In a striking display of skill and teamwork, Florida A&M University’s men’s golf team emerged victorious at the ASU Spring Classic, finishing the tournament with a cumulative score of even par. This impressive achievement marks them as the only team to finish at par or better, setting them apart in a competitive field. Their closest rival, Alabama A&M, finished in second place with a total score of +7, highlighting the Rattlers’ dominance in this event, which took place over the weekend.
The star of the tournament was Alabama State’s Quade Woods, who claimed the title of Low Medalist with a remarkable overall score of 10 under par (206). His rounds of 67, 68, and 71 led him to win by two strokes over Florida A&M’s Phalatphon Viboonviriyasakul, who ended up in second place with a score of 8 under par (208). Viboonviriyasakul played commendably with rounds of 68 (-4), 67 (-5), and 73 (+1). This event showcased the competitive spirit and high level of play that these teams bring to the field, as noted by FAMU Athletics.
Exceptional Individual Performances
In addition to Viboonviriyasakul’s impressive play, Florida A&M had several other notable finishes. Taylor Bell captured eighth place with a total score of 1 over par, while Miguel Illas secured the twelfth position, finishing at 6 over par. Emilio Garcia and Jonathan Scott placed 14th and 16th with scores of 7 over and 8 over, respectively. Sascha Robinson rounded out the team’s performance with a 21st place finish, coming in at 10 over par. Overall, Florida A&M began the tournament with a round of 1 over, followed by their best round of 3 under, and concluded with a 2 over in the final round.
Meanwhile, Alabama State’s team performance put them in the fifth position overall with a total score of 879 (+15). Following Woods’ remarkable finish, they had several other players within striking distance of the leaderboard. Osiregbeme Egbakhumeh and Wesley Bairros Rodrigues both placed 21st with scores of 10 over par (226). Telmo Sueiro finished 24th with an 11 over par (227), while Alberto Banos came in 27th at 12 over par (228). Notably, two more Alabama State players competed as individuals, further showing the depth of talent within their ranks, as described by Bama State Sports.
A Bright Future Ahead
The recent performances from both teams raise the question: What does the future hold as NCAA golf rankings for the 2025-26 season are set to be released on October 15? Many coaches have been advocating for these rankings to come out earlier to provide a clearer picture of their teams’ standings. Mark Broadie’s rankings, which have been the official NCAA golf rankings for the past three years, promise to offer a more precise assessment after several tournaments and collected data, as detailed by Golfweek.
Changes in the ranking system this year include a rule that will prevent overly generous points for dominant winners, although this is currently only being implemented in the women’s division. With the competition heating up, these adjustments might influence the dynamics of collegiate golf in the upcoming season.
As we look forward to the new rankings, the recent tournament results underscore the emerging talents and competitive natures of both Florida A&M and Alabama State. With stars like Viboonviriyasakul and Woods leading the charge, the excitement around collegiate golf continues to grow.