Women’s Golf Finishes Second at Match in the Desert

GOLD CANYON, Ariz. – Sun Devil Women’s Golf kicked off the Spring Season at the Match in the Desert on Monday.

Arizona State (+5/293) finished in second place at the seven-team event that took place at Superstitation Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona. It was the first chance for ASU fans to check out their team in the state of Arizona and the action did not dissapoint. Several Sun Devils had standout performances in their return to the course.

Leading the way for the Maroon and Gold was the duo of Isla McDonald-O’Brien (-2/70) and Paula Schulz-Hanssen (-1/71). They each finished in the Top-5 of the 44-golfer field thanks to rounds under par. McDonald-O’Brien finished with six birdies, the most of any golfer. Grace Summerhays (T15th) also finished in the top half of the field, helping the Sun Devils secure a second place finish. Arizona State beat out defending NCAA runner-up No. 17 Texas A&M, who finished in third. A big reason for the sucess of Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye‘s team was the play on par three opportunities, which was the best of any team at the tournament. The squad has a quick turnaround, as they get ready to head to California for the Therese Hession Regional Challenge running Feb. 2-4.

Final standings | Tournament Stats

Round breakdown
Isla McDonald-O’Brien 
Finish: 2nd
Round: 70 (-2)
Birdies (6): Hole 6 (Par 4; 346 yards), Hole 8 (Par 3; 150 yards), Hole 11 (Par 4; 380 yards), Hole 12 (Par 3; 163 yards), Hole 13 (Par 5; 505 yards), Hole 18 (Par 5; 508 yards)

Paula Schulz-Hanssen 
Finish: 4th
Round: 71 (-1)
Birdies (3): Hole 13 (Par 5; 505 yards), Hole 14 (Par 4; 304 yards), Hole 18 (Par 5; 508 yards)

Grace Summerhays
Finish: T15th
Round: 75 (+3)
Birdies (1): Hole 13 (Par 5; 505 yards)

Patience Rhodes 
Finish: T25th
Round: 77 (+5)
Birdies (1): Hole 10 (Par 4; 336 yards)

Beth Coulter 
Finish: T29th
Round: 78 (+6)
Birdies (2): Hole 11 (Par 4; 380 yards), Hole 18 (Par 5; 508 yards)

Quotables 
“We struggled out of the gate in some unfriendly weather conditions, but I was proud of how we rallied on the back nine,” Coach Farr-Kaye observed. “Great performances by both Isla and Paula to finish in the Top-5. Any time you can finish ahead of a strong program that is the defending NCAA runner-up like Texas A&M, it is a positive going forward.”

Team Standings