Usually a certain amount of adjustment time is necessary for a new recruit to begin contributing to a program.
Last weekend, however, two ASU freshmen carried the women's golf team to a sixth-place finish at the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship, both of them turning in top-10 finishes.
In her first tournament as a Sun Devil, freshman Azahara Munoz finished fifth out of an 80-player field, carding a 1-over 217 for the tournament.
Freshman Jennifer Osborn, in her second appearance in maroon and gold, ended Sunday tied for eighth after turning in a 4-over 220.
"By far and away the best thing about the tournament is knowing now that our freshman can be counted on when it matters," ASU assistant coach Melissa Farr-Kaye said. "The future of the program is in very good shape."
After moving within one stroke of the lead following the second day of play, ASU fell from third to sixth on Sunday despite the stellar play from its freshman.
The Sun Devils turned in a 24-over 312 Sunday, more than 20 strokes over their previous two-day average of 289.5.
"The good news is that we played bad but we were still right there in the end," Farr-Kaye said. "Once we get all engines firing we'll be in great shape."
Senior Alissa Kuczka and junior Tiffany Tavee, who placed fourth and 12th in Japan on Sept. 8 respectively, turned in uncharacteristically high numbers on Sunday with scores in the mid-80s.
Tavee ended the tournament tied for 51st, and Kuczka finished tied for 57th.
ASU coach Melissa Luellen said that poor weather conditions curtailed the usual contributions from her upperclassmen.
"Every day out there you've got to learn something," Luellen said. "I think this was a bit of a wake-up call for the upperclassmen."
Luellen added that despite Sunday's play, the team did well in what was one of the toughest fields it would have to face.
"We are good enough to be there," she said. "We know we belong."
Reach the reporter at michael.fowler@asu.edu.
