey Snyder (Jr.), T5th/1995 (Columbus, Ohio)
Darren Angel (Jr.), T7th/1998 (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Todd Demsey (Jr.), T7th/1994 (Dallas, Texas)
Cameron Sisk (Jr.), 8th/2021 (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Scott Johnson (So.), T8th/1995 (Columbus, Ohio
Jesper Kennegard (So.), T9th/2009 (Toledo, Ohio)
Chez Reavie (Jr.), 9th/2003 (Stillwater, Okla.)
Billy Mayfair (Sr.), T9th/1988 (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Scott Johnson (Sr.), T10th/1997 (Chicago, Ill.)
Chris Hanell (Sr.), T10th/1997 (Chicago, Ill.)
Chris Hanell (Fr.), T10th/1994 (Dallas, Texas)
CAREER PAR OR BETTER ROUNDS
117, Jon Rahm (2012-16/165 rounds)
104, Mason Andersen (2017-22/169 rounds)
103, Chun An Yu (2016-21/151 rounds)
94, Alejandro Canizares (2002-06/152 rounds)
CAREER ROUNDS
185, Scott Johnson (1993-97)
179, Chris Hanell (1993-97)
169, Mason Andersen (2017-22)
165, Jon Rahm (2012-16)
CAREER BIRDIES
671, Jon Rahm (2012-16/165 rounds)
624, Mason Andersen (2017-22/169 rounds)
586, Chun An Yu (2016-21/151 rounds)
CAREER EAGLES
39, Jon Rahm (2012-16/165 rounds)
26, Alex del Rey (2016-20/132 rounds)
24, Mason Andersen (2017-22/169 rounds)