It’s a rarity these days, but an ASU team came home with some new hardware this week.
No.16 ASU women’s golf put on a clinic in Hawaii this past weekend, dominating a field of 15 teams at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational.
The Sun Devils shot -42, shattering a previous program record of 25-under set in 2022. The low score was the eighth-lowest in NCAA tournament history. In addition, senior Ashley Menne claimed the individual title with a score of 14-under, the best 54-hole score in program history, breaking Brandie Burton’s 35-year-old record by two strokes.
"Winning both as a team and individually this week in Hawaii has been a dream," Menne said. "Happy to be able to see my game trending in the right direction."
It was over for the rest of the field from the beginning. With a two-shot lead (-8) entering day two, the Sun Devils set another record by shooting a 266 (-22) in the second round of the tournament, shattering the previous mark of 17-under and propelling the team to a 14-stroke lead entering day three.
It was an all-around effort for the Sun Devils. Menne had the best round of her career, shooting 8-under and setting a new collegiate low. Redshirt freshman Patience Rhodes finished third, shooting 11-under, while sophomores Beth Coulter (-9) and Paula Shaulz-Hanssen (-8) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
The program is coming off a win at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, as the win at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational marks the 18th tournament victory under head coach Missy Farr-Kaye.
"This is a great win for us. It is two in a row, something we haven't done in a while," Farr-Kaye said. "I am so proud of this team and their resilience, grit, and belief in themselves. They have been working really hard for these moments."
The Sun Devils will now head home to host the PING/ASU Invitational from Mar. 28-30 at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix, where they will be looking to continue their hot streak and reign as one of the best golf programs in the country.
"In a week, we get ready to host the PING/ASU Invitational with a really great field," Farr-Kaye said. "It is a busy time for the Sun Devils, and we are really enjoying it."
Edited by Alfred Smith III, Shane Brennan and Angelina Steel.
Reach the reporter at atschmi2@asu.edu and follow @ASchmidtSports on X.
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Aaron Schmidt is a sports reporter who covers ASU Baseball and ASU Women’s Golf for The State Press. He previously covered Higley High School football for AZPreps365.
