Both ASU golf teams are in California Monday, and each feels it has something to prove.
For the Sun Devil men, a fast start is on the agenda — a goal it needs to reach to keep up with the blistering pace set by Pac-10 teams so far this season.
In each of its first two tournaments, ASU has torched the course during the final round of play. But in the first two rounds, the Sun Devils dug too big a hole to climb out of, finishing 10th and sixth, respectively.
Coach Randy Lein said his team, ranked No. 9 in the first poll of the spring season, has worked hard on putting in the past two weeks, as that is where ASU has lost strokes in its first two events of the season.
This week’s event, the USC Invitational, will again feature quality Pac-10 competition in No. 2 Stanford, No. 14 Oregon, No. 16 California, No. 18 USC and No. 20 Oregon State.
The tournament, hosted by USC at the North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif., is a 54-hole event that will take place Monday and Tuesday.
The Sun Devils have been led this season in both events by junior Jesper Kennegard. The Sweden native took the college golf world by storm as a freshman two seasons ago and was named an All-America honorable mention, one of just 10 freshmen to earn the distinction.
After some struggles to begin his sophomore season, Kennegard was the Sun Devils’ top performer during ASU’s postseason run. He has posted rounds of 68 and 66, respectively, in the final rounds of ASU’s last two events.
For the ASU women, the target that comes along with being the defending champions didn’t seem to weigh the Sun Devils down last week.
A 12-stroke win at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson last week featured four top-10 finishes for ASU golfers.
Senior Juliana Murcia continued a stellar start to her final season in maroon and gold by finishing second.
“She just displayed tremendous senior leadership and it was a lot of fun to watch,” coach Melissa Luellen said of Murcia. Murcia had plenty of help from her teammates.
Freshman Jennifer Johnson logged what was already her fourth top-10 finish of her rookie season by tying for fourth. Sophomore Carlota Ciganda also earned her top-10 finish of the season by finishing tied for seventh.
Junior Jaclyn Sweeney rounded out the top-10 finishers by placing 10th.
Today the Sun Devils begin play in the three-day Bruin/Wave Invitational at the Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Canyon County, Calif.
A cut above
While qualifying for the Waste Management Phoenix Open was a dream come true for senior Braxton Marquez, he didn’t settle for just making it there.
Marquez made the cut Friday after posting a 6-under 65 in the tournament’s second round. Marquez’s stellar round, which featured seven birdies, was tied for the fourth-lowest round in the tournament.
He followed that with a 1-under 70 in Saturday’s third round.
ASU junior Phillip Francis failed to make the cut, but he shot a 3-under 68 on Friday after struggling to a 5-over 76 during Thursday’s first round.
Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu
