TEMPE, Ariz. – With a new tournament low record as a team (839/-25), the No. 5 Arizona State women's golf team won the PING/ASU Invitational by 20 strokes, their first home tournament win since 2007. This marked the sixth consecutive top-three team finish for the Sun Devils and third team victory of the season, second in the last three outings.
"I am so proud of these girls," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "I'm proud of this team and every student-athlete that teed it up this weekend works hard and does a fantastic job. These ladies have a special place in my heart and it's really cool to get to win with this team."
With the first top-10 finish of her collegiate career, Roberta Liti added icing to the cake with an individual title, the lowest three-round total of her career (206/-10). This marks the 17th individual medalist in the tournament's history for the Sun Devils, first since 2015.
"I'd like to thank the entire staff at [ASU] Karsten [Golf Course], as well as our support staff, and a special thank you to my coaches and teammates," said Liti. "I'm so thankful for each of you and I'd like to dedicate this victory to my mom back home. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her.
The title came down to the final hole with teammate Monica Vaughn, who earned runner-up accolades, just one stroke back (207/-9).
Linnea Strom jumped 27 spots in the final round with a 7-under 65, tying her career low round and finishing tied for fifth, her fourth straight top-10 finish. Olivia Mehaffey earned her third straight top-10 finish, also tying her career low with a 69 (T8).
Madison Kerley finished T-14 playing as an individual while Sophia Zeeb finished T-27, moving up 12 spots on the final day.
Arizona finished second (859/-5) while Washington jumped two spots to finish third (864/E).
"I love the rivalry and friendship of it and that our teams have great sportsmanship," Farr-Kaye said of the Wildcats. "I can't wait to see what happens between our teams in the postseason."
As a team, the Sun Devils matched the program record for top team 18-hole scores vs. par (273/-15) while they set a new program record for top team 54-hole scores vs. par (839/-25), bettering the old record by three strokes (-22).
ASU has just over two weeks to prepare for the start of postseason, with the Pac-12 Championships taking place in Tucson from Monday, Apr. 24-Wednesday, Apr. 26.
Top Team 18-Hole Scores (vs. par)
273 (-15) 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (third)
273 (-15) 2009 NCAA West Regional, par 72 (first)
273 (-11) 2010 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 70
277 (-11) 1998 NCAA Championships, par 72 (first)
281 (-11) 2006 Branch Law Firm, par 73 (second)
274 (-10) 2006 Wildcat Invitational, par 72 (second)
278 (-9) 2010 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
280 (-8) 2007 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (second)
280 (-8) 2006 Wildcat Invitational, par 72 (third)
277 (-7) 2007 Wildcat Invitational, par 72 (second)
283 (-5) 2006 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (first)
287 (-5) 1997 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 73 (second)
283 (-5) 2001 New Mexico State Intercollegiate, par 72 (first)
283 (-5) 2000 Arizona Invitational, par 72 (second)
Top Team 54-Hole Scores (vs. par)
839 (-25) 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
842 (-22) 2009 NCAA West Regional, par 72
851 (-13) 2007 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
878 (-10) 1994 Diet Coke-Roadrunner Invitational, par 74
869 (-7) 2006 Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire, par 73
858 (-6) 1995 Pac-10 Championships, par 72
859 (-5) 1995 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
884 (-4) 1991 Bruin Desert Classic, par 74
872 (-4) 1993 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 73
872 (-4) 1994 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 73
"I am so proud of these girls," said head coach Missy Farr-Kaye. "I'm proud of this team and every student-athlete that teed it up this weekend works hard and does a fantastic job. These ladies have a special place in my heart and it's really cool to get to win with this team."
With the first top-10 finish of her collegiate career, Roberta Liti added icing to the cake with an individual title, the lowest three-round total of her career (206/-10). This marks the 17th individual medalist in the tournament's history for the Sun Devils, first since 2015.
"I'd like to thank the entire staff at [ASU] Karsten [Golf Course], as well as our support staff, and a special thank you to my coaches and teammates," said Liti. "I'm so thankful for each of you and I'd like to dedicate this victory to my mom back home. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her.
The title came down to the final hole with teammate Monica Vaughn, who earned runner-up accolades, just one stroke back (207/-9).
Linnea Strom jumped 27 spots in the final round with a 7-under 65, tying her career low round and finishing tied for fifth, her fourth straight top-10 finish. Olivia Mehaffey earned her third straight top-10 finish, also tying her career low with a 69 (T8).
Madison Kerley finished T-14 playing as an individual while Sophia Zeeb finished T-27, moving up 12 spots on the final day.
Arizona finished second (859/-5) while Washington jumped two spots to finish third (864/E).
"I love the rivalry and friendship of it and that our teams have great sportsmanship," Farr-Kaye said of the Wildcats. "I can't wait to see what happens between our teams in the postseason."
As a team, the Sun Devils matched the program record for top team 18-hole scores vs. par (273/-15) while they set a new program record for top team 54-hole scores vs. par (839/-25), bettering the old record by three strokes (-22).
ASU has just over two weeks to prepare for the start of postseason, with the Pac-12 Championships taking place in Tucson from Monday, Apr. 24-Wednesday, Apr. 26.
Top Team 18-Hole Scores (vs. par)
273 (-15) 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (third)
273 (-15) 2009 NCAA West Regional, par 72 (first)
273 (-11) 2010 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 70
277 (-11) 1998 NCAA Championships, par 72 (first)
281 (-11) 2006 Branch Law Firm, par 73 (second)
274 (-10) 2006 Wildcat Invitational, par 72 (second)
278 (-9) 2010 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
280 (-8) 2007 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (second)
280 (-8) 2006 Wildcat Invitational, par 72 (third)
277 (-7) 2007 Wildcat Invitational, par 72 (second)
283 (-5) 2006 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72 (first)
287 (-5) 1997 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 73 (second)
283 (-5) 2001 New Mexico State Intercollegiate, par 72 (first)
283 (-5) 2000 Arizona Invitational, par 72 (second)
Top Team 54-Hole Scores (vs. par)
839 (-25) 2017 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
842 (-22) 2009 NCAA West Regional, par 72
851 (-13) 2007 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
878 (-10) 1994 Diet Coke-Roadrunner Invitational, par 74
869 (-7) 2006 Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire, par 73
858 (-6) 1995 Pac-10 Championships, par 72
859 (-5) 1995 PING/ASU Invitational, par 72
884 (-4) 1991 Bruin Desert Classic, par 74
872 (-4) 1993 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 73
872 (-4) 1994 Stanford Intercollegiate, par 73