Wilimington, NC – After 36 holes, Sun Devil Men's Golf are in third at The Williams Cup Monday, carding a 9-over, 585 (282-303), finishing only behind Auburn and North Carolina, which finished at 16-under, 560 (274-286). Josele Ballester and Preston Summerhays' are inside the top-15 at 1-over, 145 going into the final round tomorrow. The team has three inside the top-20 as they'll attempt to make a final round push into red figures on Tuesday. In the Pacific Northwest, Nicholas Prieto is one stroke behind the leader at the Oregon State Invitational at 4-under, 138 (68-70). Prieto is playing alongside Connor Williams and Anawin Pikulthong as individuals.
Ballester finished his day with five birdies in his second round, with four occurring on the back-9 to push him to an even-par, 72 finish in his second round. In the morning he carded a 1-over 73 in his opening round and managed to birdie the 562 yard, par-5 in both rounds. Summerhays' grinded out his day to finish alongside Ballester in a tie for 13th. The senior fired a bogey free back-9 in his first round with three birdies to card a 3-under, 69, with five birdies total in his first 18 holes. In the second round he went even-par on his opening nine holes and birdied the long 580 yard, par-5 to end his day with a 4-over, 76. The senior is one of seven players to go 3-under or better on the par 5's, which are all 550 yards or longer.
Sophomore Luke Potter is just outside the top-15 after two rounds sitting at 2-over, 146 (73-73) after battling tough course conditions all day. He opened his day with three birdies on the front nine and closed his first round with seven straight pars for a round of 73 (+1). He would then post a round of 73 in his second round, with four birdies in his first 12 holes. Ryggs Johnston sits at 8-over, 152 (70-82) but posted a round of 2-under, 70 in his opening round that included three birdies in a 14 hole span. Gabe Salvanera sits at 10-over, 154 (70-84) after two rounds.
Michael Mjaaseth and Fifa Laopakee competed in North Carolina as individuals. Mjaaseth finished at 8-over, 152 (72-80) tied with Johnston. Laopakee is currently in sole position in 25th at 5-over, 149 (75-74) and managed to move up 10 positions in his second round and having one birdie in his first nine holes after starting on hole 14. In his opening round he carded three straight birdies to shoot 3-over, 75.
In Corvallis, Prieto was one of seven golfers to shoot both of his rounds at par or better and leads the field on par-4 scoring average at 3.86, going 3-under on such holes during the 36 hole stretch. The freshman was able to finish his first round on three straight birdies, and wrapped up his second round going 13 straight holes without carding a bogey, he also birdied three holes to be behind Oregon State's Jackson Lake who is at 5-under.
Williams was able to shoot an even-par, 71 in his opening round, keeping a clean sheet on the entirely of his back nine, carding three birdies in his first 18 holes. Then in his second round he shot a 3-over, 74. The freshman is currently inside the top-20 and will attempt to get into red figures as he's 2-over, 144 (71-73) for the tournament. Pikulthong finished at 7-over, 149 (74-75) through his two rounds but managed to birdie two of his last five holes to carry momentum into the final round.
The Sun Devils will look to make a move up the leader board and into red figures as they'll be a part of the final group tomorrow with Salvanera teeing off at 6:20 a.m. MST and Summerhays' teeing off at 7:00 a.m. MST at The Williams Cup. Prieto, Williams and Pikulthong all will tee off at 8:30 a.m MST on holes 14, 15 and 16 as a shotgun start. Keep following Sun Devil Men's Golf on Twitter/X and Instagram for all the latest news and highlights.
THE WILLIAMS CUP
EAGLE POINT GOLF CLUB
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
OCT. 9-10, 2023/PAR 72/7,364 YARDS
TEAMS (10)/ROUND 1 & 2 SCORES:
North Carolina 274-286=580/-16
Auburn 290-285=575/-1
Arizona State 282-303=585/+9
Missouri 295-297=592/+16
North Florida 292-300=592/+16
N.C. State 297-295=592/+16
Louisville 292-303=595/+19
Florida 297-299=596/+20
UNC Wilmington 299-312=611/+35
Elon 304-314=618/+42
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. David Ford, North Carolina 66-70=136/-8
T13. Josele Ballester, Arizona State 73-72=145/+1
T13. Preston Summerhays, Arizona State 69-76=145/+1
T16. Luke Potter, Arizona State 73-73=146/+2
T32. Ryggs Johnston, Arizona State 70-82=152/+8
T42. Gabe Salvanera, Arizona State 70-84=154/+10
25. Fifa Laopakdee, Arizona State 75-74=149/+5
T32. Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State 72-80=152/+8
OREGON STATE INVITATIONAL
1. Jackson Lake, Oregon State, 66-71=137/-5
2. Nicholas Prieto, Arizona State, 68-70=138/-4
T17. Connor Williams, Arizona State, 71-73=144/+2
T56. Anawin Pikulthong, Arizona State, 74-75=149/+7
Ballester finished his day with five birdies in his second round, with four occurring on the back-9 to push him to an even-par, 72 finish in his second round. In the morning he carded a 1-over 73 in his opening round and managed to birdie the 562 yard, par-5 in both rounds. Summerhays' grinded out his day to finish alongside Ballester in a tie for 13th. The senior fired a bogey free back-9 in his first round with three birdies to card a 3-under, 69, with five birdies total in his first 18 holes. In the second round he went even-par on his opening nine holes and birdied the long 580 yard, par-5 to end his day with a 4-over, 76. The senior is one of seven players to go 3-under or better on the par 5's, which are all 550 yards or longer.
Sophomore Luke Potter is just outside the top-15 after two rounds sitting at 2-over, 146 (73-73) after battling tough course conditions all day. He opened his day with three birdies on the front nine and closed his first round with seven straight pars for a round of 73 (+1). He would then post a round of 73 in his second round, with four birdies in his first 12 holes. Ryggs Johnston sits at 8-over, 152 (70-82) but posted a round of 2-under, 70 in his opening round that included three birdies in a 14 hole span. Gabe Salvanera sits at 10-over, 154 (70-84) after two rounds.
Michael Mjaaseth and Fifa Laopakee competed in North Carolina as individuals. Mjaaseth finished at 8-over, 152 (72-80) tied with Johnston. Laopakee is currently in sole position in 25th at 5-over, 149 (75-74) and managed to move up 10 positions in his second round and having one birdie in his first nine holes after starting on hole 14. In his opening round he carded three straight birdies to shoot 3-over, 75.
In Corvallis, Prieto was one of seven golfers to shoot both of his rounds at par or better and leads the field on par-4 scoring average at 3.86, going 3-under on such holes during the 36 hole stretch. The freshman was able to finish his first round on three straight birdies, and wrapped up his second round going 13 straight holes without carding a bogey, he also birdied three holes to be behind Oregon State's Jackson Lake who is at 5-under.
Williams was able to shoot an even-par, 71 in his opening round, keeping a clean sheet on the entirely of his back nine, carding three birdies in his first 18 holes. Then in his second round he shot a 3-over, 74. The freshman is currently inside the top-20 and will attempt to get into red figures as he's 2-over, 144 (71-73) for the tournament. Pikulthong finished at 7-over, 149 (74-75) through his two rounds but managed to birdie two of his last five holes to carry momentum into the final round.
The Sun Devils will look to make a move up the leader board and into red figures as they'll be a part of the final group tomorrow with Salvanera teeing off at 6:20 a.m. MST and Summerhays' teeing off at 7:00 a.m. MST at The Williams Cup. Prieto, Williams and Pikulthong all will tee off at 8:30 a.m MST on holes 14, 15 and 16 as a shotgun start. Keep following Sun Devil Men's Golf on Twitter/X and Instagram for all the latest news and highlights.
THE WILLIAMS CUP
EAGLE POINT GOLF CLUB
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
OCT. 9-10, 2023/PAR 72/7,364 YARDS
TEAMS (10)/ROUND 1 & 2 SCORES:
North Carolina 274-286=580/-16
Auburn 290-285=575/-1
Arizona State 282-303=585/+9
Missouri 295-297=592/+16
North Florida 292-300=592/+16
N.C. State 297-295=592/+16
Louisville 292-303=595/+19
Florida 297-299=596/+20
UNC Wilmington 299-312=611/+35
Elon 304-314=618/+42
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. David Ford, North Carolina 66-70=136/-8
T13. Josele Ballester, Arizona State 73-72=145/+1
T13. Preston Summerhays, Arizona State 69-76=145/+1
T16. Luke Potter, Arizona State 73-73=146/+2
T32. Ryggs Johnston, Arizona State 70-82=152/+8
T42. Gabe Salvanera, Arizona State 70-84=154/+10
25. Fifa Laopakdee, Arizona State 75-74=149/+5
T32. Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State 72-80=152/+8
OREGON STATE INVITATIONAL
1. Jackson Lake, Oregon State, 66-71=137/-5
2. Nicholas Prieto, Arizona State, 68-70=138/-4
T17. Connor Williams, Arizona State, 71-73=144/+2
T56. Anawin Pikulthong, Arizona State, 74-75=149/+7