This past week was a restful one for the ASU men's golf team.
A second place finish was certainly not what the Sun Devils had in their minds last week, as they carried the overnight lead heading into the third and final day of The Prestige at PGA West. The Sun Devils were overcome by a dominant final round performance by the Louisiana State University Tigers.
Nevertheless, a three-day total of 844 (-8) is nothing the Sun Devil team should hang its head about as PGA West is one of the tougher venues in collegiate golf. Coming off of the second place finish in The Prestige at PGA West from Feb. 15-17, the men look to add to their early season resume.
Thus far, the ASU team is led by the efforts of the No. 1 amateur in college golf, senior Jon Rahm, who currently boasts an average score of 69.88, good for fifth in the nation in that category.
With Rahm's early season success, he's also moved up four spots to the fifth slot in the Golfstat power rankings for the 2016 collegiate men's golf season.
Rahm also has a solid supporting cast around him. The most notable performances of which have come from junior transfer Jared du Toit. He has consistently performed as the number two or number three player for the ASU men's squad. Having a season scoring average of 71.82 puts du Toit in the 57th nationally for collegiate scoring.
Senior Max Rottluff and junior Ki Taek Lee have also played pivotal roles in ASU's success this season.
Originally from Germany, Rottluff has posted scores of 75, 67 and 72 en route to a two-under par performance in his only tournament appearance this year at The Amer Ari Invitational in Hawaii.
Lee has been a steady contributor to the Sun Devil squad, producing four rounds of 74 and four more rounds of 71 or better.
With solid contributors throughout the roster, ASU currently sits at fifth in the team comparative ranking according to Golfstat. ASU also happens to be the only team inside the top five without a win to their name thus far this season.
If ASU wants to be true contenders for not only the Pac-12 title but the NCAA title, they must fix their final round scores.
The Sun Devils are averaging a final round stroke total of 361.5. At an average of four over par in their final rounds, it's good, but not great.
The men's next tournament is the Southern Highlands Invitational in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 7-9.
Related Links:
Jon Rahm, Monica Vaughn look to lead ASU golf
ASU women's golf finishes second at the Pac-12 preview
Reach the reporter at Braxton.Fox@asu.edu or follow @braxton_fox_II on Twitter.
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