CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Four members of Sun Devil Women's Golf were selected as Academic All-American Scholars, the WGCA announced as part of their postseason honors.
Senior Grace Summerhays, junior Paula Schulz-Hanssen, redshirt sophomore Patience Rhodes, and freshman Isla McDonald-O'Brien were all recognized for their efforts and achievements in the classroom. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 and participation in at least 50% of team events, guidelines that make it one of most prestigious Academic All-American Teams in collegiate athletics.
"We are so proud of our Academic All-Americans," Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "These young women work as hard in the classroom as they do on the golf course. They continue to be great examples for Sun Devil Women's Golf!"
This is the 20th consecutive year that at least one Sun Devil was named an All-American Scholar. In total, the Arizona State Women's Golf program has had 87 individuals earn the academic distinction since the National Golf Coaches Association established the annual award in 1988, with 42 of those coming since Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye took over prior to the 2015-16 season.
The Maroon and Gold have received at least four total honorees for the sixth consecutive year. Despite having the conference's smallest team in terms of numbers (five on the roster), Arizona State still managed to tie for the fourth-most selections out of 16 Big 12 programs.
Grace Summerhays is an All-American Scholar for the fourth time, earning the status In each of her four seasons in Tempe. She becomes the first four-time All-American Scholar since Alexandra Forsterling accomplished the feat from 2019-22. Paula Schulz-Hanssen has started her career with three consecutive All-American Scholar selections, while Patience Rhodes is two-for-two since arriving at ASU.
Freshman Isla McDonald-O'Brien makes it four consecutive years of a freshman beginning their career as an All-American Scholar. Four of the five Sun Devils received Academic All-American distinction.
Here Is a closer look at the history of Sun Devil Women's Golf All-American Scholar:
All-Time Sun Devil All-American Scholars (87)
2025: Grace Summerhays, Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Patience Rhodes, Isla McDonald-O'Brien
2024: Ashley Menne, Grace Summerhays, Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Patience Rhodes
2023: Ashley Menne, Grace Summerhays, Calynne Rosholt, Amanda Linner, Paula Schulz-Hanssen
2022: Alexandra Forsterling, Alessandra Fanali, Amanda Linner, Ashley Menne, Grace Summerhays
2021: Olivia Mehaffey, Alessandra Fanali, Alexandra Forsterling, and Amanda Linner
2020: Olivia Mehaffey, Raquel Olmos, Alexandra Forsterling, Alessandra Fanali
2019: Sofia Anokhina, Olivia Mehaffey, Alexandra Forsterling
2018: Madison Kerley, Olivia Mehaffey, Sophia Zeeb, Roberta Liti
2017: Roberta Liti, Monica Vaughn, Madison Kerley, Olivia Mehaffey, Sophia Zeeb
2016: Monica Vaughn (NGCA), Sophia Zeeb (NGCA), Roberta Liti (NGCA), Madison Kerley (NGCA)
2015: Noemi Jimenez (NGCA), Emilie Alonso (NGCA), Monica Vaughn (NGCA), Roberta Liti (NGCA), Sophia Zeeb (NGCA), Ashleigh Greenham (NGCA)
2014: Daniela Ordonez (NGCA), Emilie Alonso (NGCA), Justine Lee (NGCA), Monica Vaughn (NGCA), Noemi Jimenez (NGCA)
2013: Noemi Jimenez (NGCA), Daniela Ordonez (NGCA), Justine Lee (NGCA), Emilie Alonso (NGCA)
2012: Giulia Molinaro (NGCA), Daniela Ordonez (NGCA), Justine Lee (NGCA), Noemi Jimenez (NGCA)
2011: Giulia Molinaro (NGCA), Carlota Ciganda (NGCA)
2010: Carlota Ciganda (ESPN The Magazine)
2009: Azahara Munoz (NGCA & ESPN The Magazine), Juliana Murcia (ESPN The Magazine)
2008: Azahara Munoz (NGCA & ESPN the Magazine), Juliana Murcia (NGCA), Anna Nordqvist (NGCA)
2007: Azahara Munoz (NGCA), Anna Nordqvist (NGCA)
2006: Azahara Munoz (NGCA)
2004: Erin Tone (NGCA)
2003: Erin Tone (NGCA), Gaëlle Truet (NGCA)
2002: Erin Tone (NGCA), Gaëlle Truet (NGCA)
1999: Keri Cornelius (NGCA)
1998: Kellee Booth (GTE, first; NGCA), Jeanne-Marie Busuttil (NGCA), Keri Cornelius (NGCA)
1997: Kellee Booth (GTE, first)
1996: Kellee Booth (GTE, second)
1995: Wendy Ward (GTE, third)
1993: Ulrika von Heijne (NGCA)
1991: Tricia Konz (NGCA)
1988: Pam Wright (NGCA)
About the Women’s Golf Coaches Association
The Women’s Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women’s collegiate golf coaches. The WGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents over 750 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.
WGCA All-Americans
The WGCA recognized Sun Devil Women's Golf both on and off the course. Redshirt sophomore Patience Rhodes landed on the WGCA Second Team, while juniors Beth Coulter and Paula Schulz-Hanssen earned honorable mention distinction. Rhodes was one of only 14 female collegiate golfers at the Division I level that was selected to the second team. Schulz-Hanssen and Coulter are two of 24 to garner honorable mention status.
Missy Farr-Kaye has had an All-American in each of her ten seasons in Tempe. This is the 12th time three Sun Devils have earned All-American honors in the same season and first time since 2020 when future pros Linn Grant, Alessandra Fanali, and Olivia Mehaffey were recipients of the honor. 19 total golfers have been named All-Americans in the Missy Farr-Kaye era.
Arizona State's three WGCA All-Americans in 2024-25 puts them in elite company. ASU is one of only six programs with three All-American selections, joined by No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Arkansas, No. 3 Oregon, No. 5 South Carolina, and No. 6 Texas.
Most WGCA All-Americans by School
Stanford, 5
Arkansas, 4
Arizona State, 3
Oregon, 3
Texas, 3
Wake Forest, 2
USC, 2
Florida State, 2
Virginia, 2
Texas A&M, 2
Northwestern, 2
Golfweek All-Americans
Not only did the Coaches recognize the accomplishments from Sun Devil Women's Golf on the course, the media did as well. Golfweek released their All-American teams in June for the 2024-25 season and Arizona State is well represented. The same trio that received All-American distinction from the WGCA also earned the status from Golfweek, one of the nation's top golf publications.
Redshirt sophomore Patience Rhodes landed on the third team, while Paula Schulz-Hanssen and Beth Couter garnered Honorable Mention distinction. All three can be considered unanimous All-Americans, receiving the honor from both the coaches and the media. Arizona State is one of only six programs to have three Golfweek All-Americans, joined by five of the nation's Top-6 teams (No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Arkansas, No. 3 Oregon, No. 5 South Carolina, No. 6 Texas).
All-Americans under Coach Farr-Kaye (19)
2025: Patience Rhodes (second), Paula Schulz-Hanssen (hm), Beth Coulter (hm)
2024: Ashley Menne (hm)
2023: Ashley Menne (second)
2022: Alexandra Forsterling (first), Ashley Menne (hm)
2021: Linn Grant (first), Ashley Menne (hm)
2020: Linn Grant (first), Alessandra Fanali (third), Olivia Mehaffey (hm)
2019: Olivia Mehaffey (second)
2018: Olivia Mehaffey (second)
2017: Monica Vaughn (first), Linnea Strom (first), Olivia Mehaffey (hm)
2016: Linnea Strom (first), Monica Vaughn (second)
Summerhays named Scholar Athlete of the Year
Sun Devil Women's Golf's Grace Summerhays was recognized as the 2025 Big 12 Women's Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year, the conference announced this week. Summerhays is putting the finishing touches on one of the most decorated careers in program history. She has been recognized by the opposing coaches in the league as the premier student-athlete in the sport based on her accomplishments on and off the course.
During her time with the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, Grace Summerhays has been a steady presence in the lineup, performing admirably for an Arizona State team consistently ranked in the Top-10. She has taken her game to another level each year and is now one of the best golfers in the conference. She is doing all this while maintaining a 3.99 GPA and earning her degree in Communication in just seven semesters.
Summerhays is the eighth recipient of the honor from Sun Devil Women's Golf, the most of any athletic program at ASU. In their first chance since the Big 12 Conference transition, Arizona State takes home the award for the first time since Alexandra Forsterling earned the distinction after an incredible 2022 campaign. The Maroon and Gold continued a trend they started while in the Pac-12, as a member of Sun Devil Women's Golf claimed 7 of the 16 possible awards while ASU was a member of the league. Arizona State now has a total of 47 Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year, three of which have come since joining the Big 12.
Sun Devils to win 2025 Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year
Grace Summerhays, Women's Golf
Patrick Sammon, Men's Swimming
Bella Ingrao, Lacrosse
Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year Winners
Big 12 Era
Grace Summerhays, 2025
Pac-12 Era
Alexandra Forsterling, 2022
Olivia Mehaffey, 2021
Roberta Liti, 2018
Noemi Jimenez, 2015
Giulia Molinaro, 2012
Jiuliana Murcia, 2010
Azahara Munoz, 2009
Augusta National Women's Amateur
Patience Rhodes and Beth Coulter both represented Sun Devil Women's Golf at the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur. The duo competed in the premier female amateur golf event on the globe. As part of the event, Rhodes and Coulter had the opportunity to play the iconic Augusta National Golf Course a week before The Masters took place.
Anna Nordqvist named Team Europe Captain for Solheim Cup
Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Famer and women's golf legend Anna Nordqvist (2007-09) was named the captain for Team Europe for the 2026 Solheim Cup, to be held 7–13 September at Bernardus Golf in North Brabant, Netherlands. Nordqvist has already established herself as one of the premiere competitors in Solheim Cup history and will look to add to her lore in the iconic event.
A tradition like no other
During the past five decades, many of the premier amateur women's golfers have called Arizona State University home. Arizona State won its NCAA-leading eighth national championship title in 2017 to reinforce its standing as the premier women's golf school in the United States.
Under legendary Head Coach Linda Vollstedt, the program became the first in women's collegiate golf to win six championships in a decade (1990, '93, '94, '95, '97, '98). ASU remains the lone program to ever capture three national titles in a row (1993, '94, '95). The Sun Devil Golf programs did something in 1990 that had never been done before and hasn't been accomplished since. ASU swept both the Men's and Women's Team National Titles in 1990, becoming the first school to capture both championships in the same year.
Here for the long haul
Sun Devil Athletics was thrilled to extend four of its head coaches back in December of 2023, including Women's Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye. Entering her ninth year with ASU, Farr-Kaye has been extended through the 2027-28 athletic calendar. She completed the trifecta in 2017, becoming the first individual in NCAA history to win a National Championship as a player, assistant coach, and head coach at the same school.
"The Bird"
The Thunderbirds Golf Complex, designed by Douglas Fredrickson Architects and built by Rummel Construction Inc., is a 7,000-square foot facility featuring a grand entry lobby, national championship displays, a team gym and locker rooms for both men's and women's teams, a fueling station, study lounge, team lounge, indoor hitting bays and more.
Designed by Sun Devil alumnus and five-time PGA Major Championships winner Phil Mickelson, who is known for his short-game expertise, the four-acre practice area consists of five practice greens, four practice bunkers and a three-acre fairway and rough designed to practice every possible golf shot.
On Nov. 1, 2018, Papago Golf Course became the new home for Sun Devil Men's and Women's Golf with the unveiling of their new state-of-the-art practice facility -- The Thunderbirds Golf Complex -- through the generous commitment by The Thunderbirds organization.
Arizona State, in partnership with The Thunderbirds, Arizona Golf Community Foundation, the City of Phoenix and Phil Mickelson Design, revitalized the course and helped build the Lou Grubb Clubhouse and Lou's Bar & Grill.
How to follow
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 (sundevils.com). Find Coach Farr-Kaye (@missymkaye) on Twitter as well.