Sun Devil Women’s Golf Finishes Seventh at Arizona Intercollegiate, Shows Resilience Amid Adversity
TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona State Women’s Golf wrapped up a gritty weekend at the Arizona Intercollegiate with a seventh-place finish, battling through a challenging field and the absence of one of their top players. Over two days of competition, the Sun Devils posted a team total of 29-over (893), showing flashes of brilliance along the way.
ASU entered the final round sitting in seventh after shooting 23-over through the first 36 holes. Early in Tuesday’s final round, the Sun Devils looked poised to make a move-getting to three-under through the first eight holes. But the momentum slowed as the round wore on, and they closed the day at six-over (294), holding steady in seventh place overall.
Young Guns Step Up
With veteran leader Patience Rhodes sidelined due to injury, it was up to the younger Sun Devils to carry the load-and they delivered.
Sophomore Isla McDonald-O'Brien and freshman Kate Dillon each carded an even-par 72 in the final round, leading the team. Dillon came out firing on the front nine, rolling in five birdies to post a one-under outward nine. McDonald-O'Brien, meanwhile, put together a steady, composed round-playing both nines at even par and adding three birdies to her season total, which now stands at a team-leading 71.
That’s the kind of consistency that builds momentum heading into the heart of spring play.
Dealing With a Key Absence
The Sun Devils are navigating this stretch of the season without one of the program’s most decorated players. Junior Patience Rhodes, a 2025 third-team All-American, is expected to be out until at least April after suffering a leg injury over the holiday break. Her absence is significant-Rhodes has nine career top-10 finishes, a top-15 performance at the 2025 NCAA Championships, and appearances at both the 2024 Curtis Cup and 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
She entered the year ranked No. 19 in the NCAA Scoreboard rankings and No. 17 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her return will be a major boost when postseason play begins.
International Talent Joins the Fold
In the meantime, ASU has added a new face with serious credentials. Pimpisa “Fai” Rubrong brings an international résumé that speaks for itself. Ranked No. 64 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Rubrong has already made her mark with a win at the 2024 SINGHA Thailand Amateur Match Play Championship and a standout run with Thailand’s National Team.
She helped lead Thailand to a runner-up finish at the 2025 Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship and has two victories and 25 top-10 finishes to her name. Her addition adds depth and experience to a roster that’s already shown it can compete with the best.
The Road Ahead
Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye has once again built a schedule designed to challenge and sharpen her team. The 2025-26 campaign features 10 regular-season events-five in the fall, five in the spring-culminating in the Big 12 Championship in April and NCAA postseason play in May.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead:
- Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (March 2-4, Hilton Head Island, SC)
- **Dr.
Donnis Invitational** (March 17-18, Kaneohe-Oahu, HI)
- PING/ASU Invitational (March 23-25, Phoenix, AZ - Papago Golf Club)
- Big 12 Championship (April 23-25, Dallas, TX)
- NCAA Regionals (May 11-13, TBA)
- NCAA Championship (May 21, La Costa, CA - Omni La Costa Resort and Spa)
Top Performances This Season
Despite the lineup shuffle, the Sun Devils have posted some standout individual rounds this season. Isla McDonald-O’Brien leads the way with a blistering 66 (-7) at the Nanea Invitational. Patience Rhodes, even in limited action, has multiple sub-70 rounds, including a 68 at the same event.
Freshman Kate Dillon has also shown she’s ready for the big stage, with a 70 at Nanea and another 70 just this past weekend at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge. Beth Coulter and Paula Schulz-Hanssen have added to the depth with strong rounds of their own.
Birdie Watch
Through the season so far, the Sun Devils have tallied 290 birdies and four eagles as a team. McDonald-O'Brien leads the charge with 71 birdies and two eagles, while Dillon (48), Schulz-Hanssen (44), and Coulter (42) are all making their mark. Even Rubrong, new to the squad, has already picked up 13 birdies.
A Program Built on Tradition
Arizona State’s women’s golf legacy is as rich as it gets. With eight national championships-the most in NCAA history-the Sun Devils have long set the standard. Under legendary coach Linda Vollstedt, ASU captured six titles in the 1990s, including an unprecedented three-peat from 1993 to 1995.
In 1990, the men’s and women’s teams both won national titles, a feat no other school has matched.
Home Advantage: The Thunderbirds Golf Complex
The Sun Devils train at one of the finest collegiate golf facilities in the country. The Thunderbirds Golf Complex at Papago Golf Course, designed by ASU alum and five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, gives the team every tool they need to succeed. From indoor hitting bays to a short-game area designed by one of the best wedge players in golf history, the facility is a game-changer.
It’s not just about amenities-it’s about creating an environment where elite players can develop, compete, and win.
Arizona State may have finished seventh in Tucson, but with young talent stepping up, a proven track record of development, and one of the best players in the country set to return this spring, the Sun Devils remain a team to watch as the postseason approaches.