The Arizona State men’s golf team came out swinging in their first stroke play event of 2026, posting a strong 23-under 265 in the opening round of the Amer Ari Invitational on Wednesday. That effort puts the Sun Devils in third place heading into the weekend, trailing only Stanford and a red-hot Auburn squad that blistered the Mauna Lani North Course for a 32-under 256.
It’s a solid start for a program with high expectations and deep history in this event. ASU is chasing its fourth Amer Ari title, having previously won it in 2021, 2015, and 1995. And while there’s still work to do to close the nine-shot gap on Auburn, there’s no question the Sun Devils have the firepower to make a move over the next two days.
The 54-hole tournament, co-hosted by Hawai’i-Hilo and Hawai’i-Manoa, continues with 18 holes on both Friday and Saturday on Mauna Lani’s award-winning North Course-a track that rewards aggressive play and precision iron work, both of which were on display from the ASU lineup in round one.
Leading the charge was junior standout Michael Mjaaseth, who caught fire with a 9-under 63-his best collegiate round to date. That performance has him tied for third individually, just two shots behind leader Mahanth Chirravuri of Pepperdine. Mjaaseth came into the week ranked 20th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and 23rd on the NCAA Scoreboard, and he played every bit like a top-25 talent on Wednesday.
Mjaaseth’s 63 wasn’t just a personal best-it also added another chapter to his growing legacy at ASU. He’s now posted five collegiate rounds of 66 or better, with three of those coming in the opening rounds of tournaments. That tells you something about his ability to set the tone early, a trait that bodes well for both his individual success and the team’s ability to stay in contention.
Michael Mjaaseth’s Top Career Rounds:
- 63 (-9) - Amer Ari Invitational, First Round (Feb.
5, 2026)
- 64 (-8) - Amer Ari Invitational, First Round (Feb.
6, 2025)
- 65 (-6) - Thunderbird Collegiate, First Round (April 14, 2023)
- 66 (-6) - Maui Jim Individual, Third Round (Sept. 10, 2022)
- 66 (-4) - NCAA Championships, Third Round (May 29, 2023)
ASU has a proud tradition at this event, and the individual title has often come back to Tempe. Five Sun Devils have claimed medalist honors at the Amer Ari: Preston Summerhays (2024), David Puig (2021), Jesper Kennegard (2009), Chris Hanell (1996), and Todd Desmey (1994). Mjaaseth’s name could be the next added to that list if he keeps up this level of play.
Looking ahead, the Sun Devils have more talent waiting in the wings. Head coach Matt Thurmond has already secured commitments that will bolster the roster in the near future.
Oscar Couilleau is set to join the team in fall 2026, while Raul Gomez Montalva (Valencia, Spain) and Bryan Newman (Johannesburg, South Africa) are already on board and ready to compete this spring. It’s a deep and international group that reflects ASU’s growing profile in the college golf landscape.
Here’s a look at the team leaderboard after the first round:
Amer Ari Invitational - Team Leaderboard (After Round 1): 1.
Auburn (5) - 256 (-32)
2.
Stanford (35) - 261 (-27)
3.
Arizona State (7) - 265 (-23)
T4.
Texas Tech (16) - 267 (-21)
T4.
Oklahoma State (11) - 267 (-21)
T6.
Texas (6) - 269 (-19)
T6.
Oregon State - 269 (-19)
8.
Pepperdine (4) - 271 (-17)
9.
UCLA (26) - 272 (-16)
10.
Washington (36) - 273 (-15)
11.
Georgia Tech (17) - 274 (-14)
12.
North Carolina (15) - 275 (-13)
13.
UC-Davis - 277 (-11)
14.
San Jose State - 279 (-9)
15.
Osaka Gakuin - 280 (-8)
T16.
Oregon - 283 (-5)
T16.
Pacific - 283 (-5)
T18.
Hawai’i-Hilo (36) - 285 (-3)
T18.
Hawai’i-Manoa - 285 (-3)
20.
UT Arlington - 302 (+14)
With two rounds left to play, there’s still plenty of golf to be played-and plenty of room for movement on the leaderboard. The Sun Devils have the experience, the depth, and the momentum to make a serious push. If Mjaaseth stays hot and the rest of the lineup follows suit, don’t be surprised if ASU is right in the thick of it come Saturday afternoon.