ASU Golf: Arizona State women’s golf wins Darius Ruckers Intercollegiate against stacked field

Grace Summerhays sank her final bogey putt to solidify ASU’s win

HILTON ISLAND HEAD, S.C. — It came down to a putt for the Arizona State University women’s golf to solidify its come-from-behind win over Northwestern. And Grace Summerhays, a name both men’s and women’s golf at ASU are well acquainted with, eyed down the line.

She sank her three-putt bogey on hole 18 and ASU solidified its win at the Darius Ruckers Intercollegiate Championship hosted at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

The Sun Devils shot a 7-over in the final round, but finished 3-over (278-284-291/855) to secure their first win of the season. This was the programs first-ever win at the event, and it did so against a field comprising 17 of the top-25 teams in the country, including six top-10 teams.

The Sun Devils beat out No. 11 Northwestern by a stroke, No. 12 Auburn by two and No. 5 South Carolina, the host, by five.

Summerhays entered the final round with the tournament leading at 6-under, but fired a 4-over during the final round. Nonetheless, her final putt was all that mattered.

She finished tied for seventh at 2-over. Patience Rhodes and Beth Coulter both finished tied for 12th at even.

Coach Missy Farr-Kaye said her and the team have spent the last few months working on carrying a better energy. When the Sun Devils came into the final day trailing, all they could do is play and compete.

“This group has really come together and supported each other. We didn’t start off great today, and I thought, ‘Well, if it’s meant to be, it’ll be,’ and just keep on going,” Farr-Kaye said. “We’ve been focusing on doing some training on being a positive team and what all that means — on the golf course, off the golf course, supporting each other and getting to that place where you can’t control the outcome.”

Farr-Kaye was proud of the mental fortitude her team showed in its winning effort and applauded them for fighting until the last hole.

The women joined the men’s team as Preston Summerhays, brother of Grace and member of the men’s team, helped capture victory at the Cabo Collegiate in San Lucas, Mexico, over the weekend.