ASU standout senior golfer Chez Reavie has one goal left that he hasn't accomplished -- win a tournament. After Tuesday's third round, Reavie is only 18 holes away from accomplishing that goal.
Reavie is tied for first place heading into the final round of the Pac-10 Championships at the 7,014-yard, par 72 gallery at Dove Mountain Golf Course in Tucson. Reavie fired a third round 70 (-2), to bring his three-day total to 209 (-7).
However, if Reavie does want to grab a hold of his illusive first victory, he will have to battle out fellow teammate, sophomore Alejandro Canizares. Canizares, the defending NCAA Tournament Champion, came out blazing in the third round by firing a 66 (-6), the lowest round of the tournament.
With the stellar play of Reavie and Canizares, the No. 4 Sun Devils accomplished their goal of distancing themselves from the pack. As ASU fired a third-round 356 (-4) to take a nine-shot lead into Wednesday's final round.
After being tied with intrastate rival UA after the first two rounds, the Sun Devils blew away the competition by firing the second-lowest team round of the tournament thus far, and in turn, making themselves the only team under par in the entire tournament.
Behind UA, the UCLA Bruins are the only other team with a remote shot at making a run at the Sun Devils. The Bruins shot a tournament low 352 (-8), to bring their team total to 1087 (+7).
Junior Jesse Mueller and senior Mike Derminio also came up big for the Sun Devils, as they finished tied with Oregon State's Sean Deacon for 17th place.
Mueller finished the third round with a 74 (+2) to bring his three-day total to 221 (+5). Mueller's consistent play has been a key for the Sun Devils success thus far.
Derminio, playing in the last Pac-10 Championship of his career, also fired a third round (+2). Derminio's round was a big confidence builder heading into today after he struggled in his second round.
Freshman Niklas Lemke also proved to be huge for ASU. Lemke showed a lot of poise as a freshman as he fired an even par 72 in the third round, to move him up six spots into a tie for 21st. Lemke showed a lot of poise in the third round, as he refused to let his horrifying first round 81 (+9) affect his play.
The final round should prove to be an entertaining one, as the Sun Devils will be paired with the Wildcats. If ASU outlasts UA, the Sun Devils will bring home their 12th Pac-10 title in team history.
Reach the reporter at matt.reinick@asu.edu.
