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Sun Devil Men's Golf Falls in Match Play to North Carolina

by thesundevils.com
May 30, 2023

Sun Devil Men's Golf had its season come to a close in heartbreaking fashion Tuesday afternoon, falling in Match Play 1-1-3 to North Carolina in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals from Grayhawk. 

The Tar Heels earned the first two points, leading nearly wire-to-wire in wins over Luke Potter and Ryggs Johnston.

"It was a great year, three years in a row that we've been In match play," said Head Coach Matt Thurmond. "There's only two other teams that did that. It's super hard to do. We were a top five team all year, so it was a great year. It's not only success if you win the championship, you know, we had a good year. I mean, we're going to be really good again. Same thing, get to Match Play and go win a couple of matches. I'm not quite ready to think about next year. It was so long since last year to get to this point and to think that I have to wait another year to get back here, in this moment, or at least back in San Diego, at this moment is tough."

ASU got on the board with a win by Josele Ballester, 2Up, after he took a lead on 11 and never looked back. 

MATCH PLAY RESULTS
Dylan Menante DEF. Luke Potter, 5&3 
Ryan Burnett DEF. Ryggs Johnston 1Up
Josele Ballester DEF. Austin Greaser 2Up
David Ford DEF. Michael Mjaaseth 1Up
Peter Fountain vs. Preston Summerhays, unfinished
Order of Finish - Potter, Johnston, Ballester, Mjaaseth

Mjaaseth had a massive birdie putt on 18 that nearly kept the contest alive, but came up no more than an inch short. UNC's David Ford tapped in a putt to get within five feet of the hole and UNC took the win. ASU finished its home national championship in Match Play for all three seasons at Grayhawk.

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