The men’s golf team fought through adverse conditions on the final day of play at the Itani Quality Home Intercollegiate, specifically strong winds, finishing sixth place in its first tournament of the year.
The average score of the third round for all of those competing in Pullman, Washington was 75.37, over five strokes over par. Only one Sun Devil was able to find success on the day, junior Max Rottluff who shot a 69.
“For the most part, he just played smart,” coach Tim Mickelson said. “He was able to keep the ball in front of him, (and) keep the ball on the fairway.”
Junior Jon Rahm launches the ball out of a sand trap during an ASU golf practice on Sept. 21, 2012 prior to the Pac-12 Preview in Oregon. (Photo by Kyle Newman)led not just his team, but also the entire tournament with his final round score, fighting with the strong winds.
“If he had shot the exact same round of golf on Monday, he probably would of shot a 64,” Mickelson said. “But because of the conditions it was much more difficult.”
The 3-under total that Rottluff finished with was best on his team and good for sixth overall at the tournament.
Rottluff was one of two Sun Devils who competed at the World Amateur Tournament in Japan two weeks ago; the other, Jon Rahm who won that event, did not perform as well in his first tournament of ASU’s season.
“I think even if you asked Jon he’d even say he played bad,” Mickelson said. “That’s what he told me yesterday and he was under par for the day.”
Rahm shot 7-over par in the final round and finished at 1-over for the tournament.
“I think he probably didn’t adjust his ball flight for the wind as much as he should have,” Mickelson said. “And that might have cost him a couple of shots.”
After the women’s team finished their first tournament of the season, coach Melissa Luellen said that senior Noemi Jimenez, who also competed at the World Amateur in Japan, has struggled with her sleep patterns since returning to Tempe. Mickelson doesn’t think that is affecting either Rahm or Rottluff.
“I think they were fine after about four days,” Mickelson said. “That’s not an excuse. It’s so far after that it’s not really an excuse that we can use.”
The team finished with a total score of 847, 7-over par, but Mickelson sees nothing to be ashamed about where the team finished.
“I would’ve hoped to have finished fourth or better in this field, based on who is there,” Mickelson said. “But we did not lose to anybody that’s a terrible team. Obviously they were all Pac-12 schools, and the Pac-12 is the strongest conference in the country.”
Those who competed in Pullman over the past two days will get a couple of days to recoup before they begin to prepare for their next tournament, the Alister Mackenzie Invitational in Fairfax, California. The two-day tournament begins on Monday, Oct. 13.
You can reach the reporter at wslane@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @bill_slane
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