TEMPE - Sun Devil Women's Golf hosts the 50th edition of the PING/ASU Invitational, taking place at Papago Golf Club.
The three-day, stroke play event will run Friday-Sunday with 17 teams competing for the PING/ASU Invitational Title. No. 11 Arizona State looks to defend their crown, as they have won the past two team championships. Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team will go head-to-head with several national contenders in search of the program's 23rd overall PING/ASU Team Title.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The PING/ASU Invitational is free and open to the public. Don't miss a chance to check out the nation's No. 11 team in action. Make sure to stop by Papago Golf Club Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as Arizona State will compete starting in the morning each day. On Friday, the Sun Devils tee-off at 8:00 AM MST on Hole 1. Tee-times for the remainder of the tournament will be determined based on scoring.
COACH'S CORNER
"We will be ready to go and look forward to hosting PING/ASU Invitational," Coach Farr-Kaye mentioned. "So many talented teams and golfers are coming to Papago once again and it will be another tough test."
"This will be a great trial run for us as we will host the Pac-12 Championships in April," Coach Farr-Kaye added. "We are excited to be able to compete in front of our home fans so many times this Spring."
LAST TIME OUT
No. 11 Arizona State hosted the first-ever Cactus Cup at Papago Golf Club over the past two days. The event pitted four of the Top-11 teams in the nation against each other in a Match Play format. The Sun Devils continued their incredible run in the Spring, more than holding their own with some of the prime contenders for the NCAA Championship.
Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team finished in second place by recording 9.5 points and winning nine matches, totals that were both just behind No. 8 Texas. They finished the Cactus Cup in impressive fashion, knocking off previously undefeated Texas. After dropping the opening two matches, Arizona State won the final four matches to secure the overall victory against the Longhorns 4-2.
Amanda Linner led the way individually, one of only three golfers to go 3-0 at the Cactus Cup. Joining her in securing victories today to help ASU beat Texas were Grace Summerhays and Calynne Rosholt, who each moved to 2-1 at the event. Paula Schulz-Hanssen earned her first victory and clinched the match with a win over Bentley Cotton.
THE COMPETITION
It would be hard to find a more competitive field than the one Coach Farr-Kaye and Coach Estill put together for the 2023 PING/ASU Invitational. Three of the Top-10 and seven of the Top-15 teams in the nation will play at Papago Golf Club. In total, 11 of the Top-40 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings are in Phoenix this weekend.
There is also plenty of star power at the PING/ASU Invitational, making this one of the most intriguing races for the individual title. 11 of the Top-50 golfers in the Golfstat Individual rankings will be in the field, including Arizona State's Ashley Menne (No. 37). A total of 26 of the Top-100 golfers will be at the PING/ASU Invitational.
PING/ASU INVITATIONAL FIELD (by Golfstat ranking)
No. 5 Oregon
No. 6 Mississippi State
No. 8 Texas
No. 11 Arizona State
No. 13 USC
No. 14 Baylor
No. 15 Arizona
No. 23 Northwestern
No. 33 Michigan
No. 35 Michigan State
No. 39 California
No. 42 New Mexico
No. 53 Kansas
No. 57 Oregon State
No. 64 Washington
No. 78 Colorado
No. 96 Washington State
THE FORMAT
The PING/ASU Invitational is three rounds of stroke play, with a round taking place each day Friday through Sunday. An individual and team champion crowned after 54 holes. Papago Golf Course is set up as a Par 72 at 6,543 yards.
THE LINEUP
Arizona State boasts one 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 seven individuals into the PING/ASU Invitational as the host school. Earning a spot in the lineup was still a challenge, with a spot in the lineup 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) start out the lineup. A pair of freshmen will make their PING/ASU debuts as Beth Coulter (No. 3) and Paula Schulz-Hanssen (No. 4) each earned a counting spot. Calynne Rosholt rounds out the lineup as the No. 5 golfer, giving Arizona State one of the most formidable five in the field. Amanda Linner and Breyana Matthews will each compete as individuals and will be eligible for the Individual Title.
TEE TIMES (MST)
Arizona State will begin the first round of the PING/ASU Invitational Friday morning at 8:00 AM MST.
THE COURSE
Originally built in 1963, Papago Golf Club was one of the original Valley golf courses and has been an asset to the Phoenix public-golf community. Designed by well-known and esteemed golf course architect William Francis (Billy) Bell. The course provides spectacular views of Phoenix from its unique, strategic setting at the base of Papago Buttes. Despite its convenient central location, golfers experience a setting rich with the native elements that make Arizona a unique state.
The home of Sun Devil Men's and Women's Golf was named the Arizona Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Arizona in 2021. The annual host venue of both the ASU/PING Invitational and Thunderbird Collegiate has long been considered one of the top courses in the state, but now has earned the official title after being crowned by the NGCOA last year. The 2023 Pac-12 Women's Golf Championships April 17-19 will be played at Papago Golf Club, as Arizona State hosts for the first time since 2011.
HISTORY AT PING/ASU INVITATIONAL
This is the 50th edition of the PING/ASU Invitational, which has developed a reputation as one of the toughest fields in the Spring women's golf season. The first 45 were at Karsten Golf Course, with the past four taking place at Papago Golf Club. It represents a prime opportunity for the top teams in the nation to get a taste of the intensity of postseason golf leading up to the conference champions.
Arizona State has won the most event titles, claiming the team championship at PING/ASU an incredible 22 times. This included the 2021 & 2022 versions, as they look to win a third consecutive PING/ASU title for fifth time in program history. They last did so when Linda Vollstedt's team won five straight titles from 1991-1996. ASU also won the title in 2017 on their way to a National Championship.
The Maroon & Gold also boast the most individual medalists in tournament history, with Sun Devils earning the crown 17 times. This includes Alexandra Forsterling last year. Forsterling (-9/207) had to beat out teammate Ashley Menne for the title, as Arizona State finished 1-2 in the final player standings. She became the first Sun Devil to win at PING/ASU since Roberta Liti back in 2017. Some of the top scores in program history have come at PING/ASU, with Monica Vaughn leading the way with a historic 64 (-8) in the first round of the 2017 version.
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 PING/ASU Invitational.
TEAM RANKINGS (AS OF 3/22)
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. 23 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-110 according in at least one major national poll.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (AS OF 3/22)
Ashley Menne: 23 (Golfweek), 37 (Golfstat)
Paula Schulz-Hanssen: 27 (Golfweek), 80 (Golfstat)
Grace Summerhays: 97 (Golfweek), 87 (Golfstat)
Beth Coulter: 88 (Golfstat), 110 (Golfweek)
2023 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona State 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 PING/ASU Invitational 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).
The three-day, stroke play event will run Friday-Sunday with 17 teams competing for the PING/ASU Invitational Title. No. 11 Arizona State looks to defend their crown, as they have won the past two team championships. Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team will go head-to-head with several national contenders in search of the program's 23rd overall PING/ASU Team Title.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The PING/ASU Invitational is free and open to the public. Don't miss a chance to check out the nation's No. 11 team in action. Make sure to stop by Papago Golf Club Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as Arizona State will compete starting in the morning each day. On Friday, the Sun Devils tee-off at 8:00 AM MST on Hole 1. Tee-times for the remainder of the tournament will be determined based on scoring.
COACH'S CORNER
"We will be ready to go and look forward to hosting PING/ASU Invitational," Coach Farr-Kaye mentioned. "So many talented teams and golfers are coming to Papago once again and it will be another tough test."
"This will be a great trial run for us as we will host the Pac-12 Championships in April," Coach Farr-Kaye added. "We are excited to be able to compete in front of our home fans so many times this Spring."
LAST TIME OUT
No. 11 Arizona State hosted the first-ever Cactus Cup at Papago Golf Club over the past two days. The event pitted four of the Top-11 teams in the nation against each other in a Match Play format. The Sun Devils continued their incredible run in the Spring, more than holding their own with some of the prime contenders for the NCAA Championship.
Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team finished in second place by recording 9.5 points and winning nine matches, totals that were both just behind No. 8 Texas. They finished the Cactus Cup in impressive fashion, knocking off previously undefeated Texas. After dropping the opening two matches, Arizona State won the final four matches to secure the overall victory against the Longhorns 4-2.
Amanda Linner led the way individually, one of only three golfers to go 3-0 at the Cactus Cup. Joining her in securing victories today to help ASU beat Texas were Grace Summerhays and Calynne Rosholt, who each moved to 2-1 at the event. Paula Schulz-Hanssen earned her first victory and clinched the match with a win over Bentley Cotton.
THE COMPETITION
It would be hard to find a more competitive field than the one Coach Farr-Kaye and Coach Estill put together for the 2023 PING/ASU Invitational. Three of the Top-10 and seven of the Top-15 teams in the nation will play at Papago Golf Club. In total, 11 of the Top-40 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings are in Phoenix this weekend.
There is also plenty of star power at the PING/ASU Invitational, making this one of the most intriguing races for the individual title. 11 of the Top-50 golfers in the Golfstat Individual rankings will be in the field, including Arizona State's Ashley Menne (No. 37). A total of 26 of the Top-100 golfers will be at the PING/ASU Invitational.
PING/ASU INVITATIONAL FIELD (by Golfstat ranking)
No. 5 Oregon
No. 6 Mississippi State
No. 8 Texas
No. 11 Arizona State
No. 13 USC
No. 14 Baylor
No. 15 Arizona
No. 23 Northwestern
No. 33 Michigan
No. 35 Michigan State
No. 39 California
No. 42 New Mexico
No. 53 Kansas
No. 57 Oregon State
No. 64 Washington
No. 78 Colorado
No. 96 Washington State
THE FORMAT
The PING/ASU Invitational is three rounds of stroke play, with a round taking place each day Friday through Sunday. An individual and team champion crowned after 54 holes. Papago Golf Course is set up as a Par 72 at 6,543 yards.
THE LINEUP
Arizona State boasts one 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 seven individuals into the PING/ASU Invitational as the host school. Earning a spot in the lineup was still a challenge, with a spot in the lineup 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) start out the lineup. A pair of freshmen will make their PING/ASU debuts as Beth Coulter (No. 3) and Paula Schulz-Hanssen (No. 4) each earned a counting spot. Calynne Rosholt rounds out the lineup as the No. 5 golfer, giving Arizona State one of the most formidable five in the field. Amanda Linner and Breyana Matthews will each compete as individuals and will be eligible for the Individual Title.
TEE TIMES (MST)
Arizona State will begin the first round of the PING/ASU Invitational Friday morning at 8:00 AM MST.
| PAIRING | Arizona State, Northwestern, Oregon |
| HOLE | 1 |
| TIME (MST) | GOLFER |
| 8:00 AM | Calynne Rosholt |
| 8:09 AM | Paula Schulz-Hanssen |
| 8:18 AM | Beth Coulter |
| 8:27 AM | Grace Summerhays |
| 8:36 AM | Ashley Menne |
| HOLE | 10 |
| 9:12 AM | Amanda Linner |
| 9:21 AM | Breyana Matthews |
THE COURSE
Originally built in 1963, Papago Golf Club was one of the original Valley golf courses and has been an asset to the Phoenix public-golf community. Designed by well-known and esteemed golf course architect William Francis (Billy) Bell. The course provides spectacular views of Phoenix from its unique, strategic setting at the base of Papago Buttes. Despite its convenient central location, golfers experience a setting rich with the native elements that make Arizona a unique state.
The home of Sun Devil Men's and Women's Golf was named the Arizona Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Arizona in 2021. The annual host venue of both the ASU/PING Invitational and Thunderbird Collegiate has long been considered one of the top courses in the state, but now has earned the official title after being crowned by the NGCOA last year. The 2023 Pac-12 Women's Golf Championships April 17-19 will be played at Papago Golf Club, as Arizona State hosts for the first time since 2011.
HISTORY AT PING/ASU INVITATIONAL
This is the 50th edition of the PING/ASU Invitational, which has developed a reputation as one of the toughest fields in the Spring women's golf season. The first 45 were at Karsten Golf Course, with the past four taking place at Papago Golf Club. It represents a prime opportunity for the top teams in the nation to get a taste of the intensity of postseason golf leading up to the conference champions.
Arizona State has won the most event titles, claiming the team championship at PING/ASU an incredible 22 times. This included the 2021 & 2022 versions, as they look to win a third consecutive PING/ASU title for fifth time in program history. They last did so when Linda Vollstedt's team won five straight titles from 1991-1996. ASU also won the title in 2017 on their way to a National Championship.
The Maroon & Gold also boast the most individual medalists in tournament history, with Sun Devils earning the crown 17 times. This includes Alexandra Forsterling last year. Forsterling (-9/207) had to beat out teammate Ashley Menne for the title, as Arizona State finished 1-2 in the final player standings. She became the first Sun Devil to win at PING/ASU since Roberta Liti back in 2017. Some of the top scores in program history have come at PING/ASU, with Monica Vaughn leading the way with a historic 64 (-8) in the first round of the 2017 version.
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 PING/ASU Invitational.
TEAM RANKINGS (AS OF 3/22)
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. 23 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-110 according in at least one major national poll.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (AS OF 3/22)
Ashley Menne: 23 (Golfweek), 37 (Golfstat)
Paula Schulz-Hanssen: 27 (Golfweek), 80 (Golfstat)
Grace Summerhays: 97 (Golfweek), 87 (Golfstat)
Beth Coulter: 88 (Golfstat), 110 (Golfweek)
2023 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona State 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 PING/ASU Invitational 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).