Preston Summerhays combined consistency with clutch putts on the back-nine to win the individual and team titles at the Thunderbird Collegiate for No. 4/5 Arizona State Men's Golf.
The list of past Sun Devils to win the Thunderbird Invitational includes PGA Tour major champions – including the most recent Masters Champion Jon Rahm – US Amateur Champions, and a handful of NCAA champions.
That list now includes Scottsdale native Preston Summerhays.
SUN DEVIL INDIVIDUAL THUNDERBIRD COLLEGIATE WINNERS
Preston Summerhays - 2023
James Leow - 2022
Chun An Yu - 2019
Jon Rahm - 2016, 2015, 2014
Stephan Gross - 2009 (co-medalist)
Alejandro Canizares - 2003
Paul Casey - 2001
Jeff Quinney - 2000
Todd Demsey - 1995
Larry Barber - 1994
Phil Mickelson - 1992, 1991
Jim Carter - 1984
Mark Sollenberger - 1974
Summerhays finished the round five-under, including birdies on the final two holes, to give the Sun Devils (264-281-279=824/-28) a one-stroke victory over the University of Arizona. He started his back-nine with a birdie on 10 combined with an Arizona bogey, helping shift the momentum with the Sun Devils.
Summerhays finished the tournament at -13 (66-68-66=200/-13) and was one of two golfers in the field to shoot below a 70 in each of the three rounds in the tournament. He needed a mere 30-strokes on the back-nine.
"With everyone watching, you need someone to step up on the back-nine and Preston did," said Head Coach Matt Thurmond. "With everyone watching and following that group, we made the clutch putts at the end. It felt like everything was going Arizona's way early but I just tried to keep my energy up and make sure they knew we still had a chance."
ASU trailed by as many as seven strokes on the back-nine. They caught fire with 15 team birdies, including five from Summerhays and four from Michael Mjaaseth.
The Sun Devils headed into the final hole tied with Arizona after Summerhays hit a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
"I got off to a pretty slow start, even through nine, but got it going on the back," said Summerhays, "This event is going to play a big role in the events coming up. We've been good but haven't gotten our wins yet. I think we're peaking at the right time.
The clutch putt from Summerhays gave Sun Devil Men's golf its first Thunderbird Collegiate Invitational first place team finish since 2019. It also marked the second straight year that ASU has won the individual title at its home event.
It's the 18th team medal under head coach Matt Thurmond and the fourth Thunderbird Collegiate win under Thurmond.
Josele Ballester finished tied for seventh after shooting a six-under for the tournament (64,72,71=207/-6).
Mjaaseth finished the tournament tied for 12th place after shooting four-under for the tournament (65-74-70=209/-4). He birdied three of his last five holes, including a birdie on 18 that knotted the team score at 28-under.
ASU led the field on par-3 (+4) and par-4 (-15) holes in the event. On its home course, the Sun Devils fired a tournament-best 56 birdies.
THUNDERBIRD COLLEGIATE
PAPAGO GOLF CLUB
PAR 71/7,503 YARDS
PHOENIX, AZ
APRIL 14-15, 2023
TEAM LEADERBOARD
Arizona State 264-281-279=824/-28
Arizona 275-271-279=825/-27
North Carolina 277-277-278=832/-20
Oklahoma State 274-280-281=835/-17
SMU 284-280-282=846/-6
Texas 285-279-284=848/-4
Oregon State 278-287-283=848/-4
Texas Tech 284-288-280=852/E
Notre Dame-283-288-287=858/+6
Baylor 282-288-288=858/+6
Utah 288-289-286=863/+11
New Mexico 288-294-282=864/+12
Sun Devil Scoring
1. Preston Summerhays, Arizona State, 66-68-66=200/-13
T7. Josele Ballester, Arizona State, 64-72-71=207/-6
T12. Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State, 65-74-70=209/-4
T20. Ryggs Johnston, Arizona State, 69-70-72=211/-2
T47. Luke Potter, Arizona State, 74-71-72=217/+4
T28. Kiko Coelho, Arizona State, 72-71-69=212/-1
79. Gabe Salvanera, Arizona State, 74-76-78=228/+15
The list of past Sun Devils to win the Thunderbird Invitational includes PGA Tour major champions – including the most recent Masters Champion Jon Rahm – US Amateur Champions, and a handful of NCAA champions.
That list now includes Scottsdale native Preston Summerhays.
SUN DEVIL INDIVIDUAL THUNDERBIRD COLLEGIATE WINNERS
Preston Summerhays - 2023
James Leow - 2022
Chun An Yu - 2019
Jon Rahm - 2016, 2015, 2014
Stephan Gross - 2009 (co-medalist)
Alejandro Canizares - 2003
Paul Casey - 2001
Jeff Quinney - 2000
Todd Demsey - 1995
Larry Barber - 1994
Phil Mickelson - 1992, 1991
Jim Carter - 1984
Mark Sollenberger - 1974
Summerhays finished the round five-under, including birdies on the final two holes, to give the Sun Devils (264-281-279=824/-28) a one-stroke victory over the University of Arizona. He started his back-nine with a birdie on 10 combined with an Arizona bogey, helping shift the momentum with the Sun Devils.
Summerhays finished the tournament at -13 (66-68-66=200/-13) and was one of two golfers in the field to shoot below a 70 in each of the three rounds in the tournament. He needed a mere 30-strokes on the back-nine.
"With everyone watching, you need someone to step up on the back-nine and Preston did," said Head Coach Matt Thurmond. "With everyone watching and following that group, we made the clutch putts at the end. It felt like everything was going Arizona's way early but I just tried to keep my energy up and make sure they knew we still had a chance."
ASU trailed by as many as seven strokes on the back-nine. They caught fire with 15 team birdies, including five from Summerhays and four from Michael Mjaaseth.
The Sun Devils headed into the final hole tied with Arizona after Summerhays hit a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
After an immaculate drive and approach shot to the 18th green, Summerhays secured with his second birdie in as many holes.Preston ??? for birdie on 17. One back.
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) April 15, 2023
?? https://t.co/690bA3foba #ForksUp /// ?????? pic.twitter.com/9BfSIWxE84
One putt. For the team trophy. Preston Summerhays ??? with the tournament-winning birdie on 18. pic.twitter.com/zdVoMOWCP0
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) April 15, 2023
"I got off to a pretty slow start, even through nine, but got it going on the back," said Summerhays, "This event is going to play a big role in the events coming up. We've been good but haven't gotten our wins yet. I think we're peaking at the right time.
The clutch putt from Summerhays gave Sun Devil Men's golf its first Thunderbird Collegiate Invitational first place team finish since 2019. It also marked the second straight year that ASU has won the individual title at its home event.
It's the 18th team medal under head coach Matt Thurmond and the fourth Thunderbird Collegiate win under Thurmond.
Josele Ballester finished tied for seventh after shooting a six-under for the tournament (64,72,71=207/-6).
Mjaaseth finished the tournament tied for 12th place after shooting four-under for the tournament (65-74-70=209/-4). He birdied three of his last five holes, including a birdie on 18 that knotted the team score at 28-under.
Kiko Coelho finished tied for 28th (72-71-69=212/-1) playing as an individual. He finished the final round strong with three birdies and just one bogey.MICHAEL. MJAASETH. ICE COLD. WE ARE TIED ON 18 ??
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) April 15, 2023
?? https://t.co/690bA3foba #ForksUp /// ?????? pic.twitter.com/J9gQEhPXmX
ASU led the field on par-3 (+4) and par-4 (-15) holes in the event. On its home course, the Sun Devils fired a tournament-best 56 birdies.
THUNDERBIRD COLLEGIATE
PAPAGO GOLF CLUB
PAR 71/7,503 YARDS
PHOENIX, AZ
APRIL 14-15, 2023
TEAM LEADERBOARD
Arizona State 264-281-279=824/-28
Arizona 275-271-279=825/-27
North Carolina 277-277-278=832/-20
Oklahoma State 274-280-281=835/-17
SMU 284-280-282=846/-6
Texas 285-279-284=848/-4
Oregon State 278-287-283=848/-4
Texas Tech 284-288-280=852/E
Notre Dame-283-288-287=858/+6
Baylor 282-288-288=858/+6
Utah 288-289-286=863/+11
New Mexico 288-294-282=864/+12
Sun Devil Scoring
1. Preston Summerhays, Arizona State, 66-68-66=200/-13
T7. Josele Ballester, Arizona State, 64-72-71=207/-6
T12. Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State, 65-74-70=209/-4
T20. Ryggs Johnston, Arizona State, 69-70-72=211/-2
T47. Luke Potter, Arizona State, 74-71-72=217/+4
T28. Kiko Coelho, Arizona State, 72-71-69=212/-1
79. Gabe Salvanera, Arizona State, 74-76-78=228/+15