Sun Devil Men's Golf is headed to Match Play at the 2023 NCAA Championship after a thrilling playoff win over the Stanford Cardinal Monday evening at Grayhawk. ASU and North Carolina will begin Tuesday morning at 7:10 a.m. MST.
QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS - HOLE 1
Dylan Menante vs. Luke Potter - 7:10
Ryan Burnett vs. Ryggs Johnston 7:20
Austin Greaser vs. Josele Ballester - 7:30
David Ford vs. Michael Mjaaseth - 7:40
Peter Fountain vs. Preston Summerhays - 7:50
Arizona State (68-69-72-72=281/+1) and Stanford were knotted at 1,132 strokes following 72 holes of golf for the eighth and final spot in Tuesday's national quarterfinal. The playoff was held from holes 14-18, with one player from each team on each hole, and cumulative score versus par tallied after each hole until one team led.
Arizona State, North Carolina, and Pepperdine are the only three schools to advance to match-play in three consecutive years. In fact, ASU has the best average stroke-play finish during this time (fourth), followed by North Carolina and Pepperdine (4.5).
They were even after one and four completed players on the second hole, before Preston Summerhays knocked in a birdie on the par-4, 430 yard 14th to seal the playoff win by one stroke.
The Sun Devils also received a key birdie on the first playoff hole from Josele Ballester. He tapped one in on the par-3, 173 yard seventh.
For the fourth round, the Sun Devils were paced by Ryggs Johnston, carding a 2-under 68. Johnston led Arizona State in two of the four rounds over stroke play and fired five birdies, with four of them on par-4 holes.
Sun Devils and Leaders
1. Fred Biondi, Florida 7-under 273
T18. Preston Summerhays, 1-over 281
T29. Josele Ballester, 4-over 284
T29. Ryggs Johnston, 4-over 284
T40. Michael Mjaaseth 6-over 286
T63. Luke Potter 11-over 291
QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS - HOLE 1
Dylan Menante vs. Luke Potter - 7:10
Ryan Burnett vs. Ryggs Johnston 7:20
Austin Greaser vs. Josele Ballester - 7:30
David Ford vs. Michael Mjaaseth - 7:40
Peter Fountain vs. Preston Summerhays - 7:50
Arizona State (68-69-72-72=281/+1) and Stanford were knotted at 1,132 strokes following 72 holes of golf for the eighth and final spot in Tuesday's national quarterfinal. The playoff was held from holes 14-18, with one player from each team on each hole, and cumulative score versus par tallied after each hole until one team led.
Arizona State, North Carolina, and Pepperdine are the only three schools to advance to match-play in three consecutive years. In fact, ASU has the best average stroke-play finish during this time (fourth), followed by North Carolina and Pepperdine (4.5).
"I remember back at the Pac-12 Championship we were so devastated with not winning and losing to Stanford, and I remember it just hitting me like 'yeah, this sucks, but it doesn't change anything.'" said Sun Devil Head Coach Matt Thurmond. "We're gonna find a way to get into match play. And once we find a way to get into match play, we're right back where we were last year. And this is the thing: no matter what we do all year, this was what needed to happen."Arizona State, sharpie ?#ForksUp /// ?????? pic.twitter.com/kI1kvbpC0U
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 30, 2023
They were even after one and four completed players on the second hole, before Preston Summerhays knocked in a birdie on the par-4, 430 yard 14th to seal the playoff win by one stroke.
"It's funny because you finish the hole and it's really awkward because you don't know whether to celebrate or to be disappointed," said Summerhays."But I knew that putt went a long way so I was excited. And then about 30 seconds later the guy told us we had made it to Match Play and that was fun."WE ARE MOVING ON!!
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 30, 2023
Preston Summerhays with the birdie to give us the playoff victory over Stanford and advance us into Match Play tomorrow. #ForksUp /// ???? pic.twitter.com/WBhhC50U8d
The Sun Devils also received a key birdie on the first playoff hole from Josele Ballester. He tapped one in on the par-3, 173 yard seventh.
ASU was in position heading up their 18th hole - which was the ninth after they started on 10 - one stroke ahead of Stanford. The Sun Devils went 2-over and the Cardinal, playing on 18, which is the hardest hole on the course, went 1-over and tied the contest.CELEBRATIONS ARE GOOD!
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 30, 2023
Josele with the birdie in his first playoff hole to go up one
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??@GolfChannel /// https://t.co/q3YfK0HkYL#ForksUp /// ???????? pic.twitter.com/GCCOZrAKgP
For the fourth round, the Sun Devils were paced by Ryggs Johnston, carding a 2-under 68. Johnston led Arizona State in two of the four rounds over stroke play and fired five birdies, with four of them on par-4 holes.
Summerhays was also under par at 1-under 69 including consecutive birdies on 14 and 15. The remaining Sun Devils were all at 2-over 72.Can't Teach That ??
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 29, 2023
Johnston ?? with filthy touch to set up a clean ?? on 1??5??. He's 2-under thru six??
?? https://t.co/Rv7Srynd2H#ForksUp /// ?????? pic.twitter.com/H5DXBp1XlG
ASU was the seventh seed in last year's match play, knocking off Pepperdine and Oklahoma en-route to the national title match. Arizona StateMama There Goes That Man ??
— Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) May 29, 2023
Summerhays ??? has back-to-back ???? with this on 1??5??
?? https://t.co/Rv7Srynd2H#ForksUp /// ?????? pic.twitter.com/BinTJcyWcQ
Sun Devils and Leaders
1. Fred Biondi, Florida 7-under 273
T18. Preston Summerhays, 1-over 281
T29. Josele Ballester, 4-over 284
T29. Ryggs Johnston, 4-over 284
T40. Michael Mjaaseth 6-over 286
T63. Luke Potter 11-over 291