No. 9 Arizona State (36-over 876) finished tied for third with Louisiana State at the Schooner Fall Classic, held at the Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Okla. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State (28-over 868) won the tournament, followed by Oklahoma (34-over 874).
Junior Noemi Jimenez (5-over 215) led ASU in the tournament. She started off slow, going 5-over 75, but managed to go even for the next two days. Jimenez finished tied for eighth for her third top-10 finish on the season.
Coach Melissa Luellen said that Jimenez is their number one player on the ASU team and that she has matured.
“She’s pushed every day by her teammates,” Luellen said. “She’s matured and gets the ball in the hole and stays patient. She gets stronger as tournament goes on. If we (do) that as a team, that can make our approach better. “
ASU was in the thick of the tournament all three days and was even tied for first after the first round of play. The Sun Devils’ big play on day one was made by senior Laura Blanco (14-over 224), when she sunk a hole-in-one on the 11th hole.
Blanco finished tied for 36th with fellow Sun Devil freshman Monica Vaughn (14-over 224).
Blanco said she was very happy and excited to get the hole-in-one.
“It was the first day; it was really cold and windy,” Blanco said. “I was playing really well, one under on the day before the hole-in-one. It came out of the shot, and I hit it decent with my nine iron. It landed and starting rolling in the hole, and it was very helpful. I was very happy and excited. It was my fourth (career) hole-in-one.”
Luellen was also very impressed by Blanco’s hole-in-one.
“What’s the goal in golf?" Luellen said. "To get the ball in the hole and to get it in one is awesome.”
On the final round, Jimenez and senior Daniela Ordonez (22-over 232) shot a team-low 69 to try and keep ASU within striking distance. Senior Justine Lee (12-over 222) finished tied for 29th and Ordonez finished tied for 61st.
Luellen said that the conditions of the tournament were very difficult, and that the team still has areas to improve.
“The conditions were difficult and long during the first two days, but (Monday) they were beautiful,” Luellen said. “They moved the tees all over place; it was like a whole new course. Some teams adapted well to the change. There were birdie opportunities for us. We have to sharpen our control putting and green reading.”
The Sun Devils do not have much time to rest as they have the Betsy Rawls Invitational this weekend October 13-15 in Austin, Texas.
It will be another challenge for the Sun Devils to accomplish, but Luellen said that her players will be ready and care about their golf game.
“One of the things I’ve learned is that these student athletes care about their academics and golf. But this week, because it is so short, they will turn in their schedules and have to meet with their teachers and tutors,” Luellen said. “It is a different course (in Texas), same grass as this one though. We have to continue to be exposed to the difficult chipping Bermuda grass.”
Rest will be very important for ASU as this will be their fourth tournament in the past six weeks.
Blanco said they will find time to practice, but rest is their priority.
“Right now rest is important,” Blanco said. “We will take one day off to figure out our schedule and meet with our professors. We will practice our weakest side from the tournament, which was our short game.”
ASU finished in fourth place at the Betsy Rawls Invitational last season.
Reach the reporter at afeyrer@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter at @coffeeblack910
