Louise Stahle: The Arizona State freshman from Lund, Sweden is a big-time player by anyone’s standards. Recently, she captured Pac-10 medalist honors with a 9-under-par score that tied the conference’s previous best, set in 1997 by former Stanford player Mhairi McKay.

Stahle’s effort, in which she posted a final-round 5-under 67 at Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, Calif., claimed the individual title by two strokes. Not surprisingly, she was named the Pac-10 freshman of the year to go along with Pac-10 player of the year honors.

Despite Stahle’s fine play, Arizona State finished second, or four shots behind the winner, UCLA. For the season, No. 4-ranked ASU has won three times and Stahle also has three individual titles.

But more than that, Stahle has been the top-ranked amateur in the country for most 2005, and her 71.25 stroke average is the nation’s best. Along the way, she qualified for the LPGA Safeway International, where she finished tied for 37th.

Which brings up the next big question: How long will Stahle be a Sun Devil before she turns pro? Will it be a quick exit, like the one-and-only freshman season that former ASU star Miriam Nagl put in 2000? Or will Stahle go for two years, like ex-Devils Grace Park and Emilee Klein did before they turned pro? Or, will she go the full four years, a la Wendy Ward, another ASU All-American.

Stahle has given mixed signals. She has said on numerous occasions that she planned to stay until she graduates. “Getting a degree is important to me and my family,’’ she said last fall. But she also has stated that if she wins everything in sight, “I’d have to reassess my goals.’’

Her coach at ASU, Melissa Luellen, said that she and her star player will sit down at the end of the season, or shortly after the NCAA Championship, and “see where we stand.’’

“You know, I think it was pretty neat what Phil Mickelson did here at ASU,’’ Luellen said of the ex-ASU star, who went all four years and was the NCAA player of the year three times.

“Right now, her focus is on winning the regional and nationals. And even if that would happen, and she would reach her immediate goals, the hardest thing in the world is to come back and do it again. So that might be the challenge.’’

Challenge No. 1 begins a week from today, when ASU travels to the NCAA Central Regional Golf Championship at Lubbock, Texas. Assuming the Sun Devils advance, and it is hard to imagine otherwise, the NCAAs will be held May 17-20 at Sun River, Ore.

ASU honorees: Stahle wasn’t the only ASU player cited by the Pac-10 for her fine play. Tiffany Tavee, a sophomore from Gilbert, was selected to the second team, as was Alissa Kuczka, a junior from Phoenix. On the honorable mention list was Erin Tone, a senior from Gilbert.

NOTEWORTHY

More ASU: Alejandro Canizares, a junior and the No. 1 player at Arizona State, has been selected to represent Europe in the 2005 Palmer Cup, which will be held June 8-9 at Whistling Straits on the shores of Lake Michigan. This will be the third Palmer Cup appearance for Canizares, and while the Europeans trail the Amercians in the series, 4-3-1, they have won the last two events, with Canizares leading the way with a 6-2 record -- 4-0 in singles.

Junior series: The newly created PING Junior Masters Series for girls and boys 15 to 18 years of age has announced that it will host three competitions in 2005. The tournaments tee off May 20-21 at the Karsten Golf Course at ASU. The second event will be hosted by Tuscany Falls in Goodyear on Aug. 27-28 followed by the finale Nov. 19-20 at Oakwood in Sun Lakes. For information, call (480) 443-9002 or visit www.southwest.pga.com.

Lefty on TV: Phil Mickelson will appear tonight on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’’ to promote his book -- “One Magical Sunday (But Winning Isn’t Everything).’’ Lefty also has a prior appearance today on CNBC’s “Power Lunch,’’ and Friday on “Pardon the Interruption.’’ Whew, no wonder he isn’t playing this week in New Orleans.

Final thought: Don’t look now, but Mother’s Day is fast approaching (May 8). For those who wish to take the time to treat mom, Augusta Ranch in Mesa is offering a special Mother’s Day Brunch & Golf for a very reasonable $34.95, or $19.95 for juniors. And, yes, champagne is included for those 21 years and older.