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PGA TOUR.com Bio and Statistics For Alejandro Canizares
Canizares Ready For Next Step (East Valley Tribune, May 18, 2006)
ASU CAREER: Earned All-America honors four times in his career with first-team honors in 2003 and 2006 and third-team honors in 2004 and 2005...finished his career with a 71.46 stroke average in 49 events...had 22 top-10 finishes...just the fourth Sun Devil to earn All-America honors all four years, joining Todd Demsey (1992-95), Phil Mickelson (1989-92) and Billy Mayfair (1985-88)...six-time winner on the collegiate level, earning medallist honors at the 2005 Puerto Classic, 2005 PING-Arizona Intercollegiate, 2004 Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, 2004 ASU Thunderbird Invitational, 2003 NCAA Championship and the 2003 National Invitational Tournament...six wins is tied for third on the ASU career wins list, behind Phil Mickeslon (16) and Billy Mayfair (8) and tied with Paul Casey and Charlie Gibson...the Palmer Cup career record leader for victories (13-3 overall), points (13) and singles record (8-0) ...earned his interdisciplinary studies degree with concentrations in sociology and landscaping in May of 2006 with a 3.87 grade point average...earned Academic All-America honors in 2005 and 2006 as he was one of four repeat first-team selections in the university division on the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American team, along with golfer Zack Robinson of Oklahoma State, fencer Jason Rogers of Ohio State and wrestler Alex Tirapelle of Illinois...became just the sixth freshman to win the NCAA golf title in June of 2003 with his 1-under 287 at the Karsten Creek Course in Stillwater, Okla....also the fourth Sun Devil to earn NCAA medalist honors (on six previous occasions), joining Todd Demsey (1993), Phil Mickelson (1992, 1990, 1989) and Jim Carter (1983)...his 71.65 stroke average in 2003 was the best by a Sun Devil freshman, breaking the old mark of 72.10 set in 1991-92 by 1993 NCAA champion Todd Demsey, and also was the nation's best for freshman that season...came back from six strokes on the final day to win the four-round NCAA tournament by two strokes over three-day leader Lee Williams of Auburn...owns the seventh-, eighth and 11th-best scoring averages (twice) in Sun Devil history...winner of the 2003 Outback Steakhouse Arnold Palmer Award.
PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alejandro Canizares first earned Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 2005 and then earned Co-Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2006, joining an impressive list of Sun Devils who have won the honor including Scott Watkins (1979 co-player of the year), Dan Forsman (1981 co-player of the year), Billy Mayfair (1987), three-time NCAA champion Phil Mickelson (1990, 1991 and 1992), 1993 NCAA Champion Todd Demsey (1994), three-time Pac-10 champion Paul Casey (2000) and 2000 U.S. Amateur champion Jeff Quinney (2001 co-player of the year).
2006 PALMER CUP: Europe won the Palmer Cup 19.5-4.5 on June 29-30, 2006, at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, the biggest margin in Cup history, topping the U.S. 19-5 win in 1997. Canizares won both his doubles matches and defeated Clay Ogden, 2 and 1, and Ryan Baca, 1-up, in his singles matches to close his Palmer Cup career with an 8-0 singles mark and a 13-3 mark overall.
2005-2006: Posted a 71.22 stroke average, seventh-best in ASU history, and had five top-five appearances...ASU's best finisher in six events...earned Co-Pac-10 Player of the Year honors, the first player to earn league Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since Stanford's Tiger Woods in 1995-96...finished season ranked 11th in final Golfweek rankings and was a second-team All-America selection by the magazine...also earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors for the second straight season...had six top-10 finishes.
2005 PALMER CUP: The Americans won the Palmer Cup 14-10 on June 8-9, 2005, in Haven, Wis., at Whistling Straits, but Canizares did all he could to help defend the trophy. He won three of his four matches as he and Pablo Martin defeated Michael Putnam and Jeff Overton, 2 and 1, in the morning on the first day. Canizares then topped Matthew Rosenfeld, 3 and 1, in the afternoon single match. On the second day, he topped Spencer Levin, 1-up for his ninth career Palmer Cup win, a match record.
2004-2005: A third-team All-American, the Pac-10 Player of the Year and a first-team Pac-10 selection...also earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors...raised his career win total to six with wins at the 2004 Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, the 2005 PING-Arizona Intercollegate and the 2005 Puerto Rico Classic...had five top-10 finishes...had 10 rounds in the 60s.
2004 PALMER CUP: Canizares won both his singles matches for the second straight year as the Europeans retained the Palmer Cup with a 14.5-9.5 victory over the Americans in Ballybunioin, Ireland, on Aug. 6-7. Canizares defeated Matt Every, 2 and 1, and then topped J.J. Jackovac, 2-up. The victory was the largest in the series for the Europeans and moved the career record to 4-3-1 in favor of the United States.
2003-2004: A third-team All-American and a first-team All-Pac-10 and Pac-10 All-Academic selection pick...71.38 stroke average was seventh-best in Sun Devil history...won the ASU Thunderbird Invitational on April 9-10 with a 16-under 200 (65-66-69), matching the tournament record...posted three top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes...tied for second at the Pac-10 Championships in Tucson with a 5-under 283...tied for third at the Club Glove Intercollegiate in Somis, Calif., with a 1-over 217.
2003 PALMER CUP: Canizares helped lead the Europeans to a 14-10 victory over the Americans on July 10-11 in South Carolina. Held at Kiawah Island Club's Cassique Course, it marked Europe's first victory on American soil in history of the seven-year event. Canizares won three of his four matches, including both singles matches. Canizares defeated Dustin Bray, 1 up in the afternoon singles. On July 11, Canizares and Gonzolo Gastano defeated Bill Haas and Chris Nallen, 3 and 1 in foursomes and then Canizares topped Brandt Snedeker, 3 and 1, in the singles match.
2002-2003: Posted three top-five finishes and led nation in par 3 scoring with a 2.96 average, and was one of only two players to average below par on the short holes (out of 1,540 players)...ninth in the nation in final round scoring average at 70.88...tied for ninth with just 2.5 bogeys per round...won the NCAA title with a 1-under 287 (77-70-71-69)...it marked the toughest course on the players in 20 years, as his 287 total was the highest by a champion since another Sun Devil, Jim Carter, won the 1983 title with a 287 as well...won the National Invitational Tournament at Omni Golf Club in Tucson with a 4-under 212 (60-73-70), becoming the first Sun Devil freshman to win a tournament since Paul Casey won the 1998 West Regional...posted season-low round of 68 in his first collegiate round at the USC Classic on March 3 and in the second round of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational on April 11...tied for fourth at the Pac-10 Championship in Glendale, Calif., with an even 288 (72-71-76-69)...shared Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year honors with Michael Wilson of California...a second-team All-Pac-10 selection...also on the six-man Softspikes All-Freshman Team.
ETC.: Born January 9, 1983...father is Jose Maria, a professional golfer on the Champions Tour, and mother is Felicidad...has an older brother and older sister...brother Gabriel plays on the Spanish Tour...enjoys music, cinema and fishing...home course is the La Duquesa Golf and Country Club...finished fourth at the Cataluna Championship, the Carris Trophy and the European Boys Championship...member of the 2001 Absolut Spanish team and the Jacques League team champion...the 2002 Spanish Junior champion...played at the Spanish Open...second at the Canarias Championship...first in the 2002 Spanish Junior Rankings and third at the European Junior Team Championship...graduated from Colegio San Jose in June of 2001...lists favorite professional as Jose Maria Olazabal...finished first at the 2002 Spanish Amateur and was first in the 2002 Spanish amateur rankings.
ALEJANDRO CANIZARES CAREER STATISTICS
| Year | App.-Top 10-Rds.-Avg. | Low |
| 2005-06 | 13-6-41=71.22 | 66 |
| 2004-05 | 14-5-43=71.65 | 65 |
| 2003-04 | 14-8-42=71.38 | 65 |
| 2002-03 | 8-3-26=71.65 | 68 |
| Totals | 49-22-152=71.46 | 65 |
Low Round: 65 (four times) most recently in first round of 2005
PING-Arizona Intercollegiate on Jan. 31.
ALEJANDRO CANIZARES 2005-2006 ROUND-BY-ROUND
| NCAA Preview | 71-72-72=215/-1 | T16 |
| Big Ten/Pac-10 Chall. | 70-71-72=213/-3 | T5 |
| Isleworth/UCF Inv. | 71-72-82=225/+9 | T26 |
| All-America Classic | 71-69-73=213/-3 | T21 |
| Ping/Arizona Inter. | 67-66-71=204/-9 | T1 |
| UH-Hilo Inter. | 69-72-72=213/E | T23 |
| Puerto Rico Classic | 69-73-70=212/-4 | T5 |
| Southern Highlands | 78-70-79=227/+11 | T20 |
| National Invit. Tourn. | 67-71-73=211/-5 | T2 |
| ASU T-Bird Invit. | 72-70-71=213/E | T24 |
| Pac-10 Champ. | 75-69-70-68=282/-2 | T4 |
| NCAA West Regional | 68-70-70=208/-8 | T11 |
| NCAA Championship | 73-66-72-73=284/-4 | T6 |
13 appearances, 41 rounds, 2920 strokes, 71.22 stroke average
ALEJANDRO CANIZARES 2004-2005 ROUND-BY-ROUND
| NCAA Preview | 79-71-69=219/+9 | T27 |
| Club Glove Inter. | 75-65-76=216/E | T7 |
| Big Ten/Pac-10 Chall. | 71-71=142/-2 | 1 |
| All-America Classic | 76-72-76=224/+11 | T26 |
| PING-Arizona Inter. | 65-66-71=202/-11 | 1 |
| Taylor Made Inter. | 69-71-70=210/-6 | T42 |
| Puerto Rico Classic | 69-67-68=204/-12 | 1 |
| UNLV So. High Ch. | 72-77-73=222/+6 | T25 |
| National Invitational | 70-73-74=217/+1 | T41 |
| ASU Thunderbird Inv. | 73-75-72=220/+7 | T27 |
| U.S. Intercollegiate | 73-71-73=217/+7 | T18 |
| Pac-10 Championship | 71-69-71-73=284/E | T10 |
| NCAA West Regional | 78-70-69=217/+7 | T39 |
| NCAA Championship | 73-71-72-71=287/+7 | T19 |
14 appearances, 3081 strokes, 43 rounds, 71.65 stroke average
ALEJANDRO CANIZARES 2003-2004 ROUND-BY-ROUND
| Tucker Intercollegiate | 67-72-77=216/E | T8 |
| NCAA Preview | 77-72=149/+9 | T42 |
| Club Glove Inter. | 73-72-72=217/+1 | T3 |
| All-America Classic | 72-70-65=207/-6 | T6 |
| PING-Arizona Inter. | 70-65-71=206/-7 | T7 |
| Taylor Made Inter. | 70-72-71=213/-3 | T18 |
| USC Classic | 67-75-71=213/E | T6 |
| UNLV Champ. | 73-67-71=211/-5 | T6 |
| Hall of Fame Inv. | 71-75-78=224/+8 | T55 |
| National Invitational | 69-73-77=219/+3 | T26 |
| ASU Thunderbird Inv. | 65-66-69=200/-16 | 1 |
| Pac-10 Championship | 71-72-66-74=283/-5 | T2 |
| NCAA West Regional | 70-71-79=220/+4 | T26 |
| NCAA Championship | 70-78-72=220/+10 | T69 |
14 appearances, 2998 strokes, 42 rounds, 71.38 stroke average
ALEJANDRO CANIZARES 2002-2003 ROUND-BY-ROUND
| USC Classic | 68-71-74=213/E | T13 |
| UNLV Champ. | 75-73-72=220/+4 | T34 |
| Morris Williams Inter. | 71-72-73=216/E | T21 |
| National Invitational | 69-73-70=212/-4 | 1 |
| ASU Thunderbird Inv. | 71-68-69=208/-8 | T11 |
| Pac-10 Championship | 72-71-76-69=288/E | T4 |
| NCAA West Regional | 76-72-71=219/+3 | T22 |
| NCAA Championship | 77-70-71-69=287/-1 | 1 |
8 appearances, 1863 strokes, 26 rounds, 71.65 stroke average
NCAA CHAMPIONS AS FRESHMAN (THROUGH 2006)
2006-Jonathan Moore, Oklahoma State
2003-Alejandro Canizares, Arizona State
1998-James McLean, Minnesota
1989-Phil Mickelson, Arizona State
1982-Billy Ray Brown, Houston
1974-Curtis Strange, Wake Forest
1971-Ben Crenshaw, Texas
ASU MEN'S GOLF FRESHMAN SCORING AVERAGES (1989-2006)
| Rk. | Name, Events | Year | Stroke Average |
| 1. | Alejandro Canizares, 8 | 2002-03 | 71.65 |
| 2. | Todd Demsey, 15 | 1991-92 | 72.10 |
| 3. | Phil Mickelson, 14 | 1988-89 | 72.14 |
| 4. | Paul Casey, 12 | 1997-98 | 72.30 |
| 5. | Jeff Quinney, 11 | 1997-98 | 72.57 |
ASU MEN'S GOLF SCORING AVERAGES (1987-2006)
| Rk. | Name, Events | Year | Stroke Average |
| 1. | Paul Casey, 10 | 1999-2000 | 69.87 |
| 2. | Phil Mickelson, 12 | 1991-92 | 69.95 |
| 3. | Phil Mickelson, 11 | 1990-91 | 70.08 |
| 4. | Billy Mayfair, 13 | 1986-87 | 70.59 |
| 5. | Phil Mickelson, 14 | 1989-90 | 70.82 |
| 6. | Chez Reavie, 14 | 2003-04 | 71.05 |
| 7. | Alejandro Canizares, 14 | 2005-06 | 71.22 |
| 8. | Alejandro Canizares, 14 | 2003-04 | 71.38 |
| 9. | Chris Hanell, 13 | 1996-97 | 71.44 |
| 10. | Matt Jones, 12 | 2000-01 | 71.46 |
| T11. | Alejandro Canizares, 14 | 2004-05 | 71.65 |
| T11. | Alejandro Canizares, 8 | 2002-03 | 71.65 |
INDIVIDUAL FINISHES: A look at top-six Sun Devil individual finishes
at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships dating to Jim Carter's 1983 NCAA
Championship through the 2006 championships:
| Player (Year) | Finish | Year | Site |
| Alejandro Canizares (Fr.) | 1st | 2003 | Stillwater, Okla. |
| Todd Demsey (So.) | 1st | 1993 | Lexington, Ky. |
| Phil Mickelson (Sr.) | 1st | 1992 | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Phil Mickelson (So.) | 1st | 1990 | Tarpon Springs, Fla. |
| Phil Mickelson (Fr.) | 1st | 1989 | Edmond, Okla. |
| Jim Carter (Jr.) | 1st | 1983 | Fresno, Calif. |
| Darren Angel (Fr.) | T-3rd | 1996 | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| Chez Reavie (Fr.) | T-4th | 2001 | Durham, N.C. |
| Phil Mickelson (Jr.) | T-4th | 1991 | Pebble Beach, Calif. |
| Paul Casey (So.) | 4th | 1999 | Chaska, Minn. |
| Joey Snyder (Jr.) | T-5th | 1995 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Alejandro Canizares (Sr.) | T-6th | 2006 | Sunriver, Ore. |
