NAWILIWILI — Arizona State University ran away with the 2024 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational intercollegiate golf tournament on Tuesday after posting an 822 tournament total at the Ocean Course at Hokuala.
University of Washington and University of North Carolina finished tied for second with a team total of 847. Two-time defending champion Sacramento State finished tied for fourth at 863.
“It’s really exciting to see their hard work pay off. It’s been a bit of a journey, and it’s certainly not an overnight success,” said ASU Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye.
“We’ve been really working hard for a long time, and we’ve had a lot of youth on our team — these ladies have really grown up in the past year, and to watch them compete this way is really exciting and finally believing what is possible.”
The Sun Devils’ Ashley Menne topped the individualist play, finishing with a 14-under 202 following her final-day 3-under 69.
“My first couple of holes were great,” Menne said. “I was in the flow, I was making putts and hitting it close. But I kind of fell off a bit on the back nine, and so it was pretty nice to make that final putt on 18.”
Menne, enjoying her first 54-hole collegiate win, was joined by fellow Sun Devil Patience Rhodes (205), Beth Coulter (207), and Paula Schulz-Hanssen (208) to finish in the top six of the 54-hole tournament that started on Sunday.
“I’m super honored — I’m so grateful that it was here in Hawai‘i, such a beautiful place,” Menne said. “It was four years coming, finally getting the job done, and winning an individual championship, it feels nice.”
The University of Hawai‘i women’s golf team finished in 15th place following Tuesday’s final round of the 38th Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational. The Rainbow Wahine finished with a 302 on Tuesday to end with a 911 tournament total.
Hawai‘i’s top finisher was Emiko Sverduck who finished with a 1-over 73 on Tuesday for a 6-over 222 total and a tie for 47th place.
