According to Clippd, ASU finished No. 3 in the nation last year. Additionally, after making the NCAA Match Play yet again, the Sun Devils became one of two teams to make the match play four times in the last five years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), joining North Carolina (2021-2024). 

However, ASU lost a key player in now graduated Josele Ballester, who finished the season as the No. 5 player in all of NCAA D1 Men’s Golf, according to Clippd. The 22-year-old from Spain recently signed a multi-year agreement with LIV Golf to play for Fireballs GC. 

Though it seems hope is never lost, given the impressive recent performance of the Sun Devils’ sports teams. ASU retained junior Connor Williams (No. 22), senior Michael Mjaaseth (No. 32) and junior Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee (No. 62) – rankings are from the end of the 2024-2025 season. Additionally, the Sun Devils welcomed three new faces to the team with freshman Boston Bracken, Kent Karlstrom and Bowen Mauss. 

So far, the outlook for ASU is bright based on their four matches this season, where the Sun Devils have played in the Sahalee Players Invitational, Wohali Classic, the Fighting Illini Invitational, and, most recently, the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational.

Sahalee Players Invitational 

ASU finished 3-over-par in the Invitational as a team, leading to a first-place victory to kick off the year. Mjaaseth led the charge for the Sun Devils, finishing the Invitational tied for fourth among all players at 1-under-par. Laopakdee also performed well, finishing even par and tied for sixth. 

Wohali Classic 

The Sun Devils finished 14-under-par in the Classic, which will go down as a tie for first place. Williams led the team, tying for first among all players at 9-under-par. Mjaaseth also had another strong showing, tying for eighth at 3-under-par. 

Fighting Illini Invitational

ASU finished 8-over-par in the Invitational, leading to an eighth-place finish out of the fifteen competing teams. Williams held the top score for the Sun Devils, finishing the Invitational at 1-under-par and tying for ninth.

Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational 

ASU finished 27-over-par in the invitational, resulting in a 12th-place finish. Mjaaseth, again, led the team scoring-wise, shooting 4-over for the two-day invitational.

A strong start to the season to say the least, ASU looks to continue this strong start at the East Lake Cup at the end of October (October 27- October 29). The Sun Devils then take a break before returning in January to prepare for the Big 12 Play, which starts in March. 

As mentioned earlier, ASU has been to the NCAA Match Play four of the last five years, which is no easy feat. Can the Sun Devils continue their hot streak and make it back to the match play again this year?