Podium finish for Arizona State at first Big 12 Match Play

(Photo: Ben Parris/Sun Devil Athletics)

On a team where the seniors are making the headlines, Peer Wernicke is making a name for himself with his impressive start to his freshman season and final-round performance to propel Arizona State Men’s Golf to a third-place finish at the Big 12 Match Play.

The Sun Devils were tied with Kansas 2-2 in the third-place match on Wednesday in Texas. Wernicke was all square with Kansas’ Max Jelinex with five holes to play. Wernicke ripped off three straight birdies on the final holes to win the match individually 3&2 and clinch third for Arizona State.

Wernicke hasn’t finished outside the top 15 in the three-stroke play tournaments for ASU and with his performance at The Club at Houston Oaks, the German is in the early mix for Big 12 Freshman Golfer of the Year consideration.

In the group play sessions, Arizona State performed smoothly. The opening day saw a defeat of Cincinnati, 4-1, followed with a tie against Iowa State. ASU went against Baylor in the semifinals and didn’t have enough juice, ultimately falling 3-2. 

Junior Michael Mjaaseth and senior Josele Ballester were the lone two to win matches against Baylor.

Mjaaseth has had a slow start to the season but his 3-1-0 record at the event shows positive momentium. Mjaaseth had two dominant 5&4 wins in the two pool session matches.

Ballester was recently named Big 12 Golfer of the Month for September after his tie for second at Sahlee and win at Olympia Fields. After going to Spain to play in the Open de España on the DP World Tour, Ballester rejoined the team for the match play event and went 3-1-0. 

Senior Preston Summerhays went 2-2-0 over the three-day event. Summerhays two losses both came on the last hole of his matches.

In the commanding win over Cincinnati, sophomore Connor Williams got his only win by taking down Rylan Wotherspoon 4&3. Fellow sophomore Nick Prieto substituted for Williams in the Kansas match and took a 4&2 loss.

Coach Thurmand’s seven-man roster still has not finished outside of the top-5 in any tournament of the 2024-2025 season.

Arizona State will fly to North Carolina for their last fall tournament, the Williams Cup. The Sun Devils placed third last year with Ballester and Summerhays earning top-20 finishes. The tournament is a three-round event held at Eagle Point Point Golf Club from October 19-21.

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