Women's Golf Set to Host Sun Devil Winter Classic

Live Scoring | International Sun Devils Shining in the Desert | Sun Devil Women's Golf Wins the Match in the Desert | 2021 Season Preview

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Women's Golf will host the inaugural Sun Devil Winter Classic at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale from February 15-17.
 
Arizona State is set to compete in their second event of the 2021 season after opening the campaign with a dominating victory at the Match in the Desert in January. This will be the first of two tournaments that the Sun Devils will host in Arizona, with the PING/ASU Invitational taking place March 26-28 at Papago Golf Club. 
 
"The team is ready to continue the momentum from the opening-season win at our first home tournament of the season," Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "All of them have been working hard to improve their game and I am looking forward to seeing the results on the course." 
 
Limited fan attendance will be permitted, with CDC and Arizona State Health Guidelines in place. Spectators must wear a mask and follow all Talking Stick Golf Club COVID rules and regulations, which can be found here. 
 
"We are really excited to have some of our hometown fans get the chance to see our team," Coach Farr-Kaye mentioned. "The support of our fan base means so much to us, so it is nice to have a chance to safely open this up to the public."
 
Coach Farr-Kaye's team will be joined by nine other Pac-12 programs at Talking Stick Golf Club, making the Sun Devil Winter Classic one of the most highly-anticipated tournaments of the Spring. The Pac-12 Conference is once again the strongest and deepest conference in the country. 
 
Six of the 10 teams competing at the event earned a spot in Golf Channel's Preseason Top-30 Team Power Rankings. Nine of the 54 individuals in the field made Golf Channel's Preseason Top-30 Individual Power Rankings. 
 
Arizona State, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Washington, and Washington State travel to Scottsdale to contend for the first-ever Sun Devil Winter Classic Championship. Each team will have a lineup of five golfers in addition to four playing as individuals. 
 
The Sun Devils feature one of the deepest rosters in the country, giving Coach Farr-Kaye plenty of options when it comes time to set her lineup. Because ASU is the host and the proximity of the tournament, seven golfers will make the trip to Scottsdale to compete for the Maroon & Gold. 
 
The five in the lineup this week that will count towards the total are Linn Grant, Olivia Mehaffey, Alessandra Fanali, Alexandra Forsterling, and Amanda Linner. Raquel Olmos will make her season debut and Ashley Menne will make her collegiate debut, both participating as individuals.
 
Tee-times start at 7:45 am MST and run until 10:18 am MST, as the field plays in groups of three. The first Sun Devil will tee-off at 7:45 am MST, with another starting every nine minutes after that. Individuals Raquel Olmos (10:09 am MST) and Ashley Menne (10:18 am MST) tee-off later in the day.
 
Three stroke-play rounds of 18 holes will take place from Feb. 15-17, with live scoring provided by Golfstat at the following link.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The No. 4 Sun Devil Women's Golf team opened the 2021 season with a victory at the Match in the Desert, defeating No. 7 UCLA and Denver at Superstition Mountain Golf Club.
 
Arizona State battled extremely cold and windy conditions on Monday, playing with poise and confidence down the stretch cruising to a season-opening victory. The Maroon and Gold finished 14 strokes ahead of second place, dominating the field despite experiencing harsh weather for all 36 holes. 
 
Alexandra Forsterling and Linn Grant split Individual medalist honors, shooting 143 (-1) to claim the title. Four of the top-six finishers were Sun Devils, as Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye's squad demonstrated why they are considered one of the top teams in the country. The average round for a Sun Devil was 72.5, compared to a 75.5 stroke average from the rest of the field. 
 

THE COURSE
Located near Talking Stick Resort and Casino, the Talking Stick Golf Club is one of the most popular in the State for both locals and tourists. The Sun Devil Winter Classic will be played on the Piipaash Course (formerly South Course), set up at 6,482 yards for a Par 72. With its tree lined fairways and raised greens defended at the sides offers a more straightforward style of play. It presents its challenge and strategy in an open and clear-cut fashion.
 
PLAYER NOTES
 
LINN GRANT

• One of the most decorated golfer's in the nation, ranked as the No. 2 individual in Golf Channel's Preseason Spring Power Rankings. 
• Currently the No. 2-ranked female amateur in the World, reaching the highest WAGR of her career.
• Named to the Preseason ANNIKA Award Watch List as one of the candidates for National Player of the Year back in September.
• Managed to remain in the Top-10 of the Golfstat Individual Rankings all of last season, eventually settling at No. 8 in the final edition.
• One of 11 recognized by the WGCA as a First Team All-American in 2020
• Golfweek tabbed her as a Second Team All-American.
• Earned a spot on the ANNIKA Award Spring Watch List as one of 15 finalists for National Player of the Year.
• Finished in the Top-10 at five of her seven tournaments and carded a team-high 12 rounds under par.
• Took home Individual Medalist honors while leading her team to a victory at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, the only Sun Devil to pick up an individual win in 2020
• The highest finishing Sun Devil at the IJGA Collegiate Invitational in Guadalajara, putting together one of three Top-10 finishes (T-6th).
• Played brilliantly at the Stanford Intercollegiate (-6/207), placing third individually amongst one of the strongest fields in the country. A big reason why Arizona State captured their most significant Team Championship of the season, beating out six other Top-25 teams.
• Carded back-to-back 69's (-2) at the U.S. Women's Open, making the cut at the LPGA Major Championship. Ended the tournament with a 291 (+7), finishing in the Top-25 among the best golfers in the World in a tie for 23rd.  Among the 24 amateurs in the field, she finished with the fourth-best total, one of only six amateurs to make the cut.
• Helped Sweden win their third-consecutive European Team Championship and also finished in sixth at the European Amateur Championships.
• Palmer Cup champion and two-time Augusta National Women's Amateur invitee.

ALESSANDRA FANALI

• Emerged as a reliable and consistent piece of the Sun Devil lineup, helping Arizona State finish at No. 3 in the final national polls last season.
• Tabbed by Golfweek as a Third-Team All-American.
• Recognized as a WGCA Honorable Mention All-American.
• Five Top-20 finishes, highlighted by her second career Top-10.
• Played her best golf at the end of the season, earning a tie for sixth place at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, the final tournament of 2020.
• Individual Champion of the Duel in the Desert (-4/68), helping lead the Sun Devils to victory over Denver and No. 16 UCLA while beating out 20 other golfers for the top spot.
• Recorded her first collegiate hole-in-one on the par-three 15th hole at the Royal Golf Club (Lake Elmo, MN) in the first round of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
• Back-to-back Top-15 finishes to start the season, a sign of the breakout sophomore season that was to come.
• Earned a 10th place finish at the Windy City Collegiate, moving-up 13 spots on the final day thanks to a 69 (-3).
• Two rounds in the 60s, including a team-best 68 (-4) in the first round of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
• 2020 WGCA All-American Scholar
• Finished in the Top-15 at the 2020 European Amateur (13th) at the European Amateur Championships this offseason. Also represented Italy at the European Team Championships, helping them finish 2-1 in match play and in fifth place.

RAQUEL OLMOS

• One of the Sun Devils' most experienced golfers, having played in 33 tournaments during her career including two NCAA Championships.
• Six career Top-10 finishes on her resume, with three coming last season.
• Proved why she has been a mainstay in the Sun Devil lineup over the past three years, putting together an excellent junior year last season.
• Recorded three Top-10 finishes, highlighted by a fifth-place effort (-3/210) at the Stanford Intercollegiate, helping the Sun Devils claim their first Team Championship of the season.
• Played some of her best golf towards the end of the season, earning fifth place at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, leading Arizona State to their second Team Title.
• Highest finishing Sun Devil at the Pac-12 Preview (-5/214), placing sixth.
• Finished in the Top-10 while helping Arizona State defeat Denver and No. 16 UCLA at the Duel in the Desert
• Carded three rounds in the 60s, while ending five of her rounds under par.
• 2020 WGCA All-American Scholar
• Competed at the U.S. Women's Amateur, earning the 18th overall seed after stroke play in a field of 132 golfers.

ALEXANDRA FORSTERLING

• Rising junior that has been a mainstay in the Sun Devil lineup over the past two season, competing in 17 of 19 events in her career.
• Eight Top-20 finishes to her name, including three Top-10's.
• Showed promise during a sophomore season in which she played in six of eight events
• Finished in a tie for eight at the Duel in the Desert, helping lead the Sun Devils to victory over Denver and No. 16 UCLA.
• Earned back-to-back Top-20 finishes to start her season.
• Posted her second-highest career finish, tying for 11th at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
• Shot her fifth-career round in the 60s during the second day of the ANNIKA Intercollegiate.
• Consistent performer at the Windy City Collegiate, helping the Sun Devils finish five-under as a team.
• Ended under par at two tournaments in 2020 after not doing so in 2019. 
• 2020 WGCA All-American Scholar.
• Represented Germany at the 2020 European Team Championships, helping them make a run to the match play finals for the first time since 2009. Went head-to-head with teammate Linn Grant and Sweden in the European Team Championship, finishing the event 2-1 in match play.

AMANDA LINNER

• Mid-year addition to the last year's Arizona State roster, arriving prior in the 2020 Spring semester from Sweden.
• Made an immediate impact in the Maroon & Gold, quickly earning a spot in the lineup.
• Displayed flashes of brilliance during an abbreviated freshman campaign.
• Competed in three tournaments and four events total, accumulating valuable experience as she looks forward to her second season in Tempe.
• Made her Sun Devil debut at the Duel in the Desert in January, helping Arizona State defeat Denver and No. 16 UCLA to capture the event title.
• Showed her development by earning a career-best finish (T-28th) at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, the final tournament of the season. Arizona State captured their second Team Championship at this event, the first with Linner in the lineup
• Participated in the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur back in 2019, one of five Sun Devils to play in the prestigious event
• Played in the 2018 AJGA's Thunderbird International Junior Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, the sight of the 2021-23 NCAA Championships.

ASHLEY MENNE

• One of two incoming highly-touted local recruits ready to make their Sun Devil Women's Golf debut in 2021.
• Earned five wins in six Arizona Golf Association events during her offseason. 
• 2020 Women's State Amateur Stroke Play Champion, winning the title at Grayhawk Golf Club, the home of the 2021-23 NCAA Championships.
• Three-time AIA Division I Individual State Champion and one of two signees out of local high school Xavier Prep.
• Took home the 2018 state title by going four-under at Tucson National Golf Course.
• Captured the 2017 individual state championship thanks to a three-under performance.
• Shared medalist honors in a rain-shortened 2016 AIA championship event her freshman season.
• In all three seasons (2016-18), she would lead the Gators to the AIA Division I Team State Championship in dominating fashion.
• During her junior season in 2018, Xavier won the title by an incredible 33-strokes.
• One of a select few female Arizona High School golfers that won three Division I individual state titles.
• Received the Arizona High School Girls Golfer of the Year Award at the AZ Central Sports Awards each of the four years she was a Gator (2016-19).
• In addition to her success at the prep level, she has also earned hardware at some of the top competitive junior events.
• Set a record by collecting four consecutive Junior Golf Association of Arizona individual titles. As a result, she is a four-time winner of the JGAA Player of the Year Award (2016-19).
• Three-time Jox Sports Arizona Junior Golfer of the Year (2018-20).
• Earned 43 total victories at JGAA events in her four years prior to arriving in Tempe
• Has ranked as high as 114th in the Women's Amateur Golf Rankings.

BREYANA MATTHEWS

• Talented local standout who is one of two freshman phenoms out of local high school Xavier Prep.
• Stayed busy this offseason competing in several local tournaments, including earning a victory at the Arizona Golf Association Women's Scotch Play Championship.
• Knocked off the top-seeded golfer to reach the 2020 AGA State Amateur Match Play semi-finals.
• Played an integral role in the Gators winning two AIA Division I State Championship in 2017 & 2018.
• Finished in the Individual Top-15 at her final three State Championship events, highlighted by a third-place finish (+1/145) in 2018.
• Teamed up with future Sun Devil teammate Ashley Menne to help Xavier win the 2018 title by an astounding 33 strokes.
• Team's second-highest finisher at the 2019 State Championship, earning 14th place in a field of 73 golfers.
• One of three Gators to finish in the Top-15 at the 2017 tournament, which Xavier won by nine strokes.
• AZ Central tabbed her as a finalist for the Arizona High School Girls Golfer of the Year in 2018.
• Comes to Tempe with extensive experience in national and local tournaments, having competed in AJGA and JGAA events throughout her career.
• At the 2020 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier in Mission Hills, Kansas, she teamed up with her partner to finish with the lowest score (68) of anyone at the regional.
• Has compiled eight top-three finishes at JGAA events, including four victories.
• Won the 2019 Thunderbird Invitational-PING Jr Masters at her future collegiate home, Papago Golf Course.
• She also has titles at the 2018 Northern AZ Jr Championship, 2017 AM&E Classic - Bryce Molder Jr Masters, and the 2017 Holiday Challenge.
• Finished second to Ashley Menne at the 2018 FCWT Junior Golf Tournament at Grayhawk Golf Club, home of the 2021-23 NCAA Championships.

HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Winter Classic and the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com).