After stalling out during the final round of the Southern Highland Collegiate earlier this month in Las Vegas, the ASU men's golf team returns to action this weekend at the National Invitational Tourn-ament in Tucson with renewed confidence.
"We know we can compete against the very best in the country," ASU coach Randy Lein said after the team finished ahead of four of the nation's top six teams in Las Vegas. "We took spring break off, which we don't normally do. Hopefully their batteries are recharged and they are excited about teeing up competitively again."
Junior Alejandro Canizares was named Pac-10 Golfer of the Month last week after winning two of the first four tournaments he competed in this spring.
The 2003 NCAA champion stumbled on several holes in the Las Vegas tournament and finished in a tie for 25th at
6-over.
"Outside of three holes, he could have won the tournament," Lein said. "He played 51 good holes where he could have won but unfortunately they wanted to count all 54 last week."
Lein said he expects Canizares, who was named a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award on Thursday, and the rest of the team defend their tournament title this week at the par 72, 7,138-yard, Omni National Golf Course in Tucson.
"We won there last year and that is where Alejandro won his first college tournament," Lein said.
This spring, Canizares continued his winning ways in the land of the Wildcat, winning January's PING Intercolle-giate. The team is still searching for its first win of the season.
Last season, the Sun Devils boasted a pair of wins before they prevailed in the National Invitational Tournament.
Lein said the team is still not firing as a group in tournaments this season.
"No team is going to win the national title with just one player," Lein said. "It was the first time I can remember that Alejandro didn't count a score in the second round and we dropped from first to second. That we can handle, and it let him know and it let the team know that he has some support."
Senior Jesse Mueller said the team gained confidence after they managed a fifth-place finish without Canizares' best.
"For us to win nationals and the Pac-10's, we're going to have to have everyone play," Mueller said. "It's big for us that we were still in it without Alejandro playing really good the first couple days."
Joining Mueller and Canizares in Tucson this week will be senior Pat Moore, who led the Sun Devils with a
1-over par 217 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.
"That was Pat's best performance against a field that strong since he's been at ASU," Lein said of Moore's 14th-place effort. "So he's got something to build upon."
Sophomore Niklas Lemke and junior Charly Simon round out ASU's team. Freshman Phil Telliard will play in the event as an individual.
The desert course should play to the strengths the team, Lein said, and conditions don't look to play a factor.
"We're looking to win this week," Lein said. "The guys are very familiar with the golf course and it's a UA tournament. It's always nice to beat the Wildcats at their home."
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
