• Slug: Sports–ASU men’s golfers. 1,421 words.
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By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On the course, Arizona State men’s golfers Josele Ballester and Preston Summerhays aren’t exactly best friends.

Like true brothers, they argue, compete, and strive to outdo each other in everything and anything they do.

From the moment they step off the Thunderbirds Golf Complex in Phoenix, they return home, either retreating to their respective rooms or gathering around the television, continuing life as the No. 6 and No. 7 amateur golfers and roommates of nearly four years.

“It’s kind of funny because I love Preston so much but I want to beat him so bad every day,” Ballester said. “We always get those kinds of healthy but funny conflicts on the course. It’s great because it’s healthy competitiveness and that’s what you need.”

Now, heading into the three-day Fighting Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Illinois on Friday – their second tournament of the season – both seniors are ranked in the top 10 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings, played key roles in securing last season’s first and final Pac-10/12 title since 2008, and have made the Fred Haskins Award Preseason Watchlist for the second consecutive year.

“They’re very different personalities, but they get along really great,” ASU men’s golf coach Matt Thurmond said. “They complement each other – both in their play and their communication – understand, respect and celebrate each other. They’re just an awesome combo.

“When signing two guys, and you’re hoping for what you’re hoping for, they’ve been all that and more.”

Starting the 2024-25 campaign with a team title at the Sahalee Players Championship in Sammamish, Washington, where both Ballester and Summerhays had a 3-under 213 to tie for second, the duo added to the growing list of accomplishments they share.

Yet, their backgrounds couldn’t be more different.

It’s why they’ve evolved from roommates into best friends, why their motives, shaped by their differing backgrounds, align, and why Thurmond believes the Sun Devils have a genuine chance to win the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1996.

“If you could have guys like Preston and Joselle as seniors every year, teaching the younger guys and setting a standard, you’re going to always be great,” Thurmond said. “They have passed on who the Sun Devils are, how we compete, and everybody looks up to them and wants to try as hard to compete as they do.

“There’s going to be a handful of teams with a lot of talent who can hit the big shots in the big moments, prepared with extra detail, and tough enough to handle the moments. I think character, at the end, is going to win – and I think we have a high-character team.”

With a couple of clubs and a loaf of bread, Summerhays journey began.

Accompanied by his father, Boyd Summerhays – a PGA Tour coach and former player who was out on tour chasing professional golf – Preston set out to feed the ducks. Realizing it was time to move on at 10 years old, he began competing in tournaments.

Two years later, he journaled that one of his goals was to play golf for the Sun Devils, just around the corner from his house.

Stepping foot on campus as a freshman, Summerhays was joined by someone from the opposite side of the globe.
“We didn’t know much of each other before coming to college,” Summerhays said. “I think we played (against one another) like two or three times. It was great just getting here, developing a friendship and getting really close. It’s really cool to see us develop as players and people together. It’s great to practice with him and get better with him.”

Unlike Summerhays, Ballester, from Castellon de La Plana, Spain, didn’t have former PGA Tour players like Daniel and Bruce Summerhays in his corner.

Instead, he had Olympian parents: his father, José Luis Ballester, was a swimmer, and his mother, Sonia Barrio, won a gold medal in field hockey at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

To stay on the path toward a career like theirs, Ballester knew that college was the next step after being introduced to the game by his father’s friend. Ultimately choosing ASU over Oklahoma State because he felt comfortable spending all four years in the Valley, Ballester didn’t know if he was good enough for the Sun Devils until the end of his freshman year.

He wanted to improve his short game and putting, but mentally, he knew that boosting his confidence was the most important.

Over his years and throughout nine top-five collegiate finishes, he did just that, culminating in winning the 2024 U.S. Amateur and joining a prestigious list that includes Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair and Jeff Quinney.
“It definitely gives me confidence because sometimes I kind of underestimate myself in certain situations,” Ballester said. “Sometimes I believe less in my skills than what I should, but proving myself on the biggest stage in amateur golf shows that I’m capable of anything.”

For two athletes who have a strong sense of themselves, a belief in their abilities and an understanding of how great they are as golfers, as Thurmond noted, nothing tops beating the other.

Still seeking his first collegiate individual win, Ballester hopes this is the year, knowing that Summerhays already has four.

“Obviously we’re super happy for each other when we’re successful, but it just pushes me to want to be better than him,” Summerhays said. “I want to be better than him. He wants to be better than me. We just keep on leveling up in that aspect. It’s really great to have another elite player on the team to keep bouncing back and forth between.”

Thurmond, who spent 15 seasons at Washington before joining the Sun Devils in 2016, has seen three conference Player of the Year awardees pass through his programs – most recent being Wenyi Deng, who became the first Sun Devil to win both Pac-12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year last season.

Although Thurmond dislikes ranking the trio against others he has coached, he couldn’t help but share their laundry list of accomplishments.

“Preston has been a PING first team All-American, and we’ve only had 20 different people in the program’s history be first team All-American,” Thurmond said. “Preston is one of only a few that’s ever won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship here. He’s been a part of the Walker Cup, which only a handful of people have done. Josele has been a PING three-time All-American and will probably be a PING four-time All-American this year. He’ll be only the sixth person to ever do that. He’s only the fourth Sun Devil to win the U.S. Amateur.

“So they’re among the very best to ever play at Arizona State. No question.”

Not only does this showcase their growth as players, but also as leaders.

Some might even say they are role models.

“Their dedication, from getting up early, having a schedule and structure that they follow, and their days being consistent, they’re not wasting time here,” sophomore Connor Williams said. “That’s what I want to bring when I’m one of the upper-classmen as well. They’re amazing golfers, but also great people.”

Ballester added, “I always say that it’s one of the coolest things to have your friends as an inspiration, and Preston’s one of them.”

While Williams hopes to one day be like Summerhays – the No. 1 amateur in the PGA Tour University Preseason Ranking for the Class of 2025 – and Ballester – a top-50 player in the world – having someone aspire to reach such heights is a testament to the legacy they’ve created.

A national championship is the dream and being mentioned among the greats is certainly attainable. But for two golfers from different ends of the world, what Thurmond, Williams and the other five teammates believe makes the duo special is not just the legacy they’ve created and hope to continue as golfers at ASU, but who they are as people.

This, they believe, will be the reason why their legacy will be forever cemented at ASU and hopefully results in a national title.

“I would like to be remembered as someone who was always a nice guy and a happy person,” Ballester said. “No matter how golf is treating me at that time, I’m always going to be out there for anyone with a smile on my face.”

Summerhays added, “I’d like to be more known for who I am as a person, who I am as a leader and just somebody the guys can look up to.”

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