Solid First Day for Sun Devil Men’s Golf at Big 12 Championships

Halfway through the Big 12 men’s golf championship after one long Tuesday (36 holes), the Sun Devils men’s golf team is in position to be in position at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa in what has quickly turned into what looks like a two-team race.

Coach Matt Thurmond‘s Sun Devils shot 3-under 277 in the first round to take the lead after the morning session, and halfway through are six shots ahead of Oklahoma State. No. 5 ASU sits at 1-over 561, while fourth-ranked Oklahoma State is at 5-over 565. It has turned into a two-team race with 36 holes to play with only TCU at 20-over 580 (297-283) within 15 strokes of the Cowboys and Sun Devils.

The individual leaderboard looks like the Thunderbird Invitational, with Connor Williams leading the way with a 4-under 136 (70-66). He is three shots ahead of teammates Josele Ballester (68-71) and Michael Mjaaseth (69-72).

Conference Championship Tradition
Since the time it joined the Pac-10 in 1978-19, no men’s golf team was better in its conference tournament than Arizona State. ASU added to their record total of 13 Pac-10/12 team championships since joining the league in 1978-79 in 2024, which was five more than any other school (USC had eight).

Vs. The Field
ASU is 20-3 in head-to-head meetings with Big 12 opponents. ASU is undefeated against Arizona (2-0), Baylor (3-0), Colorado (1-0), Houston (3-0), Texas Tech (5-1), TCU (2-0) and Utah (1-0) and is 3-3 vs. Oklahoma State.
 
Pac-10/Pac-12 Success
Arizona State won 13 Pac-10/12 titles in its 45 chances, including a conference record six straight from 1995-2000. In addition to the six straight Pac-10 titles, ASU’s other seven Pac-10 titles were in 1979 (its first year in the league), 1981, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2008, and 2024. ASU tied for the league title in 2005 with Washington but lost on a tiebreaker formula, and the league decided to go to a playoff format after that season.

MOST PAC-10/12 TEAM TITLES SINCE 1979 (ASU and Arizona joined the Pac-10 in the 1978-79 athletic season)
ARIZONA STATE (13): 2024, 2008, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1990, 1989, 1981, 1979
USC (8): 2018, 2011, 2007, 2002, 2001, 1986, 1984, 1980
STANFORD (7): 2023, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, 1994, 1992
WASHINGTON (5): 2022, 2010, 2009, 2005, 1988
UCLA (5): 2006, 2003, 1985, 1983, 1982
ARIZONA (4): 2021, 2004, 1991, 1987
CALIFORNIA (2): 2013, 2012
OREGON (1): 2017

SUN DEVILS AS PAC-10/12 MEDALISTS: Jon Rahm won the 2016 title and Paul Casey won three straight Pac-10 titles from…