May 2, 2008
Jesper Kennegard was one of just two freshmen named to the men's golf All-Pac-10 first team, the league announced this week following the Pac-10 Championships. He is the first Sun Devil freshmen to earn first-team All-Pac-10 honors since Paul Casey in 1997-98.
Kennegard finished at 3-over 287 (67-73-72-75) at the Pac-10 Championships, which tied for 13th. He has four top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes and haas a 71.54 stroke average in 10 events (31 rounds), ahead of the ASU freshmen record set by four-time All-American and 2003 NCAA medalist Alejandro Canizares in 2003 when he posted a 71.65 average in eight events. Canizares was a second-team All-Pac-10 pick that year.
Sophomore Knut Borsheim finished at 13-over 297 (72-81-71-73) and tied for 40th at the Pac-10 Championships and now has a 72.58 stroke average on the year. He earned second-team honors.
Freshman Stephan Gross tied for eighth at 1-over 285 (70-71-73-71) at the Pac-10s and posted 48 pars in 72 holes (fifth-best in the tournament) en route to his third top-10 appearance in just six events on the year, as he now has a 71.89 stroke average. He earned honorable mention honors along with freshman James Byrne. Byrne tied for third at 1-under 283 (71-72-67-73). He was the only player to break par in the second round and he did it in convincing fashion with his 67. He posted six birdies in the third round, including five in a seven-hole stretch on the back nine, as his 67 was a season-best, and posted four birdies in the final round Wednesday.
ASU will next play in regional competition May 15-17, with the NCAA championships held May 28-31 and hosted by Purdue.