TEMPE, Ariz - Sun Devil Women's Golf gets ready to host the Cactus Cup, running March 13-14 at Papago Golf Club.
No. 11 Arizona State welcomes No. 4 South Carolina, No. 6 San Jose State, and No. 8 Texas in the Cactus Cup, a Match Play event hosted by the Sun Devils at their home golf course. Teams will compete in three matches in a round-robin fashion, with six individual matches between each side. Two rounds will be completed on Monday, with the final round taking place on Tuesday. At the end of the event, the winner of the most matches will be crowned the overall champion of the Cactus Cup. Live stats throughout the tournament can be found here.
COACH'S CORNER
"We are thrilled to be hosting the Cactus Cup at Papago Golf Club right before the PING/ASU Invitational," Coach Farr-Kaye reflected. "Some of the top-ranked teams in the country will be here. It is very possible for us to be facing teams that will here in May at the NCAA Championships."
LAST TIME OUT
Arizona State represented themselves extremely well as a part of the only televised regular season women's collegiate golf tournament on GOLF Channel, finishing sixth at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate to end February. At an event featuring 16 of the Top-46 and 14 of the Top-32 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings, Coach Farr-Kaye's team finished in sixth. Four of the five teams that finished ahead of them are ranked in the Top-10.
Three Sun Devils finished in the Top-25 of the individual race, led by Ashley Menne. Menne had the best round of any Sun Devil throughout the three days, delivering a 69 (-2) in round three. She made a jump up the standings for the second consecutive day, eventually finishing in a tie for 13th. Not far behind was freshman Paula Schulz-Hanssen, who continued her strong play by finishing tied for 16th. Fellow freshman Beth Coulter was the third Sun Devil in the Top-25 in a field that boasted 23 of the Top-52 and 41 of the Top-100 golfers in the latest Golfstat rankings.
THE COMPETITION
The Cactus Cup features four of the nation's Top-11 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings, making this one of the premiere events of the Spring. South Carolina leads with way at No. 4 in the nation, a team that ASU just competed with at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. No. 6 San Jose State and No. 8 Texas were both participants in NCAA Championship Match Play last year and will bring a loaded rosters to Tempe. Arizona State is the No. 11 team in the country, but still finds themselves as the lowest ranked team, an indication of the strength of this field.
Not only are their high-ranking teams at the Cactus Cup, the event will boast some of the top individual talent in the nation. 14 of the Top-100 golfers in the latest Golfstat rankings will be at Papago Golf Club. Of the 24 golfers competing in Match Play, 14 of them are in the Top-100. Arizona State and South Carolina lead the way with four golfers in the Top-100, while San Jose State and Texas each have three. Seven of the nation's Top-50 golfers will be in Tempe.
THE FORMAT
In the same way the NCAA Golf Championships are decided, the Cactus Cup will be a Match Play event. The four teams will compete in a round robin format, with each squad playing each other once. Two rounds will take place on Monday, March 13, while the final round follows on Tuesday, March 14. There are six individuals representing each team that will go head-to-head in six matches per round. The team who wins the most individual matches (best of out six) will win the overall matchup. Matches still even through 18 will end in a tie and 0.5 point will be awarded to each side. At the end of two days, the team that has the most matches won through the three rounds will be declared the overall champion of the Cactus Cup.
THE LINEUP
Arizona State boasts once of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country, making qualifying for the lineup extremely competitive. Unlike in past tournaments, the Sun Devils are able to enter six individuals into the Cactus Cup because of the Match Play format. Earning a spot in the lineup was still a challenge, with the order of the six determined by performance in qualifying. Two of the nation's top golfers lead the way, as match play veteran Ashley Menne (No. 1) and Grace Summerhays (No. 2) round out the lineup. Calynne Rosholt will be the No. 3 golfer, with Amanda Linner right behind her at No. 4. Two freshman round out the lineup, one that will be tested by some of the top golfers in the nation. Paula Schulz-Hanssen will play out of the No. 5 spot, while Beth Coulter occupies the No. 6 spot.
THE MATCHES
All 6 Sun Devils will begin their matches on Hole 1, with the groups playing in foursomes:
MORNING SESSION
7:00 AM MST - Beth Coulter (Arizona State) vs. Antonia Malate (San Jose State)
7:00 AM MST - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Arizona State) vs. Rebecca Gyllner (San Jose State)
7:39 AM MST - Amanda Linner (Arizona State) vs. Louisa Carlbom (San Jose State)
7:39 AM MST - Calynne Rosholt (Arizona State) vs. Jordyn Parr (San Jose State)
7:48 AM MST - Grace Summerhays (Arizona State) vs. Lucia Lopez-Ortega (San Jose State)
7:48 AM MST - Ashley Menne (Arizona State) vs. Kajsa Arwefjall (San Jose State)
AFTERNOON SESSION
12:27 PM MST - Beth Coulter (Arizona State) vs. Justine Fournand (South Carolina)
12:27 PM MST - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Arizona State) vs. Katherine Muzi (San Jose State)
12:38 PM MST - Amanda Linner (Arizona State) vs. Hannah Darling (San Jose State)
12:38 PM MST - Calynne Rosholt (Arizona State) vs. Mathilde Claisse (San Jose State)
12:45 PM MST - Grace Summerhays (Arizona State) vs. Louise Rydqvist (San Jose State)
12:45 PM MST- Ashley Menne (Arizona State) vs. Mia Lussand (San Jose State)
HISTORY IN MATCH PLAY
The Sun Devil Women's Golf program is no stranger to the Match Play format, enjoying plenty success in events of that nature over the years. None more significant than when Arizona State won the 2017 NCAA Women's Golf Championship over Northwestern, going 3-0 in Match Play on their way to the title. ASU also earned a berth in Match Play back at the 2021 NCAA Championship, where Ashley Menne won her matchup with Duke All-American Jaravee Boonchant. Coach Farr-Kaye has also prepared her team for the final postseason obstacle by playing several regular season Match Play events. That includes one this season, as ASU defeated Vanderbilt and Denver to open the Spring campaign back in January. During the Fall of the 2021-22 season, Arizona State played in the Nicklaus Cup, the inaugural version of an event that allowed the men's and women's golf teams from major programs to team up in Match Play competition.
SUN DEVILS IN THE RANKINGS
The Sun Devils have faced one of the nation's toughest schedules so far and still have managed to stay in the Top-25 all season. Golfweek has Arizona State at No. 10, with the WGCA and Golfstat slotting them at No. 11 in the latest rankings. ASU has already climbed several spots since the start of the Spring, making one of the biggest ascents of any team. Coach Farr-Kaye's team has a huge opportunity to move up in those rankings with another strong performance at the Cactus Cup.
TEAM RANKINGS (AS OF 3/11)
Golfweek/Sagarin: 10th
WGCA: 11th
Golfstat: 11th
Not only is the Maroon & Gold represent in the national team rankings, several Sun Devil individuals have made strong impressions so far. Ashley Menne is the No. 19 ranked golfer in the nation according to Golfweek, coming in as the highest ranked golfer on the team. Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Beth Coulter, and Grace Summerhays are also ranked in the Top-100 according in at least one major national poll.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (AS OF 3/11)
Ashley Menne: 19 (Golfweek), 38 (Golfstat)
Paula Schulz-Hanssen: 23 (Golfweek), 83 (Golfstat)
Grace Summerhays: 92 (Golfweek), 92 (Golfstat)
Beth Coulter: 93 (Golfstat), 108 (Golfweek)
2023 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona State Unviersity and the Thunderbirds will host the NCAA Men's and Women's Golf Championships for the third consecutive year, taking place at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale May 19-31. This is the final of successful three-year run as the host school of the most prestigious event in all of college golf. Don't miss your last chance to check out the top individuals and teams in the nation square off for the ultimate prize in your own backyard.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live scoring for the Cactus Cup will be provided by Golfstat at the following link. 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).
No. 11 Arizona State welcomes No. 4 South Carolina, No. 6 San Jose State, and No. 8 Texas in the Cactus Cup, a Match Play event hosted by the Sun Devils at their home golf course. Teams will compete in three matches in a round-robin fashion, with six individual matches between each side. Two rounds will be completed on Monday, with the final round taking place on Tuesday. At the end of the event, the winner of the most matches will be crowned the overall champion of the Cactus Cup. Live stats throughout the tournament can be found here.
COACH'S CORNER
"We are thrilled to be hosting the Cactus Cup at Papago Golf Club right before the PING/ASU Invitational," Coach Farr-Kaye reflected. "Some of the top-ranked teams in the country will be here. It is very possible for us to be facing teams that will here in May at the NCAA Championships."
LAST TIME OUT
Arizona State represented themselves extremely well as a part of the only televised regular season women's collegiate golf tournament on GOLF Channel, finishing sixth at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate to end February. At an event featuring 16 of the Top-46 and 14 of the Top-32 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings, Coach Farr-Kaye's team finished in sixth. Four of the five teams that finished ahead of them are ranked in the Top-10.
Three Sun Devils finished in the Top-25 of the individual race, led by Ashley Menne. Menne had the best round of any Sun Devil throughout the three days, delivering a 69 (-2) in round three. She made a jump up the standings for the second consecutive day, eventually finishing in a tie for 13th. Not far behind was freshman Paula Schulz-Hanssen, who continued her strong play by finishing tied for 16th. Fellow freshman Beth Coulter was the third Sun Devil in the Top-25 in a field that boasted 23 of the Top-52 and 41 of the Top-100 golfers in the latest Golfstat rankings.
THE COMPETITION
The Cactus Cup features four of the nation's Top-11 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings, making this one of the premiere events of the Spring. South Carolina leads with way at No. 4 in the nation, a team that ASU just competed with at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. No. 6 San Jose State and No. 8 Texas were both participants in NCAA Championship Match Play last year and will bring a loaded rosters to Tempe. Arizona State is the No. 11 team in the country, but still finds themselves as the lowest ranked team, an indication of the strength of this field.
Not only are their high-ranking teams at the Cactus Cup, the event will boast some of the top individual talent in the nation. 14 of the Top-100 golfers in the latest Golfstat rankings will be at Papago Golf Club. Of the 24 golfers competing in Match Play, 14 of them are in the Top-100. Arizona State and South Carolina lead the way with four golfers in the Top-100, while San Jose State and Texas each have three. Seven of the nation's Top-50 golfers will be in Tempe.
THE FORMAT
In the same way the NCAA Golf Championships are decided, the Cactus Cup will be a Match Play event. The four teams will compete in a round robin format, with each squad playing each other once. Two rounds will take place on Monday, March 13, while the final round follows on Tuesday, March 14. There are six individuals representing each team that will go head-to-head in six matches per round. The team who wins the most individual matches (best of out six) will win the overall matchup. Matches still even through 18 will end in a tie and 0.5 point will be awarded to each side. At the end of two days, the team that has the most matches won through the three rounds will be declared the overall champion of the Cactus Cup.
THE LINEUP
Arizona State boasts once of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country, making qualifying for the lineup extremely competitive. Unlike in past tournaments, the Sun Devils are able to enter six individuals into the Cactus Cup because of the Match Play format. Earning a spot in the lineup was still a challenge, with the order of the six determined by performance in qualifying. Two of the nation's top golfers lead the way, as match play veteran Ashley Menne (No. 1) and Grace Summerhays (No. 2) round out the lineup. Calynne Rosholt will be the No. 3 golfer, with Amanda Linner right behind her at No. 4. Two freshman round out the lineup, one that will be tested by some of the top golfers in the nation. Paula Schulz-Hanssen will play out of the No. 5 spot, while Beth Coulter occupies the No. 6 spot.
THE MATCHES
All 6 Sun Devils will begin their matches on Hole 1, with the groups playing in foursomes:
MORNING SESSION
7:00 AM MST - Beth Coulter (Arizona State) vs. Antonia Malate (San Jose State)
7:00 AM MST - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Arizona State) vs. Rebecca Gyllner (San Jose State)
7:39 AM MST - Amanda Linner (Arizona State) vs. Louisa Carlbom (San Jose State)
7:39 AM MST - Calynne Rosholt (Arizona State) vs. Jordyn Parr (San Jose State)
7:48 AM MST - Grace Summerhays (Arizona State) vs. Lucia Lopez-Ortega (San Jose State)
7:48 AM MST - Ashley Menne (Arizona State) vs. Kajsa Arwefjall (San Jose State)
AFTERNOON SESSION
12:27 PM MST - Beth Coulter (Arizona State) vs. Justine Fournand (South Carolina)
12:27 PM MST - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Arizona State) vs. Katherine Muzi (San Jose State)
12:38 PM MST - Amanda Linner (Arizona State) vs. Hannah Darling (San Jose State)
12:38 PM MST - Calynne Rosholt (Arizona State) vs. Mathilde Claisse (San Jose State)
12:45 PM MST - Grace Summerhays (Arizona State) vs. Louise Rydqvist (San Jose State)
12:45 PM MST- Ashley Menne (Arizona State) vs. Mia Lussand (San Jose State)
HISTORY IN MATCH PLAY
The Sun Devil Women's Golf program is no stranger to the Match Play format, enjoying plenty success in events of that nature over the years. None more significant than when Arizona State won the 2017 NCAA Women's Golf Championship over Northwestern, going 3-0 in Match Play on their way to the title. ASU also earned a berth in Match Play back at the 2021 NCAA Championship, where Ashley Menne won her matchup with Duke All-American Jaravee Boonchant. Coach Farr-Kaye has also prepared her team for the final postseason obstacle by playing several regular season Match Play events. That includes one this season, as ASU defeated Vanderbilt and Denver to open the Spring campaign back in January. During the Fall of the 2021-22 season, Arizona State played in the Nicklaus Cup, the inaugural version of an event that allowed the men's and women's golf teams from major programs to team up in Match Play competition.
SUN DEVILS IN THE RANKINGS
The Sun Devils have faced one of the nation's toughest schedules so far and still have managed to stay in the Top-25 all season. Golfweek has Arizona State at No. 10, with the WGCA and Golfstat slotting them at No. 11 in the latest rankings. ASU has already climbed several spots since the start of the Spring, making one of the biggest ascents of any team. Coach Farr-Kaye's team has a huge opportunity to move up in those rankings with another strong performance at the Cactus Cup.
TEAM RANKINGS (AS OF 3/11)
Golfweek/Sagarin: 10th
WGCA: 11th
Golfstat: 11th
Not only is the Maroon & Gold represent in the national team rankings, several Sun Devil individuals have made strong impressions so far. Ashley Menne is the No. 19 ranked golfer in the nation according to Golfweek, coming in as the highest ranked golfer on the team. Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Beth Coulter, and Grace Summerhays are also ranked in the Top-100 according in at least one major national poll.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (AS OF 3/11)
Ashley Menne: 19 (Golfweek), 38 (Golfstat)
Paula Schulz-Hanssen: 23 (Golfweek), 83 (Golfstat)
Grace Summerhays: 92 (Golfweek), 92 (Golfstat)
Beth Coulter: 93 (Golfstat), 108 (Golfweek)
2023 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona State Unviersity and the Thunderbirds will host the NCAA Men's and Women's Golf Championships for the third consecutive year, taking place at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale May 19-31. This is the final of successful three-year run as the host school of the most prestigious event in all of college golf. Don't miss your last chance to check out the top individuals and teams in the nation square off for the ultimate prize in your own backyard.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live scoring for the Cactus Cup will be provided by Golfstat at the following link. 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).