(Photo: Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)
No. 7 Arizona State men’s golf encountered bumpy terrain at the Copper Cup, losing to No. 27 University of Arizona. Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, the upcoming schedule could prove to be just as rocky.
ASU finds itself in Kohala Coast, Hawai‘i, for The Amer Ari taking place from Feb. 5-7. The tournament, hosted by the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, features nine of the top-25 teams in the nation.
In the months leading up to the 2025-26 season, Sun Devil head coach Matt Thurmond stated that his squad will be tested throughout the year. In the past three tournaments, the Maroon and Gold fought with No. 1 Virginia, No. 5 Florida and now No. 4 Auburn, along with eight other top 15 programs in collegiate golf.
With adversity on the horizon, cornerstone ASU junior golfer Connor Williams is expected to lead the pack.
The talented Californian, who currently ranks 19th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, secured one of only three points attained against the Wildcats at the Copper Cup. Williams lone loss occurred in the singles department against rival U of A, carding not a single bogey or worse during the round.
While the veteran Williams already established his role, Raul Gomez put his name on the watch list during his debut at the Copper Cup. Gomez won two of his three showings, including being the only Sun Devil to win both singles matches, proving to be a worthy option for Thurmond against another stacked field.
As Sun Devil players continue to show potential, junior Fifa Laopakdee exhibits an opportunity to dominate at The Amer Ari. On day one of the Copper Cup, he lost his foursome matchup with freshman Kent Karlstrom in 5&4 fashion and then lost his singles match later that day.
On day two, however, Laopakdee fought back, winning 3&2 alongside freshman Boston Bracken and winning with the largest singles margin on the team with a 5&4 performance.
If the climb did not look excruciating enough, the defending champions of The Amer Ari are eager to put out the Sun Devils flame.
No. 8 Oklahoma State claimed victory at the Fighting Illini Invitational, where ASU looked lost during the tournament. To add salt to the wound, the Cowboys finished second at The Carmel Cup, arriving with the most momentum out of any team in the field.
Cowboy junior golfer Ethan Fang sits fourth in the WAGR and is tied for first with an 11-under-par performance at Pebble Beach, rallying the group behind him.
In addition, ASU looks to establish momentum early as Auburn hits the links once again. The Tigers played in only four tournaments this season, but with two podium finishes, including a win at The Clerico, they’ve earned a reputation as a strong competitor.
Auburn junior golfer Josiah Gilbert occupies the ninth slot in the WAGR and accomplished two wins this season and an SEC golfer of the week award for his impressive individual finish at The Clerico.
The Tigers played their most recent tournament on Oct. 28, raising questions about whether extended breaks might hinder the squad’s performance in Hawai‘i.
To round out the top teams, No. 6 Texas dominated its schedule up until this point. In the five tournaments where ten or more teams participated, Texas achieved a top-five result each time.
The Longhorns showcased their talent at the 2025 Sahalee Players Championship and the N.I.T., securing victories over numerous top-10 teams.
The Sun Devils continue to face tough opponents, and with deep playoff expectations surrounding the talented roster, the team needs to make its mark in Hawai‘i.
