Alejandro Canizares: That the Arizona State junior from Spain finished no better than 10th individually at the recent Pac-10 Championship yet was named the conference’s player of the year says a lot. That Canizares was selected at Monday night’s Sparky Awards as ASU’s top male student-scholar of the year says even more.

Whether it’s the course or the classroom, Canizares has excelled like few Sun Devil golfers before him. This season, he managed to win three tournament titles while compiling a 3.96 GPA. He is on track to graduate in three and a half years (May of 2006) with a split degree in sociology and landscape architecture.

“I have always planned on graduating, because getting a degree is so very important to me and my family,’’ said Canizares, 22, who is the son of Champions Tour star Jose Maria Canizares.

Even though it’s been an “up-and-down season” by his standards, Canizares said only what happens in the next month matters.

“We’re looking forward to nationals,’’ he said of the process that begins in two weeks, when ASU enters regional play (exactly where will be announced Monday).

“The team is starting to play really great, and now all we need to do is all play well at once. I’m going to have to step it up, but I think we can do it.’’

ASU Coach Randy Lein calls Canizares “an exceptional young man.’’

“He came here from Spain in the middle of his freshman year, mastered another language (English), and has played great golf for us while also becoming an outstanding student,’’ Lein pointed out. “I really expect big things from him (in the next month) because his putting is finally starting to come around.’’

Lein wasn’t the only coach in the Pac-10 who thought Canizares’ overall effort in 2005 spoke volumes, as he was a unanimous pick for player of the year. A two-time All-American, Canizares was medalist at the 2003 NCAA Championships as a freshman. His three wins this season brought his total to six as a Sun Devil. And his 71.59 stroke-average is currently the 10th best in ASU history.

Canizares joins an impressive list of Sun Devils who have won Pac-10 player of the year honors. It includes Scott Watkins (1979), Dan Forsman (1981), Billy Mayfair (1987), Phil Mickelson (1990, ‘91 and ‘92), Todd Demsey (1994), Paul Casey (2000) and Jeff Quinney (2001). And Canizares’ feat also gave ASU the top players in both the men’s and women’s divisions, as Sun Devil freshman Louise Stahle recently captured the Pac-10 player of the year award.

Other ASU honorees: Pat Moore, who finished third at the Pac-10 Championship after leading through the first three rounds, was selected to the Pac-10 first team along with Canizares. Senior Jesse Mueller of Mesa was a second-team selection, and Niklas Lemke, a sophomore from Sweden, was honorable mention.

NOTEWORTHY

Free lessons: In an effort to help amateurs improve their skills and attract players to the game, the Southwest Section of the PGA will conduct its own Play Golf America Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at four East Valley courses. Participating in the national event at the local level will be Augusta Ranch in Mesa, Eagle Mountain in Fountain Hills, and Ken McDonald and Shalimar in Tempe. The program also includes a PGA Free Lesson Month, whereby 10-minute lessons will be offered at participating courses throughout May. For information, call (480) 443-9002 or visit www.southwest.pga.com.

Season concludes: The Scottsdale-based Grey Goose Gateway Tour’s Desert Spring Series came to an end last week with former Arizona State All-American Chez Reavie winning the final event at Gainey Ranch, which was worth $17,000. For the year, Phoenix’s Brian Kontak led the money list with $50,698, with John Douma of Scottsdale a close second at $50,483.

Kids tour: Youngsters between 4 and 12 years of age who want to develop their golf skills and test their games in a “friendly, competitive environment’’ will have that opportunity this summer during the U.S. Kids Golf-Phoenix Local Tour. The kids’ circuit will feature eight age-bracket tournaments at area courses, with the first event set for June 4 at Viewpoint in Mesa. For information, call (888) 3-US-KIDS or visit www.uskidsgolf.com.