Golf

ASU men’s golf heads to the Williams Cup as the offseason looms

(Photo: Ben Parris/Sun Devil Athletics)
As autumn weather finally starts in Arizona, the strong fall season for Arizona State men’s golf is coming to a close with their final tournament this weekend in North Carolina.

The Williams Cup, held at Eagle Point Golf Club, was the most statistically challenging regular season event for ASU last year. Only one team shot under-par last time around and that was the host school, North Carolina.

The Sun Devils placed third shooting 12-over which was not competitive to UNC’s stunning 11-under. The two current seniors Josele Ballester and Preston Summerhays both finished in the top-15.

With a shakeup in the most recent PGA Tour University ranking, both seniors’ rankings dropped. Summerhays moved back to No. 4 while Ballester is now at No. 3. The gap between them and No. 1 Brendan Valdes of Auburn is under twenty points.

The No. 1 player in PGA Tour U on November 27 will earn an exemption to the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Summerhays and Ballester have something a little extra to play for in this weekend’s contest, a win for either would most likely put them at the top.

The small field includes four of the top 10 teams in the 2024-25 Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll: ASU, UNC, Auburn, and Florida.

The two other current Sun Devils to play in the Williams Cup last year was junior Michael Mjaaseth and sophomore Fifa Laopakdee. Both finished outside the top-20 with no rounds under-par.

Mjaaseth has a hot-hand after going 3-1-0 in the Big 12 Match Play. Laopakdee has not seen any action this year through ASU’s first four tournaments.

The maroon and gold are coming off a 3rd place finish in their first Big 12 Match Play. ASU has finished top-five or better in all fall tournaments so far, looking to keep that streak alive this weekend at the Williams Cup.