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This year in Pac-12 Men's Golf

Jul 8, 2016

OREGON made it a clean sweep of the NCAA men’s golf titles on its home course as Aaron Wise took home the individual championship with a 5-under 275 and the Ducks defeated Texas in dramatic fashion to capture the team title. Wise edged out USC’s Rico Hoey, who finished second at 3-under 277, and ARIZONA STATE’s Jon Rahm, who tied for third at 1-under 279. The team title came down to extra holes as Sulman Raza knoced in a six-foot putt on the 21st hole to give the Ducks their first national title in men’s golf.  In addition to Oregon, USC managed to advance from stroke play to match play where it knocked off Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals before falling to Texas in the semifinals.

STANFORD won its third consecutive Pac-12 title by posting a 29-stroke margin of victory at The Country Club in Salt Lake City, Utah. Arizona State’s Rahm brought home the Pac-12 individual crown for the Sun Devils as he posted a 12-under 272. ARIZONA’s Jordan Gumberg finished second (8-under 276). CALIFORNIA’s KK Limbhasut, who was the third round leader after firing three consecutive rounds of 66, and Stanford’s David Boote finished tied for third (7-under 277). 

Three individuals found themselves ranked among the top four in Golfstat’s final individual statistical rankings, led by Arizona State’s Rahm at No. 1 (69.41), Stanford’s Maverick McNealy at No. 2 (69.57) and Oregon’s Wise at No. 4 (69.80). All three were also among the top six in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), with Rahm at No. 1, McNeally at No. 2 and Wise at No. 6.

Stanford’s McNealy was named the Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Year, Collin Morikawa of California was tabbed Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Stanford coach Conrad Ray picked up Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his career (also in 2007, 2014). McNealy repeated as the Pac-12 Golfer of the Year after posting four victories during the season, including an impressive performance at the Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo GC where he shot a tournament record 194 (66-64-64). For the second straight year, Arizona State’s Rahm won the prestigious Ben Hogan Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate men’s golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the past 12-month period. Rahm, McNealy and Wise are were named Division I PING First Team All-Americans. Second Team honors went to USC’s Hoey and California’s Limbhasut, while California’s Morikawa picked up Third Team honors.