Sun Devils Improve on Day Two of NCAA Championship

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Women's Golf showed vast improvement in the second round of the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club.
 
Arizona State (+15/591) moved into 11th place, jumping two spots after shaving nine strokes off their total. Olivia Mehaffey remains in the Top-25 of the 132-golfer field, leading the Sun Devils. ANNIKA Award Final Watch List member and WGCA Player of the Year candidate Linn Grant moved up 18 spots and into the Top-40.
 
After recording six birdies yesterday, the Sun Devils were able to sink several more putts today. The Maroon & Gold finished with 15 birdies today, one of the five highest marks of the day. That included four birdies on the fourth hole and three birdies on the 17th hole. ASU put themselves in a solid position to make the cut of 15 teams that comes after tomorrow's round.  
 
"Day two was better, definitely more red numbers, which was really good," Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "We still haven't quite hit our stride yet, but we are getting there."
 
Olivia Mehaffey had another solid round, matching her total of 73 (+1) from yesterday. She sits three strokes out of the Top-5, with two rounds of the individual title race left. Mehaffey had five birdies and caught fire before making the turn, coming through with birdies on 17 and 18. She is currently in position for her highest career finish at the NCAA Championship.
 
Linn Grant moved up 18 spots into a tie for 34th after carding a 72 (E), matching the best round by a Sun Devil. She had a hot stretch as she made the turn, with three birdies in a six-hole stretch. Grant is only one stroke back of Mehaffey and four strokes back of fifth place.
 
Ashley Menne delivered a huge bounce back performance, equaling Grant with a 72 (E). She moved up 34 places after improving by four strokes, thanks to a steady round. She had birdies on 2 and 4, while also needing only two shots for the par-three 16. She is one of three Sun Devils in the Top-40 of the team standings.
 
Amanda Linner and Alessandra Fanali both trimmed shots off their scorecard, with each of them recording birdies on 13. Four of the five Sun Devils went lower than day one, with Mehaffey tying her first-round score.
 
Stanford leads the way in the team standings after posting a 278 (-10), leading Duke by four strokes. The rest of the field is over par and part of a tight top of the leaderboard, with spots in the coveted Top-8 still up for grabs. Stanford's Rachel Heck is the overall leader at 236 (-8).

"We are doing everything we can to try and put ourselves in a position to have the opportunity to do what we are trying to do," Coach Farr-Kaye added. "We just have to continue to play better, play smarter, and continue to learn this golf course."
 
Serving as the host institution, the Sun Devils found themselves surrounded by supporters for the second consecutive day, with Sun Devil Nation showing up strong. That included Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson and Sun Devil Football Head Coach Herm Edwards. Attendance will be free for the rest of the tournament, making it a prime opportunity to cheer on your Sun Devils are they battle to secure their spot in the Top-15.
 
Arizona State continues the NCAA Championship tomorrow, with the third round beginning at 7:36 am MST. A Sun Devil will tee-off every 11 minutes on hole ten, as the Maroon & Gold will once again be paired with Arizona and Michigan State. Here is a look at how the Sun Devils will lineup:
 
 

 
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
 
Missy Farr-Kaye and the Sun Devils are no strangers to the challenge that the NCAA Championship presents. This is the fourth-consecutive time the team has qualified for nationals under Farr-Kaye, and the 36th time overall. After capturing the 2017 national championship, Farr-Kaye added to her already impressive resume. She has now won a national title at ASU as a player (1990), assistant coach (2009), and head coach (2017). Coach Farr-Kaye and assistant coach Michelle Estill, both Sun Devil alums, played under legendary head coach Linda Vollstedt. Vollstedt led the program to a total of six NCAA championship in the 1990's. Veteran Olivia Mehaffey was a member of the 2017 team that defeated Northwestern to earn the program's eighth crown.
 
The Sun Devil Women's Golf program has done something unmatched by any other NCAA Division I team in their sport – they have won eight NCAA National Championships, including three straight, five in six years, and six within nine years (1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2009, 2017). ASU also has a nation-leading six individual NCAA champions including Danielle Ammaccapane (1985), Emilee Klein (1994), Kristel Mourgue d'Algue (1995), Grace Park (1999), Azahara Munoz (2008), and Monica Vaughn (2017). Prior to women's sports competing in the NCAA, the Sun Devils had four other national champions including Cathy Gaughan (1970), Jane Bastanchury-Booth (1969), Carol Sorenson (1962), and Joanna Gunderson-Carner (1960).

Arizona State is one of six teams to have both the women's and men's teams qualifying for NCAA championships in 2021. The Sun Devils are joined by Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Wake Forest. ASU is also the only school to have won a National Title in both men's and women's golf in the same season (1990).
 
NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

 
 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
 
The championship format consists of 24 teams and 12 individuals completing 54 holes of stroke play (Friday-Sunday). Following the first three rounds, the top-15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team proceed to the final day of stroke play Monday to determine the top eight teams for match play competition and the 72-hole stroke play individual champion. The top eight teams then compete in match play for the NCAA Championship on Tuesday & Wednesday. 

Monday's fourth round of stroke play, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday's match play, will broadcast live on the Golf Channel. See below for the Golf Channel broadcast schedule throughout the championships (all times Eastern Time). The Golf Channel can also be viewed online at www.golfchannel.com or on the Golf Channel app.

GOLF CHANNEL LIVE COVERAGE SCHEDULE 
Monday, May 24 – 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Live final round, individual stroke play coverage)
Tuesday, May 25 – 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Live quarterfinals coverage)
Tuesday, May 25 – 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Live semifinals coverage)
Wednesday, May 26 – 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Live finals, match play coverage)
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Golf Channel will have live coverage May 24-26, the final three days of the NCAA Championship. Stayed tuned for more details on the upcoming NCAA Women's Golf Championship, hosted by Arizona State at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. Visit the Championship Central webpage.
 
For the latest updates and information on 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).