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Arizona State Women's Golf Sets New Program Record

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Arizona State Women's Golf Sets New Program RecordArizona State Women's Golf Sets New Program Record

Photo via Ocean Course Hokuala

Lihu'e, Kaua'i, HI - Sun Devil Women's Golf made history in Hawai'i, putting together one of their most memorable performances on Monday.

No. 16 Arizona State shot a 266 (-22) in the second round of the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, the lowest 18-hole score vs. par in program history. It shattered the previous mark of 17-under by five strokes, as the Sun Devils extended their lead in the event to 14-strokes over North Carolina heading into the final day. It was a total team effort that contributed to the record-breaking moment, as all five Sun Devils continue to be factors in the individual race.

Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's team has already rewritten the record book at Ocean Course Hokuala and has a chance to make even more of an impact. The Maroon and Gold currently boast a score of 546 (-30), putting them in position to eclipse the 54-hole scoring record vs. par, which is 25-under set back at the 2022 PING/ASU Invitational. Not only did Arizona State break a program record, they also broke the course record by a team with their 22-under effort.

Record. Breaking. Round. ??@SunDevilWGolf just finished with the lowest team score in program history ?? pic.twitter.com/1QXlEf9RYK

— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) March 19, 2024
Ashley Menne came through with arguably the best round of her career, as she established a new collegiate low by shooting a 64 (-8). Menne vaulted to the top of the leaderboard thanks to her 133 (-11) after two rounds, which has her in front by one stroke and in position to make some history of her own. Menne has a chance to break the individual 54-hole scoring record vs. par, which is 12-under (210) set by Brandie Burton at the 1989 Bruin Desert Classic. Her bogey-free round is a big reason why the Sun Devils were able to create separation at the top of the team standings.

Beth Coulter joined Ashley Menne in delivering a breakthrough performance. She also set a new career-low by shooting a 65 (-7), the second-best score by anyone in the field trailing only Menne's 64 from today. Coulter raced past her previous best of 68 in order to climb 18 spots on the leaderboard and into a tie for third. She is tied with her teammate Patience Rhodes, who has been the most consistent golfer over two days. Back-to-back rounds in the 60s (68, 69) has her in contention for a Top-5 finish. Paula Schulz-Hanssen is one of four Sun Devils sitting in the Top-10 after two days, as she finds herself in a tie for seventh. She improved her score by three strokes and moved up ten spots on the leaderboard after carding a 68 (-4, one of the team's four scores in the 60s.

ASU will look to claim their second straight team championship starting tomorrow at 12 PM MST. Ashley Menne is attempting to become the Sun Devils' first individual medalist since Alessandra Fanali won the 2022 Silverado Showdown. Live scoring for the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational can be found at the following link.

QUOTABLES
"Today was really fun," Coach Farr-Kaye mentioned after the round. "It is always great when all the hard work pays off with a record-breaking day like today."

"I am so excited to see Ashley (Menne) tie the course record with a male college player and reach a new low round in her college career," Coach Farr-Kaye remarked. "Beth also shot the lowest round of her career. Everybody from top-to-bottom is doing great."

"This is a really great team to coach and we are continuing work towards our goals," Coach Farr-Kaye added. "This is just another day in our journey to the end of the year. We are excited to get back out there tomorrow and finish strong."

NOTABLES
  • Sun Devil Women's Golf broke the program record for lowest team 18-hole team score vs. par.
    • The -22 (266) beats the previous record by FIVE STROKES, which was set back at the 2022 Pac-12 Preview, also in Hawaii.
    • Two of the Top-9 single-round scores vs. par in program history now belong to the 2023-24 team (2023 Mason Rudolph First Round).

Top Team 18-Hole Scores (vs. par)
266 (-22) 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, par 72 (second)
275 (-17) 2022 Pac-12 Preview, par 73 (first)
272 (-16) 2017 NCAA Regionals, par 72 (third)
273 (-15) 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (third)
273 (-15) 2009 NCAA West Regional, par 72 (first)
275 (-13) 2022 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (second)
276 (-12) 2017 Mason Rudolph, par 72 (second) 
273 (-11) 2010 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 70 (first)
277 (-11) 2023 Mason Rudolph Invitational, par 72 (first)

  • Arizona State finished 11 STROKES better than the second-best team today, which was North Carolina.
    • ASU now leads the Tar Heels by 14 strokes heading into the final day.
    • The Sun Devils are looking for their third Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational Title.
  • Coming off the win at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, the Maroon and Gold are seeking back-to-back team titles since winning three straight back in 2021. 
    • No. 3 Arizona State picked up wins at the Bruin Wave Invitational, Clover Cup, and shared the PING/ASU Invitational in consecutive appearances.
    • It would be only the third time since 2009 that ASU accomplished the feat, with the 2009 NCAA Championship team also winning their regional and the Pac-10 Championship to end the season.
  • The Sun Devils might not be done setting records.
    • With their 36-hole score of -30, ASU is in great shape to beat the best 54-hole team score vs. par in program history.
    • The current record is held by the 2021-22 team, which went 25-under (839) at the PING/ASU Invitational.

Top Team 54-Hole Scores (vs. par)
546 (-30) 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, par 72 (*through two rounds*)
839 (-25) 2022 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
839 (-25) 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
839 (-25) 2017 Mason Rudolph Championship, par 72
842 (-22) 2017 NCAA West Regionals, par 72
842 (-22) 2009 NCAA West Regional, par 72
848 (-16) 2021 Clover Cup, par 72
851 (-13) 2023 Mason Rudolph Invitational, par 72

  • Two of the best ten 18-hole scores in program history happened in the second round at Ocean Course Hokuala.
    • Ashley Menne set a new personal best and matched the course record with a 64 (-8).
    • Beth Coulter also established a new career-low by firing a 65 (-7).

Top Individual 18-Hole Scores (vs. par)

62 (-10) Olivia Mehaffey 2021 Clover Cup, par 72 (third)
---> 64 (-8) Ashley Menne 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, par 72 (second)
64 (-8) Monica Vaughn 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (first)
64 (-7) Louise Stahle 2005 Wildcat Invitational, par 71 (first)
---> 65 (-7) Beth Coulter 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, par 72 (second)
65 (-7) Ashley Menne 2023 Match in the Desert, par 72
65 (-7) Ashley Menne 2021 NCAA Championship, par 72 (third)
65 (-7) Olivia Mehaffey 2019 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (second)
65 (-7) Jimin Kang 2001 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 72 (first)
65 (-7) Grace Park 1998 NCAA Championships, par 72 (first)
65 (-7) Grace Park 1998 NCAA Championships, par 72 (second)
65 (-7) Vinny Riviello 1996 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (first)

  • Four of the Top-10 on the individual leaderboard are Sun Devils.

ROUND BREAKDOWN
Ashley Menne (-11/133/1st)
TODAY'S ROUND: 64 (-8)
EAGLES (1): Hole 2 (Par 5; 444 yards)
BIRDIES (6): Hole 1 (Par 4; 358 yards), Hole 4 (Par 5; 470 yards), Hole 9 (Par 4; 378 yards), Hole 10 (Par 5; 455 yards), Hole 13 (Par 4; 354 yards), Hole 18 (Par 4; 324 yards)
NOTABLES
-- Set a new career-low 64 (-8). Breaks her previous record, which she set during 2021 NCAA Championship.
-- The eight-under is tied with Monica Vaughn (2017 PING/ASU Invitational) for the second-best 18 hole score vs. par in program history. It is the best score by a Sun Devil in a non-ASU hosted tournament.
-- Matched Texas A&M's Sam Bennett (2022 John A. Burns Intercollegiate) for the course record, male or female.
-- Tied for a team-high with six birdies.
-- First Eagle of the season.
-- Seeking first outright individual title of her career (shared 2023 Match in the Desert medalist honors).
-- If she remains at -11, it would be tied for the second-lowest score vs. par over 54 holes in program history. The current record is held by Brandie Burton, who shot a 210 (-12) at the 1989 Bruin Desert Classic.

ASHEY MENNE LOWEST CAREER ROUNDS
---> 64 (-8) 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, par 72 (second)
65 (-7) 2023 Match in the Desert, par 72
65 (-7) 2021 NCAA Championship, par 72 (third)
66 (-7) 2022 Pac-12 Preview, par 73 (first)
66 (-6) 2024 Match in the Desert, par 72

No, that is not a typo…??

Ashley Menne really did shoot a 64 ??

The three-time All-American sets a new personal best and matches the Ocean Course Hokuala single-round record ?? pic.twitter.com/obM2ZcHOgX

— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) March 19, 2024
Patience Rhodes (-7/137/T3rd)
TODAY'S ROUND: 69 (-3)
BIRDIES (4): Hole 2 (Par 5; 444 yards), Hole 4 (Par 5; 470 yards), Hole 8 (Par 3; 169 yards), Hole 10 (Par 5; 455 yards)
NOTABLES
-- In position for her first career Top-10 finish
-- Second-straight round in the 60s, first time posting back-to-back rounds this low. Four total rounds in the 60s this year.
-- The only Sun Devil to birdie the eighth hole through two days.

Beth Coulter (-7/137/T3rd)
TODAY'S ROUND: 65 (-7)
EAGLES (2): Hole 4 (Par 5; 470 yards), Hole 10 (Par 5; 455 yards)
BIRDIES (5): Hole 2 (Par 5; 444 yards), Hole 5 (Par 3; 176 yards), Hole 9 (Par 4; 378 yards), Hole 13 (Par 4; 354 yards), Hole 17 (Par 3; 117 yards)
NOTABLES
-- Set a new career-low by carding a 65 (-7). That is tied for the fourth lowest 18-hole score vs. par in program history.
-- Moved up 18 spots on the leaderboard from day one to two.
-- The lone Sun Devil to birdie the fifth hole through two days.
-- Joined Patience Rhodes from yesterday as the only Sun Devils who have two Eagles in the same round.
-- First two Eagles of the 2023-24 season.

BETH COULTER LOWEST CAREER ROUNDS
---> 65 (-7) 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, par 72 (second)
68 (-5) 2022 Pac-12 Preview, par 73 (first)
68 (-4) 2023 Pac-12 Championship, par 72 (third)
68 (-4) 2022 ANNIKA Intercollegiate, par 72 (second)
69 (-3) 2023 Mason Rudolph Invitational, par 72 (second)
69 (-3) 2023 McGuire Invitational, par 72 (second)

Spectacular Showing ??

Beth Coulter cards a career-low 6??5???? pic.twitter.com/nbOb996Fy7

— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) March 19, 2024

Paula Schulz-Hanssen (-5/139/T7th)
TODAY'S ROUND: 68 (-4)
BIRDIES (6): Hole 1 (Par 4; 358 yards), Hole 2 (Par 5; 444 yards), Hole 3 (Par 4; 344 yards), Hole 4 (Par 5; 470 yards), Hole 6 (Par 5; 496 yards), Hole 17 (Par 3; 117 yards)
NOTABLES
-- Matched the second-lowest round of her career.
-- Second-straight round under par and third round in the 60s this season.
-- Tied for the team lead with six birdies.
-- Started her day with three consecutive birdies. Made birdie on four of her first five holes.

Grace Summerhays (144/E/T21st)
TODAY'S ROUND: 72 (E)
EAGLES (1): Hole 2 (Par 5; 444 yards)
BIRDIES (2): Hole 1 (Par 4; 358 yards), Hole 4 (Par 5; 470 yards)
NOTABLES
-- Added to her team-leading Eagle total, which is now at four in 2023-24.
-- All five Sun Devils are in the Top-25 of a 95-golfer field.

TEAM STANDINGS

Place Team 1 2 To Par
1 Arizona State 280 266 -30
2 North Carolina 282 278 -16
3 Washington 285 277 -14


INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

Place Player 1 2 To Par
1 Ashley Menne 69 64 -11
T3 Patience Rhodes 68 69 -7
T3 Beth Coulter 72 65 -7
T7 Paula Schulz-Hanssen 71 68 -5
T21 Grace Summerhays 72 72 E

UP NEXT
Arizona State will begin the final round of the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational on Tuesday morning at 12:00 PM AZT, with the field once again undergoing a shotgun start. The Sun Devils will be paired with North Carolina, Washington, and Sacramento State for a second straight day in the featured group with golfers beginning their rounds spread out from holes 1-3.
 
PAIRING North Carolina, Washington, Sacramento State
TIME 12 PM MST
HOLE  GOLFER
1A Beth Coulter
1B Ashley Menne
2A Paula Schulz-Hanssen
2B Patience Rhodes
3A Grace Summerhays
 

THE COMPETITION (CLIPP'D RANKINGS)
Arizona State is one of ten Top-100 teams in the field at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational. The 15-team event features 6 of the Top-100 ranked golfers in the nation, including No. 63 Ashley Menne and No. 92 Grace Summerhays from Arizona State. In total, 16 of the Top-200 individuals will be in Hawaii competing for the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational crown, including all five members of the Sun Devil lineup.

#16 Arizona State
#30 North Carolina #31 Washington
#57 Texas State #66 New Mexico
#77 Long Beach State #80 San Francisco
#81 Mercer #88 Sacramento State
#89 Rutgers #106 Boise State
#112 Fresno State #129 Tulane
#142 Morehead State #185 Hawaii

HISTORY AT DR. DONNIS THOMPSON INVITATIONAL
It is the 38th edition of the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, with the Sun Devils last competing at the event during the 2019-20 season. Coach Farr-Kaye's team swept both the team and individual titles back in the 2020 edition. Then ranked No. 3 in the country before COVID-19 cut the season short, Sun Devil Women's Golf earned dominating victory at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational. Arizona State (-12/852) proved they were in a different class compared to the rest of the field, cruising to a 19-stroke win while posting the sixth lowest total vs. par over 54 holes in program history. To put the Sun Devils total of 852 (-12) into perspective, no other team finished below par, including 12 of the 16 teams finishing 886 (+22) or worse. It is still the lowest team score in the history of the event.

In addition to the team title, freshman Linn Grant (-7/209) also took home Individual Medalist honors, capturing the first win of several wins in her collegiate career. She was tested on her way to claiming the crown, showing she can respond to pressure. After tying through 54 holes, Grant would come out on top of a five-hole playoff with TCU's Sabrina Iqbal thanks to a clutch birdie. Grant was not alone in finding success in the second visit to Hawaii, as three other Sun Devils finished near the top of the leaderboard. Four of the top seven finishers represented the Maroon & Gold, another example of how dominant of a performance it was for Coach Farr-Kaye's team. Headlining that group was Raquel Olmos (-2/214), who ended in fifth place. It is her third top-five finish of her career and sixth top-ten finish. Olivia Mehaffey (-1/215) put together her 20th career top-10 finish, tying with teammate Alessandra Fanali (-1/215) for sixth place. 

Arizona State not only took home the 2011 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational team title, former All-American and current LPGA standout Carlota Ciganda captured individual medalist honors. Despite their limited appearances, ASU is one of only three schools (Texas A&M, Arizona) that have had two individuals win the individual title. 

BEST ROUNDS IN 2023-24
---> 64/-8 Ashley Menne (Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational second round/March 18, 2024)
---> 65/-7 
Beth Coulter (Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational second round/March 18, 2024)
66/-6 - Ashley Menne (Match in the Desert/Jan. 22, 2024)
67/-5 - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Mason Rudolph Invitational first round/Sept. 22, 2023)
67/-4 - Ashley Menne (Stanford Intercollegiate second round/Oct. 21, 2023)
---> 68/-4 Patience Rhodes (Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational first round/March 17, 2024)
---> 68/-4 
Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational second round/March 18, 2024)
68/-4 - Patience Rhodes (McGuire Invitational second round/Sept. 11, 2023) 
68/-3 - Patience Rhodes (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate first round/Mar. 4, 2024)
68/-3 - Grace Summerhays (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate first round/Mar. 4, 2024)
68/-3 - Grace Summerhays (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate second round/Mar. 5, 2024)
---> 69/-3 Patience Rhodes (Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational second round/March 18, 2024)
---> 69/-3 Ashley Menne (Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational first round/March 17, 2024)
69/-3 - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Mason Rudolph Invitational third round/Sept. 24, 2023)
69/-3 - Beth Coulter (Mason Rudolph Invitational first round/Sept. 22, 2023)
69/-3 - Ashley Menne (McGuire Invitational first round/Sept. 11, 2023)
69/-3 - Beth Coulter (McGuire Invitational second round/Sept. 11, 2023)
69/-3 - Calynne Rosholt (Windy City first round/Oct. 2, 2023)
69/-2 - Patience Rhodes (Stanford Intercollegiate third round/Oct. 23, 2023)

TOP FINISHES IN 2023-24
T2nd - Ashley Menne (Match in the Desert)
T5th - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Mason Rudolph Invitational)
6th - Ashley Menne (McGuire Invitational)
T7th - Grace Summerhays (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate)
T12th - Patience Rhodes (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate)
T12th - Beth Coulter (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate)
T14th - Grace Summerhays (McGuire Invitational)
T14th - Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Match in the Desert)
T16th - Beth Coulter (Mason Rudolph Invitational)

BIRDIES BY SUN DEVIL (SEASON TOTALS)
Ashley Menne - 62 (plus 1 Eagle)
Grace Summerhays - 60 (plus 4 Eagles)
Patience Rhodes - 59 (plus 2 Eagles)
Beth Coulter - 57 (plus 2 Eagles)
Paula Schulz-Hanssen - 55 (plus 3 Eagles)
Calynne Rosholt - 27

CAREER APPEARANCES 
Ashley Menne, 39 (36 stroke; 3 match)
Grace Summerhays, 29 (26 stroke; 3 match)
Calynne Rosholt, 29 (25 stroke; 4 match)
Beth Coulter, 20 (17 stroke; 3 match)
Paula Schulz-Hanssen, 20 (17 stroke; 3 match)
Patience Rhodes, 9 (7 stroke; 2 match)

CAREER TOP-20 FINISHES
Ashley Menne, 22
Grace Summerhays, 12
Calynne Rosholt, 10
Paula Schulz-Hanssen, 8
Beth Coulter, 6
Patience Rhodes, 3

2023-24 CAMPAIGN
Arizona State will be tested throughout 2023-24 as Coach Farr-Kaye built one of the nation's toughest slates once again. The Maroon and Gold will compete in a total of ten regular season events, four in the Fall and six in the Spring. The postseason begins April 21 at the Pac-12 Championship, with NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championships scheduled for the month of May.

ARIZONA STATE WOMEN'S GOLF SCHEDULE
McGuire Invitational – Sept. 11-12 (Albuquerque, NM)
Mason Rudolph Invitational – Sept. 22-24 (Franklin, TN)
Windy City Collegiate Classic – Oct. 2-3 (Chicago, IL)
Stanford Intercollegiate – Oct. 20-22 (Palo Alto, CA)
Match in the Desert – January 22 (Gold Canyon, AZ)
Therese Hession Regional Challenge – Feb. 3-4 (Palos Verdes, CA)
Duel in the Desert (vs. Denver) – Feb. 25 (Phoenix, AZ)
Darius Rucker Intercollegiate – March 4-6 (Hilton Head Island, SC)
Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational – March 17-19 (Kaua'i, HI)
PING/ASU Invitational – March 28-30 (Phoenix, AZ) - HOSTED BY ASU
Pac-12 Championship – April 21-23 (Pullman, WA)
NCAA Regionals – May 6-8 (Auburn/Cle Elum/College State/East Lansing/Las Vegas/Winston-Salem)
NCAA Championship – May 17-22 (La Costa, CA; Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Champions Course)

HOW TO FOLLOW
Live scoring for the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational can be found at the following link. For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our X/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Find Coach Farr-Kaye (@missymkaye) and Coach Tatman (@CoachMikayla_) on X as well.