Azahara Munoz Inducted into Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame

By: Connor Smith

TEMPE - The Sun Devil 2024 Hall of Fame class has been announced, highlighting seven individuals whose storied ASU careers have had a long-lasting impact on the department. Within the class are five student-athletes from men's diving, women's track and field, softball, women's golf and football, plus one former three-sport athlete and one head coach who is headed to the school's Hall of Distinction.

Sun Devil Women's Golf legend Azahara Munoz is part of the 2024 Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame class.

"We are extremely proud of Aza for all that she has accomplished in her illustrious career," Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "She is a proud Sun Devil and is very deserving of this honor. There is no doubt she is one of the best players we have ever had come through our program."

The SDA Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to honor the school's most distinguished student-athletes in all sports. Student-athletes become eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame 10 years after their senior class has graduated. The Hall of Distinction, recognizing outstanding contributions from coaches and administrators, was inaugurated in 1982.

"We look forward to this October's Hall of Fame weekend as we celebrate some of the greatest Sun Devils of all time," Athletic Director Graham Rossini said. "The excellence and history of this class spans many eras and we are excited to honor their remarkable contributions to ASU through sport."

2024 INDUCTEES
Micky Benedetti, diving
Valerye Boyer-Wells, women's track and field
Katelyn Boyd, softball
Roger Detter, baseball, men's basketball and track & field 
Azahara Munoz, women's golf
John Spini, Hall of Distinction, gymnastics
Will Sutton, football

Munoz is one of six Hall of Fame inductees as a part of a loaded 2024 class, joined by one Hall of Distinction selection. A luncheon honoring the class will be held on Friday, Oct. 4, at ASU's Old Main, while honorees will be introduced at the Sun Devil football game on Saturday, Oct. 5, against Kansas. Munoz becomes the 20th individual from Sun Devil Women's Golf to enter the Hall of Fame and is the 21st overall inductee with ties to the program. Women's Golf has been represented in three of the past four Hall of Fame classes (2019, 2022, 2024). The most recent representative from Women's Golf entered back in 2022, when Anna Nordqvist was honored. Here is more information on what made Munoz a clear candidate for a coveted spot in the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame:

Azahara Munoz left Arizona State as one of the most decorated golfers in program history.

• Captured the 2008 NCAA Individual Title in dramatic fashion, winning in a playoff to become the ninth Sun Devil to win the National Championship.
• Buried a clutch 25-foot putt to defeat UCLA's Tiffany Joh in the winner-take-all playoff.
• Helped lead Arizona State to the 2009 NCAA Championship, its seventh in school history and first since 1998.
• One of only four four-time All-Americans in the illustrious history of the Sun Devil Women's Golf Program.
• The top-placing Sun Devil at the 2009 NCAA Championships, earning her second-career Top-5 National finish by finishing in fourth place.
• Landed on the Pac-10 First Team All-Conference in each of her four seasons in Tempe.
• Compiled an incredible 31 Top-10 finishes in 39 career appearances as a Sun Devil.
• The first two-time recipient of the prestigious Edith Cummings Munson Award, which is given to the top collegiate female golfers nationally who also excel in academics.
• Graduated summa cum laude with a 3.98 in psychology.
• 2009 Pac-10 Scholar Athlete of the Year.
• Four-time NGCA Academic All-American and two-time ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-American.
• While attending Arizona State, she competed internationally as one of the top-ranked amateurs in the world.
• Finished as the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur, won the 2009 Ladies British Amateur Championship, and competed for Spain in the 2006 Women's World Amateur.

Azahara Munoz has gone on to enjoy a long and extremely successful professional career.

• Immediately made the transition to the LPGA tour following the conclusion of her collegiate career, a rare feat for even the most talented amateur golfers.
• Is in the midst of an extremely successful professional career that has spanned over a decade.
• Made a name for herself early on the tour, earning 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year Honors.
• Has six career professional wins, highlighted by the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship, her first LPGA Title.
• Reached as high as No. 14 in the Rolex Women's Golf World Rankings back in 2014.
• Four-time Solheim Cup winner with Team Europe (2011, '13, '15, & '19).
• Three-time Olympic selection, representing her native country of Spain at the 2016 Rio Games, 2020 Tokyo Games, and 2024 Paris Games.
• Currently boasts over $7 million in career earnings (T-51st all-time).

SUN DEVIL WOMEN'S GOLF HALL OF FAMERS

1995 Sun Devil Women's Golf Team / Inducted 2019
Danielle Ammaccapane / 1984-1987 / Inducted 1997
Jane Bastanchury / 1968-70 / Inducted 1980
Kellee Booth / 1995-1999 / Inducted 2010
Brandie Burton / 1989-1990 / Inducted 2008
Joanne Gunderson Carner / 1957-1961 / Charter Inductee 1975
Heather Farr / 1983-1985 / Inducted 1990
Amy Fruhwirth / 1986-1991/ Inducted 2005
Emilee Klein / 1993-1994 / Inducted 2009
Cathy Gaughan Mant / 1968-1972 / Inducted 1999
Lauri Merten / 1979-1982 / Inducted 2000
Alice Miller / 1974-1978 / Inducted 1985
*Azahara Munoz / 2005-09 / Inducted 2024
Anna Nordqvist / 2007-09 / Inducted 2022
Grace Park / 1998-2000 / Inducted 2011
Mary Bea Porter / 1968-1973 / Inducted 2001
Pearl Sinn / 1986-1989 / Inducted 2002
Carol Sorenson / 1960-1964 / Inducted 1976
Tina Tombs / 1981-1985 / Inducted 2006
Wendy Ward / 1992-1995 / Inducted 2007
Pamela Wright / 1986-1988 / Inducted 2004