Even with a self-described "up-and-down career," Oregon senior Matt Ma has consistently given Hawai'i golfers a good name.

"Matt is a great kid," Ducks coach Casey Martin said. "I really enjoyed my first year here, and he's a big reason for that.

"He's been a tremendous asset for the team."

Oregon won the ASU Thunderbird Invitational on Sunday, and was named the Golfweek Men's Team of the Week. Ma, a 2002 'Iolani graduate, tied for 30th, shooting a 1-over-par 217 (71-74-72) in the three-round tournament.

Ma has a 73.9 scoring average, down from 75.6 in his junior year. His sophomore year average was 73.3 and his freshman year 75.2.

Although he won his first tournament this year at the Northwest Collegiate Classic in the fall, he cites his sophomore year as his most "fulfilling."

That year he "played really well," and was named to the Pac-10 Conference second team.

"I'm definitely a better player than before I arrived at Oregon," Ma said. "I've had so many downers, but I've had so many positives I can take from it."

Ma wasn't selected to play in the Hawai'i-Hilo Collegiate as a sophomore, and, "The light bulb kind of went off," he said. "I ended up finishing 14th or better five straight tournaments. I kind of played out of my mind. I had something to prove. I wanted to prove people wrong and let them know I'm here for a reason."

Ma admittedly struggles from a lack of consistency.

"You put so many hours and time in, and right when you think you've got it, you don't," he said. "Most of it is mental. This game has so many ups and downs, on and off the golf course. It takes its toll, but there's no better feeling than playing well."

Martin said Ma is one of the team's best players, but "golf is a very difficult game, where you go in spurts. He maybe hasn't been as consistent as he likes. He's the core of this team, really."

Martin stresses the importance of the short game — "It's not how you drive, it's how you arrive," and "Drive for show, putt for dough" — and the combination of his emphasis and Ma's strength off the tee and ball striking have helped Ma develop a more complete game.

And Ma is also serving as an ambassador of golfers from Hawai'i. Already he helped in Oregon's signing of Honoka'a's Sean Maekawa. On his list of potential recruits is 2006 state boys high school champion Chan Kim, a former Kaimuki High student who recently moved to Arizona.

"Casey says he wants to build a Hawai'i pipeline," Ma said. "I think Hawai'i has a lot of talent. I just think it has to be discovered."

Martin said Ma is "such a likeable guy that he knows everyone and everyone likes him."

When Martin joined the Ducks last spring the two had a discussion about recruiting Hawai'i golfers.

"I don't know if I would have looked too hard in Hawai'i if it wasn't for Matt," Martin said. "It's not a knock on Hawai'i, but I just wouldn't have had that connection without Matt."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.