Both ASU men's and women's golf teams have a lot of people expecting big things from them after last years’ successful season.
The men’s team finished eighth in the nation according to Golfweek last year and returned a lot of key players including seniors Jon Rahm and Max Rotluff, closing out a team that fourth-year head coach Tim Mickelson thinks very highly of.
“This is without a doubt the most talented team I've ever coached,” Mickelson said. “As long as we stay healthy we will have a very productive and exciting year.”
The team has a good mixture of youth and experience, all but one player on the team has playing experience.
One of the players who should have an impact on this team is junior Jared du Toit, who is a transfer student from the University of Idaho. He transferred to ASU for multiple reasons, including what ASU offers its golfers.
"The amount of resources, coaching, facilities, one of the most competitive schedules,“ du Toit said. "(There's) a lot of great things about this program."
Du Toit had a solid season last year, getting first place in three different tournaments, including the Big Sky Conference Championship. He will join Rahm who has been electric since he joined the ASU program, racking up multiple awards and seven wins.
One of Rahm's awards is the Ben Hogan award, which is the most prestigious award in college golf. He will be leading the team into his final season the way he knows best, by example.
“What I try to do is set an example they can follow,” Rahm said. “I try to practice as hard as I can, get better every day … I try to set a good example so the young ones can follow and they know I’m open to questions.”
This team did lose some players to graduation last year but Mickelson isn’t too worried about how his team will respond.
“Anytime you lose seniors it can change team dynamics,” Mickelson said. “We happened to be in the situation last year where our juniors were more of the leaders and the core than our seniors (were), so there will only be a minimal impact from that standpoint. Certainly our seniors were an important part of our team last year, but losing them won't have as big of a negative impact as it may seem on paper.”
Meanwhile, the women’s team is ranked seventh by Golfweek and also has a new head coach: ASU alumna Missy Farr-Kaye.
Farr-Kaye has been an assistant coach for 13 years for the Sun Devils and was named the interim head coach before the school dropped that tag in June after former head coach Melissa Luellen took the same job at Auburn University. For Kaye, this is her dream job.
“I am thrilled to take over as the new head coach for ASU women’s golf,” Farr-Kaye said. “I believe very strongly about this University and our athletic department and it truly is my honor to guide this program and continue the history of excellence.”
Though the team failed to make the NCAA championship last year for the first time in 24 years, the team has a lot of potential with all the youth on the team. Three freshmen (Taylor Coleman, Madison Kerley and Linnea Strom) will have a role on this team.
The team has no seniors but Farr-Kaye is expecting a lot from her first All-American junior Monica Vaughn, who finished fifth in the NCAA championship.
“Vaughn had an amazing spring last year and vaulted her way to first team All-American,” Farr-Kaye said. “I am excited to watch her continue to challenge herself.”
Though some people might be worried about the amount of youth on this team, it doesn’t concern Farr-Kaye.
“These girls are all seasoned players and I have complete faith that they will compete at the the highest level this year,” Farr-Kaye said.
Farr-Kaye, a two-time cancer survivor, looks at the positive of that battle and tries to use it to help her players when they deal with adversity.
“I have learned early in life how to face adversity and to be tough mentally,” Farr-Kaye said. “Over the past 13 years as a coach, I hope I have taught our players what it looks like to be strong mentally. And I think I also teach them about having a good perspective in life.”
Both teams look like they have the talent and coaching to make a deep run in the NCAA championship, as expectations on both sides are to accomplish great things and compete at the best of their abilities at all times.
Related Links:
ASU men's golf enters NCAA Championships
ASU women's golf's Monica Vaughn finishes fifth at NCAA championships
Reach the reporter at osoussi@asu.edu or follow @omarksoussi on Twitter.
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