TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona State Sun Devil Women’s Golf team concluded the first two rounds of the Arizona Intercollegiate at Tucson Country Club on Monday, finishing in seventh place with a score of +23 (599). Despite a challenging field that included No. 1 Stanford, the Sun Devils demonstrated resilience and promising individual performances.
Leading the charge for Arizona State was senior Beth Coulter, who carded a four-over par 148 across the two rounds. Coulter’s strong opening round of one-under par 71, fueled by three birdies, set a positive tone for the team. Sophomore Isla McDonald-O’Brien followed closely, posting a +5 (149) highlighted by an impressive second-round comeback where she fired a one-under 71 and sank seven birdies.
The Sun Devils will head into Tuesday’s final round with Coulter teeing off in the No. 1 position, followed by McDonald-O’Brien at No. 2. Freshman Kate Dillon will compete as the No. 3 golfer, while senior Paula Schulz-Hanssen and freshman Pimpisa “Fai” Rubrong will round out the lineup in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively.
Arizona State finds itself in a competitive field, facing off against ranked opponents including Stanford (No. 1), Oklahoma State (No. 20), Baylor (No. 21), and Arizona (No. 22). The tournament also includes Arizona, Baylor, Cal Poly, Charlotte, Colorado, Grand Canyon, Little Rock, Marshall, Seattle University, Texas Tech, and Wisconsin.
The team’s performance comes as Arizona State boasts a roster widely considered to be one of the deepest and most talented in the nation. The addition of freshman Pimpisa “Fai” Rubrong this January has further bolstered the team’s depth, bringing international experience and a promising skillset to the Sun Devils.
Rubrong, currently ranked No. 64 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, has already demonstrated her capabilities with victories at the 2024 SINGHA Thailand Amateur Match Play Championship and a key role in Thailand’s second-place finish at the 2025 Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship. Her presence adds another dimension to a team already anchored by experienced players like Coulter and McDonald-O’Brien.
However, the Sun Devils are navigating this tournament without a key contributor. Third-team All-American Patience Rhodes remains sidelined with a leg injury sustained over the holiday break. Rhodes, a junior from England, has nine top-10 finishes to her name and competed at both the 2024 Curtis Cup and the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Her absence is a significant challenge, but the team is focused on performing well in her absence.
Looking ahead, Arizona State’s schedule remains challenging. The team will continue to test itself against top competition throughout the 2025-26 campaign, with 10 regular-season events planned, including five in the fall and five in the spring. The postseason begins with the Big 12 Championship on April 23, followed by NCAA Regionals and the NCAA Championships in May.
The Sun Devils have already demonstrated their ability to compete at a high level, with Isla McDonald-O’Brien recording a remarkable 66 (-7) in the first round of the Nanea Invitational on October 27, 2025, the lowest round recorded by a Sun Devil this season. Patience Rhodes has also consistently delivered strong performances, with multiple rounds under par throughout the fall season.
The program’s rich history and tradition of excellence continue to drive the team forward. Arizona State has a long-standing reputation as a premier women’s golf school, having won an NCAA-leading eight national championships, including three consecutive titles from 1993 to 1995. The program’s success is further enhanced by the state-of-the-art Thunderbirds Golf Complex, designed in part by Sun Devil alumnus and five-time PGA Major Championships winner Phil Mickelson.
Fans can follow the Sun Devil Women’s Golf team’s progress throughout the season on social media, with updates available on Instagram (@SunDevilWGolf), X (@SunDevilWGolf), Facebook (Sun Devil Women’s Golf), and the official athletics website, sundevils.com.