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ASU women's golf well represented at U.S. Women's Open


July 09, 2009

The prestigious Arizona State women's golf program will be well represented at the U.S. Women's Open held at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., July 9-12. Sun Devil alums Brandie Burton, Jimin Kang, Azahara Munoz and Anna Nordqvist will each be competing for the Harton S. Semple Trophy. Head coach Melissa Luellen will also be appearing at the tournament... although she will not be a competitor.

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About the Sun Devils Competing:

Brandie Burton
At ASU (1989-1990): Although Burton only attended Arizona State for one year, she made her mark by being crowned medalist at six tournaments including the 1990 Pac-10 Championship. She was named Golfer of the Year by the NGCA and helped lead the Sun Devils to their first NCAA Championship.

Since ASU: Burton was named LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1991... has five LPGA victories including the 1992 PING/Welch's Championship, 1993 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, 1993 du Maurier Ltd. Classic, 1993 SAFECO Classic and the 1998 du Maurier Classic... won the Heather Farr Player Award in 2000... a member of the Solheim Cup team in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000.
Burton's LPGA Bio

Jimin Kang
At ASU (2000-2002): In her two seasons at ASU, Jimin Kang won two tournaments including the 2002 Pac-10 Championships. She received first-team All-American honors her sophomore season after being named to the honorable mention team her first year.
Since ASU: Kang has recorded nine top 10 finishes in her seven year LPGA career, including one at the Kraft Nabisco Championship... crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings last season. Kang's LPGA Bio

Anna Nordqvist
At ASU (2007-2009): Nordqvist had one of the most successful freshman campaigns in Arizona State history. The Swede earned NGCA Freshman of the Year honors and additionally won four tournaments in her two and a half years at ASU. Nordqvist was named a first-team All-American in both her freshman and sophomore years and was tabbed as Player of the Mid-Season her junior year prior to turning professional.
Since ASU: Nordqvist shocked the women's golf world at the LPGA Championship as the rookie took medalist honors in her fifth tour start and first major. Nordqvist's LPGA Bio

Azahara Munoz
At ASU (2005-2009): The ASU women's golf most recent graduate, Munoz became ASU's ninth NCAA Champion as she made a 25-foot putt to win a playoff in her junior season. She was arguably the women's golf program's most accomplished scholar-athlete as she graduated with a 3.98 in psychology and was the first double-winner of the Edith Cummings Munson award, given to the All-American with the highest GPA. She is a four-time All-American and four-time Pac-10 First-Team selection.

Since ASU: Munoz, who is planning on remaining amateur through the British Open, defeated Carlota Ciganda in the Spanish/Sun Devil final at this year's Ladies British Amateur.

National Coach of the Year Serves as Caddie

2009 National Coach of the Year Melissa Luellen will also be walking the course, although she will not be playing. Instead the ASU head coach will be carrying the bag of her most recent graduate, Azahara Munoz and serving as caddie. Luellen has been preparing for her caddying debut and said on Tuesday that she is "having a blast" and the "course is really tough." Luellen herself played in the Women's Open when she was on the LPGA tour.

Articles on Sun Devils at the Open

Arizona Republic on Competitors with Valley Ties

State Press Article on Luellen's New Role

Sun Devil U.S. Open Champion
Sun Devil alum and golfing legend Joanne Gunderson-Carner won the Women's U.S. Open in 1971 and 1976. She was a national champion golfer for the Sun Devils in 1960.