ASU freshman Louise Stahle can now put another tournament victory in her bag along with her lucky stuffed moose.
After carding a 7-under par 209 at this weekend's ASU/PING Invitational, Stahle has won every collegiate tournament in the state that she has competed in.
"It was a great event and a great experience for what's coming ahead," Stahle said. "I'm just enjoying college golf right now and I'm trying to perform the best for my team."
Not to be outdone, the rest of the Sun Devils captured the team title for the first time in five years and ASU coach Melissa Luellen was given a ceremonial ice bath, usually reserved for champions of the gridiron.
Luellen said the victory was anything but certain as her team finished up on the back nine tied with defending NCAA champion UCLA.
"It's not usually easy," Luellen said. "Even when you go into a tournament with a big lead on the last day, it's almost more difficult because then you are protecting."
Even though Stahle is the top ranked golfer in the country and led ASU in scoring this weekend, Luellen said her team achieved the victory though teamwork and standout performances by lesser-known players.
"Charmaine [Erasmus] really did win it for us," Luellen said of the sophomore whose score was used as a tiebreaker after ASU and UCLA carded 6-over par 870s.
Erasmus, whose hole in one on the 155-yard seventh hole was the shot of the tournament, struggled on the back nine but finished with a 1-over 73. She finished the tournament tied for 46th.
"We've put [how we won this tournament] behind us," Luellen said. "We're going to the Pac-10s and we're going to see UCLA and they are going to be a little bit pissed off."
Senior Erin Tone has become a source of strength for the young team. Tone fired an even-par 72 Sunday and finished the tournament in seventh place at 2-over.
"You can feel the energy when you are out there," Tone said after the round. "Having one win this year was great, but having three is even better."
At times, the atmosphere at the par 72, 6,230-yard Karsten Golf Course was reminiscent of the infamous 16th hole at the FBR Open. Four-time NCAA diving champion junior Joona Puhakka and swimming senior Emerson Ward joined members of the women's tennis team and the men's golf team in cheering on the Sun Devils.
"All the fans that came out to support us really did help us," Luellen said. "It's an energy that's created when you have support and you can hear people clapping for your team."
Sophomore Tiffany Tavee finished in a tie for sixth at 1-over and junior Alissa Kuczka ended the tournament 10-over in a tie for 34th with teammate freshman Brooke Todare who competed as an individual.
Afterward, men's golf coach Randy Lein told Swedish sophomore golfer Niklas Lemke that he wanted him to play like his countrywoman, Stahle, when the men host the ASU Thunderbird Invitational next weekend.
Luellen said her young team got a good dose of experience this weekend when they were forced to rally late in Sunday's round when the winds kicked up, carrying some shots awry.
"It's an invaluable experience for them to know that they can still hit great shots when they are not able to breath and their hands are shaking," she said. "We don't really have one outspoken leader. They just all come together."
With the Pac-10 Champion-ships just two weeks away, Luellen said she would look to Tone for leadership.
"I think she really showed her experience coming down the stretch," she said.
Luellen said she anticipates UCLA to remember this weekend's close loss. "I think we'll have another great battle."
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
