April 4, 2015
Final Results in PDF Format | Live Results
TEMPE, Ariz. - The San Diego State men's golf team vaulted six places to finish in a tie for fifth on Saturday after shooting a 5-under par 275 during the final round of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational at Karsten Golf Course. The Aztecs recorded the second-lowest team score of the day to complete the 43rd annual tournament with a combined 15-over 855 on the par-70, 6,971-yard track.
All five of SDSU's starters displayed upward mobility on the individual leaderboard, including Ryann Ree (Redondo Beach, Calif.), who climbed 22 spots into a tie for 14th at 2-over 212 after firing a final-round 68. The junior transfer carded four birdies against two bogeys to secure his fifth top-20 performance in six appearances this spring after joining the squad in January.
Xander Schauffele (San Diego, Calif.) finished one shot in back of Ree, tying for the 19th position with a collective 3-over 213 after posting his second consecutive 70 on Saturday. The Aztec senior played bogey-free golf on the back nine, closing with eight pars and one birdie to jump seven places from the 26th spot.
Not to be outdone, SDSU's biggest improvement of the day belonged to PJ Samiere (Kailua, Hawaii), who catapulted 31 places into a tie for 34th after firing a team-low 67 during the final round. The Aztec freshman countered three bogeys with six birdies, including a successful conversion on his finishing hole, the par-4, 446-yard No. 9, to complete the tournament at 6-over 216.
Nahum Mendoza III (San Diego, Calif.) also saved his best for last on Saturday, logging a 70 to jump 13 spots into a tie for 39th at 7-over 217. The SDSU sophomore overcame a double-bogey on the front nine with three birdies after the turn, including an impressive make on the par-4, 493-yard No. 5, which ranked as the sixth-toughest hole of the final round.
Elsewhere, No. 5 starter Brian Song (Beverly Hills, Calif.) carded his second straight 72 to climb six places into a tie for 52nd at 10-over 220. The Aztec sophomore was even through 14 holes during the final round; however, consecutive bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7 stalled his momentum.
Jon Rahm (-15) of Arizona State became the just the third repeat winner in the tournament's history after edging teammate Max Rottluff (-14) for medalist honors, while Iowa State's Nick Voke (-5) finished a distant third, followed closely by Grant Forrest of San Diego (-3) and Baylor's Andreas Gjesteby (-2).
Bolstered by two additional top-10 individual placements, the host Sun Devils (-25) captured the team title on their home course as well, easily outdistancing Iowa State (E), while USD (+5), Baylor (+6), San Diego State (+15) and Iowa (+15) rounded out the top six.
The 31st-ranked Aztecs return to the fairways next weekend when they compete in the historic Western Intercollegiate, April 11-12, at Pasatiempo Golf Course in Santa Cruz, California.
ASU Thunderbird InvitationalFinal ResultsKarsten G.C.Tempe, Ariz.Par 70, 6,971 yards
Team Scores (Top 6 of 14 teams)1. Arizona State 277-267-271--815 (-25)2. Iowa State 281-278-281--840 (E)3. San Diego 283-285-277--845 (+5)4. Baylor 279-279-288--846 (+6)T5. San Diego State 293-287-275--855 (+15)T5. Iowa 285-287-283--855 (+15)
Individual Leaders (Top 6 of 78 players + SDSU)1. Jon Rahm, Arizona State 65-64-66--195 (-15)2. Max Rottluff, Arizona State 66-63-67--196 (-14)3. Nick Voke, Iowa State 68-69-68--205 (-5)4. Grant Forrest, San Diego 72-69-66--207 (-3)5. Andreas Gjesteby, Baylor 66-72-70--208 (-2)---T14. Ryann Ree, SDSU 71-73-68--212 (+2)T19. Xander Schauffele, SDSU 73-70-70--213 (+3)T34. PJ Samiere, SDSU 74-75-67--216 (+6)T39. Nahum Mendoza III, SDSU 75-72-70--217 (+7)T52. Brian Song, SDSU 76-72-72--220 (+10)T64. James Holley, SDSU* 75-73-75--223 (+13)77. Michael Koeneke, SDSU* 79-79-77--235 (+25)
* - competed as an individual