ASU golfer Canizares ready to take next step

Arizona State’s Alejandro Canizares recently was named Pac-10 Player of the Year, an award the senior from Spain also laid claim to last season.

Quite a feat, considering the last player to repeat as the conference’s top golfer was Stanford’s Tiger Woods back in 1995-96.

Soon, Canizares will become the fourth ASU standout to earn some type of All-American recognition in four straight years, following former Sun Devils Billy Mayfair, Phil Mickelson and Todd Demsey.

If that’s not enough to tell you how good this guy is, Canizares also has been selected as a finalist for the 2006 Byron Nelson Award. That award not only takes in the fact that Canizares had an illustrious playing career, but that he also excelled in academics.

Canizares has been that kind of student-athlete ever since he left Malaga in the winter of 2003 and turned up — site unseen — in Tempe. His arrival was a sudden impact, as he shocked the college ranks during his first semester on campus by winning the NCAA individual crown.

Since then Canizares has captured five more tournament titles, which places him in a tie for third place on the all-time list behind Mickelson (16) and Mayfair (eight), and alongside of Paul Casey (six). And it could get better, as Canizares still has two more tournaments to go — the NCAA West Regional and the NCAA Championship, presuming the Sun Devils advance.

But of all the accolades Canizares has hauled in since he became a Sun Devil, perhaps his biggest moment occurred last Saturday, when he graduated from ASU.

“My last semester, it was tough, a real marathon,’’ the 23-year-old said of his photo finish that let him graduate in three and a half years.’’ I had to take 18 hours — six classes — and play lots of golf at the same time.’’

How impressive was that? Canizares compiled a 3.87 overall GPA, graduating summa cum laude while earning degrees in landscape architecture and sociology. Amazing, considering Canizares was over his head as a freshman due to the language barrier.

“When it came to English, I could read it and write it pretty well when I got here, but my accent was so thick, it made me shy and very reserved,’’ he recalled. “It really took about three or four months before I could speak (English). . . .

“My accent is still a little thick, but I’m fairly fluent even if I can’t pronounce some words, and that will never change.’’

His parents and sister came all the way from Spain to witness his graduation ceremony. You might have heard of his father, Jose Maria Canizares, a winner of 13 international titles and more than $7 million on the Champions Tour.

“My family is very into getting a college degree, and finishing what you started,’’ the younger Canizares said, laughing. “I know there was a lot of (speculation) about whether I would complete my degree, but there was never any doubt in my mind.

“(College) has allowed me to mature and get ready for the next step. And (the degree) is there to back me up if golf doesn’t happen. . . . I don’t regret (not turning pro earlier) one bit, because I had a great time at ASU, and met some really good people.’’

For ASU coach Randy Lein, the pleasure was all his.

“Alejandro is just an incredible kid,’’ Lein said. “His (golfing) accolades are very impressive, but what he’s done in the classroom is off the charts.’’

Even though Canizares has yet to win in 2006, wouldn’t it be ironic, he said, “If I could open and close my college career by winning the NCAA.’’

“That would be like a dream. And if I could help lead our guys to the team title, that would be really special, too.’’

What is strange is that, while Canizares has bested every top player in the Pac-10 this year head-to-head, he trails one guy in overall scoring — teammate Niklas Lemke. As a result, Canizares goes into the NCAA West Regional today in Tucson as the team’s No. 2 man.

“It’s all about playing in the most important tournaments of the year,’’ said Canizares, who is way too stable to be fazed by his “Avis’’ status. “And I’m just starting to play some of my best golf of the year.’’

No kidding. Canizares led the U.S. Open local qualifier Monday at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa with a sizzling 7-under 65. That, too, will be a tournament to watch, as the U.S. Open might have a significant bearing on Canizares’ immediate future.

“If I get through sectionals, and qualify for the Open, I plan to turn pro the week of the Open,’’ he said of the national championship that will be held at Winged Foot on June 15-18. “If not, I’ll turn pro after the Palmer Cup in late June, and play the European Tour through the summer and then go through (PGA Tour) qualifying school in the fall.

“So I’ll probably end up living back in Spain for a while, although I may return to live in the States at some point.’’

Where in the States?

“Well, Florida is much closer (to Spain),’’ he said.

“But in Arizona, I have so many friends, the weather is really great, and. . . . ’’

Yeah, he’ll be back, because Canizares did the smart thing and stuck around until he graduated. In the process, he learned that school is actually cool, that ASU is even cooler, and that there is so much more to life than just chasing a little white ball for money.