It’s hard to put into context what Wenyi Ding did in Hawaii.
The freshman at Arizona State was a mid-year enrollee for the Sun Devils. And in his first two tournaments, he has bested some ASU records set by former players such as Jon Rahm. In fact, Ding has set new NCAA benchmarks because of his stellar play.
It’s like he’s playing basketball on a five-foot hoop against a bunch of preschoolers, but instead he’s playing golf against some of the best amateurs in the world in stellar college tournaments across the United States.
However, Ding wasn’t the only great story last week. Here’s what you need to know from the past week in college golf.
More college golf: Practice facilities around the country
Ding's NCAA record in Hawaii
Wenyi Ding won the Amer Ari Invitational last Saturday at Mauna Lani’s North Course on the Big Island, topping a field that included six of the top nine golfers in the NCAA individual rankings at the time, and he did so in record fashion. Ding shot 27-under 189, shattering the previous ASU record, Jon Rahm’s 21-under 192 at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational.
Not only is that an ASU record, the 189 is believed to be the lowest 54-hole total in the history of men’s college golf. College golf records are not perfectly kept, but the previously known low score was 192.
A reminder: Ding has played two college events, finishing second and first. He has risen to No. 1 in the NCAA college golf rankings, a spot Nick Dunlap previously held until he won a PGA Tour event and turned pro.
Ding is 44 under in his first six rounds of college golf, another unbelievable mark that’s hard to put into context. His sub-200 totals over his first two 54 holes tournaments are also believed to be the first time that has happened, according to college golf history guru College Golf Book on social media.
The stellar start has put Ding squarely in the conversation for the Haskins Award, and his addition to the Arizona State lineup has already bolstered one of the deepest, most experienced teams in college golf. The sky’s the limit for Ding the rest of the year, though it will be hard to follow up what he has done to begin his career.
Romero wins again
On the women’s side, the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion is also off to a strong start to her college career.
After sharing medalist honors at her first collegiate tournament, the Annika Intercollegiate, Romero took home first all on her own this week at the San Diego State Classic.
That’s two wins in five starts for Romero, who shot 9-under 207 for the tournament, topping Virginia’s Amanda Sambach by four shots at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California. She’s the seventh player in Oregon history to win multiple tournaments.
In the team competition, it was fifth-ranked South Carolina coming away victorious, finishing at 16 over and topping Virginia by one stroke. Oregon came in third at 25-over par.
The win was the third this season for the Gamecocks and the second straight to begin the fall slate.
Georgia holds on in Puerto Rico
The Georgia men’s golf team picked up its first win of the season, capturing the 2024 Puerto Rico Classic with a three-shot win over Virginia.
The Bulldogs finished at 42 under, shooting 9 under in the final round to hold off the charging Cavaliers, which shot 20 under on the final day to move into second at Grand Reserve Golf Club. Tennessee, in its first tournament since Caleb Surratt turned professional to join LIV Golf, finished third at 38 under.
Connor Creasy led Georgia, finishing T-3 at 14 under. Ben VanWyk also recorded a top-10 finishing, placing T-8 at 12 under.
Virginia’s Bryan Lee and Purdue’s Nels Surtani shared medalist honors, finishing at 15 under. Lee shot 9-under 63 in the final round, a big part in Virginia’s big move up the leaderboard.
Oklahoma finished fifth at 32 under but also had two individuals place in the top seven (Ben Lorenz, T-3 and Stephen Campbell Jr., seventh) and three in the top 13 (Jaxon Dowell, T-13).
Illinois holds off LSU in Mobile
For the second straight year, Illinois won the 2024 Hal Williams Collegiate at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Magnolia Grove’s Crossings Course in Mobile, Alabama. The Fighting Illini finished at 25 under as a team, topping second-place LSU by three shots.
Every member of Illinois’ lineup finished in the top 17, though Piercen Hunt, playing as an individual, was the best finisher for the Fighting Illini, carding a third-place finish at 8 under. Ryan Voois tied for fourth at 7 under.
Meanwhile, LSU took first and second in the individual competition. Jay Mendell won the tournament, carding a 10-under 203 while Connor Gaunt finished a shot behind.
PGA Tour exemption earned
Cole Rueck gets a trip to Scotland thanks to his play in Los Angeles.
The Boise State sophomore made a short birdie putt on the 11th hole at Riviera Country Club on Monday to win the 2024 Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase. With the win, he earned an exemption into the Genesis Scottish Open in July.
Normally, winners would receive an exemption for this week’s Genesis Invitational, but since the tournament has become one of the PGA Tour’s signature events in 2024, the exemption is being awarded for the other Genesis-sponsored event on the schedule.
College golf facilities: East Tennessee State and Warren-Greene Golf Center
Our latest look at college golf facilities takes us to East Tennessee State and the Warren-Greene Golf Center.
