The Arizona State men's golf is in fifth after 18 holes Friday at the Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club -- North Course (par 70/,7310 yards). ASU shot 5-over 280, and is nine shots back of leader Texas.
OLYMPIA FIELDS COUNTRY CLUB/FIGHTING ILLINI INVITE
OLYMPIA FIELD COUNTRY CLUB
OLYMPIA FIELD, IL
SEPT. 15-17
TEAMS (15)
Texas 276/-4
Georgia Tech 277/-3
North Carolina 281/+1
Florida State 283/+3
Arizona State 285/+5
Illinois 285/+5
Arizona 286/+6
Florida 286/+6
Pepperdine 286/+6
Purdue 286/+6
Baylor 287/+7
Stanford 287/+7
Oklahoma State 290/+10
Michigan State 295/+15
INDIVIDUALS
1. Christo Lamprecht, Georgia Tech 65/-5
1. Karl Vilips, Stanford 65/-5
T10. Josele Ballester, ASU 69/-1
T25. Luke Potter, ASU 71/+1
T35. Ryggs Johnston, ASU 72/+2
T42. Michael Mjaaseth, ASU 73/+3
T57. Fifa Laopakdee, ASU 74/+4
SUN DEVILS PLAY SANS SUMMERHAYS
The Sun Devils are playing the tournament without a recent champ as Preston Summerhays out in Napa playing in the Fortinet Championship, which he earned by winning last weekend's Sahaleee Players Championship. He made the cut and will advance to the weekend
THE LINEUP
The Sun Devils are playing sophomore Luke Potter, graduate Ryggs Johnston, junior Josele Ballester, newcomer FifaLaopakdee and sophomore Michael Mjaaseth to the tee boxes this weekend.
TEAMS
ASU played with Pepperdine and Michigan State in the first round. Other teams in the field are Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, Purdue, Stanford and Texas.
BOLD BALLESTER
Jose Ballester shot 3-under 69 in the first round and tied for tenth. The 2023 European Amateur Champion tied for 14th at the Sahalee Players Championship. Ballester entered this year with a career 70.80 scoring average in 64 rounds (21 tournaments), with 20 rounds in the 60s and 37 at par or better.
FIFA!
While the team was playing at the Sahalee Players Championship in Washington last weekend, freshman Fifa Laopakdee was turning heads at the Maui Jim Individual Invitational at Legend Trail in Scottsdale. He shot a 15-under 201 (70-64-67) in his debut to earn medalist honors by three strokes in the 35-player field, while Connor Wiliams finished eighth at 8-under 208 (69-69-70). Nicholas Prieto tied for 16th at 4-under 212 (71-70-71), while Kiko Coelho tied for 25th at 1-over 217 (71-70-76).
ICYMI: Freshman Fifa Laopakdee won the Maui Jim Individual at Legend Trail Golf Club last weekend. Laopakdee shot 15-under 201 (70-64-67) to earn medalist honors in the 35-man event...so welcome to the lineup in Illinois this weekend!!! pic.twitter.com/vUZx3n095a
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) September 15, 2023
COURSE HISTORY
Now in its 17th season, the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational welcomes the nation's top teams to the famed Olympia Fields Country Club. The club is home to several premier events, having played host to the U.S. Amateur (2015), two U.S. Opens (1928, 2003), two PGA Championships (1925, 1961), a U.S. Senior Open (1997), plus five Western Opens (1920, 1927, 1933, 1968, 1971) and the 2020 BMW Championship.
LAST TIME AT OLYMPIA FIELDS
The Sun Devils are looking for redemption as they return to Olympia Fields this weekend as last year at the Fighting Illini Invitational they placed fourth overall with Ryggs Johnston finishing fourth individually. The team is looking to beat their score of 844 (285-273-286) from last year hoping to cinch a victory.
LAST WEEKEND
It was an exciting start to the season up in Sammamish, WA, as Preston Summerhays finished first overall at the Sahalee Players Championship. Finishing 5-under, Summerhays won in a playoff to take home the title and a PGA chance in Napa. The Sun Devils finished second overall just eight shots behind Illinois.
PERSISTENT POTTER
Sophomore Luke Potter is also one to watch as he tied for 10th at the Sahalee Players Championship at 3-over 219 (70-76-73). During the 2022-2023 season, Potter finished tied for 26th with a total tournament score of 215 (72-70-73). During his freshman season, he played in 12 tournaments and posted a 71.00 stroke average.
RESILIENT RYGGS
Graduate student Ryggs Johnston has a veteran presence as he heads to the Fighting Illini Invitational, having played in this tournament three times and placing fourth during the 2022-2023 season. Finishing 5-under 205 (70-64-71), the door is open for Johnston to aim for the podium this time around. Johnston tied for 21st at 5-over last weekend in Washington.
FIGHTING FIFA
Freshman Fifa Laopakdee makes his second appearance as a Sun Devil this weekend at the Fighting Illini Invitational. Laopakdee is a two-time Thailand Amateur Open Champion and won back-to-back AJGA events in 2022.
MARVELOUS MJAASETH
Sophomore Michael Mjaaseth makes his return to Olympia Fields this weekend. He finished tied for 31st at last year's tournament with a total tournament score of 216 (74-68-74). Mjaaseth posted a Sun Devil freshman best stroke average of 70.72 and was Golfstat's fifth ranked freshmen.