April 7, 2006
KARSTEN TO HOST ASU THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL: The Arizona State men's golf team plays host on April 8-9 (Friday-Saturday) to the 34th annual ASU Thunderbird Invitational at ASU's Karsten Golf Course (par-71, 7,017 yards). The 15 teams will play 36 holes on Saturday, April 8, followed by a final round on Sunday, April 9. ASU has won five of the past seven (1999-2001, 2003-2004) Thunderbird Invitationals and has won the tournament 12 of the past 17 years. Last year, Last year, UNLV shot a 17-over 859 to win the tournament while Arizona's Kipp Riehle took home medalist honors with a 7-under 206. In 2004, ASU shot a tournament record 43-under 821 to beat Arizona by eight strokes while ASU's Alejandro Canizares won medalist honors with a 16-under 200 (65-66-69) which tied the tournament record.
ASU MEN'S GOLF (Tourn.-Rds.-Avg.) GOLD TEAM LINEUPNiklas Lemke 6-3/Jr./Linkoping, Sweden 9-27-72.33
Alejandro Canizares 5-10/Sr./Manilva, Spain 9-27-71.59 6-time Medalist 2004 ASU Thunderbird Champion
Benjamin Alvarado Holley 6-0/Fr./Santiago, Chile 7-21-72.90
Erik Coover 5-11/Fr./Scottsdale, Ariz. 2-6-75.00
Lenny Park 5-7/Sr./Sochko, Korea. 7-21-74.76
SUN DEVIL HISTORY: ASU has won the Thunderbird Invitational 13 times (1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004). Nine times Sun Devils have won the individual title: Mark Sollenberger (1974), Jim Carter (1984), Phil Mickelson (1991 and 1992), Larry Barber (1994), Todd Demsey (1995), Jeff Quinney (1999), Paul Casey (2000) and Alejandro Canizares (2004).
COMPETING SCHOOLS AND LEAGUES: The 15 competing schools, representing six conferences, are: Arizona (Pac-10), ASU (two teams), Arkansas (SEC), California (Pac-10), UCF (Conference USA), Colorado State (Mountain West), Illinois (Big Ten), Kansas State (Big 12), Oregon (Pac-10), Penn State (Big Ten), San Diego State (Mountain West), Stanford (Pac-10), South Carolina (SEC), Texas Tech (Big 12) and UNLV (Mountain West). There will be a shotgun start on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. while Saturday's regular tee-times from holes 1 and 10 will begin at 7 a.m.
ASU HEAD COACH Randy Lein: Randy Lein has coached 60 tournament victories in his 24 seasons, tutored 50 All-Americans and added the top accolade in collegiate golf in 1995-96 - the NCAA title - to his collection as the Sun Devils won the title in Chattanooga, Tenn., with a three-stroke victory over UNLV at the Honors Course. In his 14th season as ASU's coach, Lein has guided ASU to 37 tournament victories (including a school record six in 1995-96), seven Pac-10 titles, four NCAA West Regional wins (three of the past six) and eight top-10 finishes at the NCAAs including the 1996 title. In addition, Lein has tutored NCAA medalists Todd Demsey and Alejandro Canizares and 13 All-Americans (29 occasions): Todd Demsey (3), Chris Hanell (3), Paul Casey (3), Cade Stone, Chris Stutts, Joey Snyder (2), Scott Johnson (2), Darren Angel (2), Jeff Quinney (3), Matt Jones (2), Chez Reavie (3), Alejandro Canizares (3) and Niklas Lemke (1). He has won Pac-10 Coach-of-the-Year five times (1993, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000) while at ASU and twice at USC (1980 and 1986). Lein (pronounced "Line") is a 1975 graduate of Cal State Northridge.
SUN DEVILS AS PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR: A list of Sun Devils who have won Pac-10 Player of the Year honors: Scott Watkins (1979 co-player of the year), Dan Forsman (1981 co-player of the year), Billy Mayfair (1987), Phil Mickelson (1990, 1991 and 1992), Todd Demsey (1994), Paul Casey (2000) and Jeff Quinney (2001 co-player of the Year) and Alejandro Canizares (2005).
THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT BESTS (SINCE THREE-ROUND FORMAT IN 1988)TEAM TOTAL SCORE 1. ASU 43-under 821 in 2004 2. ASU 40-under 824 in 2003 T3 Arizona 32-under 832 in 2004 T3. USC 32-under 832 in 2003 T3. Texas 32-under 832 in 2002 6. ASU 30-under 834 in 1999 T7. USC 29-under 835 in 2004 T7. Pepperdine 29-under 835 in 2003 9. TCU 28-under 836 in 2003 10. ASU 26-under 838 in 2002
INDIVIDUAL TOTAL SCORE T1. Alejandro Canizares (ASU) 16-under 200 in 2004 T1. Bret Guetz (TCU) 16-under 200 in 2002 T3. David Schultz (TCU) 15-under 201 in 2003 T3. Jeff Quinney (ASU) 15-under 201 in 1999 T5. Ryan Moore (UNLV) 14-under 202 in 2004 T5. Aaron Bengoechea (Pacific) 14-under 202 in 1989 T7. Chez Reavie (ASU) 13-under 203 in 2004 T7. John Klauk (Texas) 13-under 203 in 2002 T9. Chris Nallen (Arizona) 12-under 204 in 2004 T9. Joshua Wooding (USC) 12-under 204 in 2004 T9. David Oh (USC) 12-under 204 in 2003 T9. Phil Mickelson (ASU) 12-under 204 in 1991
THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS Year Champion/ASU Finish Individual Champion1973 Long Beach St. (ASU-5th) Lance Suzuki, BYU
1974 Oklahoma St.(ASU-2nd) Mark Sollenberger, ASU
1975 BYU (ASU T-2nd) Scott Simpson, USC
1976 BYU (ASU-3rd) John Fought, BYU
1977 Oklahoma St. (ASU-2nd) Lindy Miller, OSU
1978 BYU (ASU-2nd) Curt Worley, SDSU
1979 UCLA (ASU-2nd) Corey Pavin, UCLA
1980 BYU (ASU-2nd) Bob Clampett, BYU
1981 San Jose State (ASU-3rd) Steve Jones, Colorado
1982 BYU (ASU-3rd) Storm Gleib, Weber State
1983 Oklahoma St. (1,083) (ASU-11th) Willie Wood, Oklahoma State (211)
1984 ASU Jim Carter , ASU
1985 Fresno State (1,106) (ASU-5th) Howard Johnson, San Diego State (209)
1986 BYU (1,072) (ASU-2nd) Eduardo Herrera , BYU (207)
1987 UCLA (1,100) (ASU-4th) David Sutherland, FSU (211)
1988 Oklahoma St. (853) (ASU-4th) Michael Bradley, OSU (141)
1989 ASU "B" (864/E) (ASU "A"-2nd) Aaron Bengoechea, Pacific (202/-14)
1990 ASU (846/-18) Ramon Brobio, BYU (209/-7)
1991 ASU (840/-24) Phil Mickelson, ASU (204/-12)
1992 ASU (854/-10) Phil Mickelson, ASU (209/-7)
1993 UA(850/-14) (ASU-3rd) David White, Arkansas (208/-8)
1994 ASU (859/-5) Larry Barber, ASU (205/-11)
1995 Arkansas (867/+3) (ASU-2nd) Todd Demsey, ASU (213/-3)
1996 ASU (864/E) Lonnie Damon, BYU (214/-2)
1997 ASU (854/-10) Jeff Mixon, Oklahoma (209/-7)
1998 UCLA (867/+13) (ASU-2nd) Brandon Ditullio, UCLA (211/-5)
1999 ASU (834/-30) Jeff Quinney, ASU (201/-15)
2000 ASU (846/-18) Paul Casey, ASU (207/-9)
2001 ASU (839/-25) Anders Hultman, Okla. St. (206/-10)
2002 Texas (832/-32) Bret Guetz, TCU (200/-16)
2003 ASU (824/-40) David Schultz, TCU (201/-15)
2004 ASU (821/-43) Alejandro Canizares, ASU (200/-16)
2005 UNLV (859/+7) Kipp Riehle, Arizona (206/-7)