Completed Event: Men's Golf at N.I.T. on January 26, 2026 , , 11th of 13
M Golf
at N.I.T.
11th of 13
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Seniors return to lead Lopes
6/17/2020 9:45:00β―AM | Men's Golf
Lampson, Salazar to play out 5th-year option
When the NCAA suspended spring competition in March, the Grand Canyon men's golf team was rolling by setting records and gearing up for a run at an NCAA regional bid.
Head coach Mark Mueller loaded the GCU lineup with seniors, sending out Trevor Lampson, Michael Salazar, Jake Chanen and T.J. Nolan. There was also a feeling of comfort, knowing the WAC Championship was scheduled to be in Maricopa, Arizona, at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, a track where many Lopes have played successfully.
With the abrupt end to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lopes received good news a month later. The senior duo of Lampson and Salazar enrolled for graduate school and will be eligible to lead the Lopes in 2020-21.
"For me, it was an easy decision," Lampson said. "I wanted to come back since Day 1 that the NCAA was going to give seniors an extra year. It was tough that our season ended the way it did. I did not want my college career to end like it did."
Lampson's 71.28 stroke average through 18 rounds set a single-season GCU record, supplanting NCAA qualifier Vinnie Murphy's mark of 71.42 in 2017-18.
"Some factors that weighed on my decision was I figured it was an extra year to get my game in shape to play professionally and I wanted to accomplish some of my goals that I had set for myself at GCU," said Lampson, a local product from Chandler Valley Christian High School. "I know we are going to have a good team this coming year and I want to try and help the team as much as I can. I believe we have a really good chance to win some events this year, including conference which will give us the opportunity to compete at regionals and have a chance to make it to nationals."
Salazar won medalist honors in his second GCU appearance at the Mark Simpson Invitational, hosted by Colorado in October. He matched Lampson with a team-leading nine par-or-better rounds, which accounted for half of the rounds he played. Salazar, a native of El Paso, Texas, is thrilled to return to GCU.
"GCU provides me with an unlimited supply of sources to get my game better," Salazar said. "I also feel I have unfinished business in collegiate golf. The opportunity to get my master's weighed in on my decision. I want to help GCU in tournaments and the chance to play with new teammates as well. I plan to become a golf coach for a university and the ability to be around more teammates allows me to learn coping and communication when the time comes."
In six tournaments last season, the Lopes finished second twice and third once while setting a school record for team score with a 25-under-par performance at the Colorado event. It was part of GCU's 48-under-par play over three consecutive tournaments.
After facing NCAA regional-level competition in Hawaii, the Lopes were preparing for the GCU Invitational when the season was halted with four regular-season tournaments remaining.
Next season's roster will be filled with newcomers as Dixie State and Tarleton State join the WAC but GCU's leadership will remain with Lampson and Salazar at the top.
"Trevor and I can demonstrate the factors and importance of the short game, what is needed to reach the next level and help GCU become a top-50 school," Salazar said. "Playing against elite schools in my two years at GCU, I have learned the difference between schools that finish in the middle of the pack and those who are in contention in just about every tournament."
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Head coach Mark Mueller loaded the GCU lineup with seniors, sending out Trevor Lampson, Michael Salazar, Jake Chanen and T.J. Nolan. There was also a feeling of comfort, knowing the WAC Championship was scheduled to be in Maricopa, Arizona, at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, a track where many Lopes have played successfully.
With the abrupt end to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lopes received good news a month later. The senior duo of Lampson and Salazar enrolled for graduate school and will be eligible to lead the Lopes in 2020-21.
"For me, it was an easy decision," Lampson said. "I wanted to come back since Day 1 that the NCAA was going to give seniors an extra year. It was tough that our season ended the way it did. I did not want my college career to end like it did."
Lampson's 71.28 stroke average through 18 rounds set a single-season GCU record, supplanting NCAA qualifier Vinnie Murphy's mark of 71.42 in 2017-18.
"Some factors that weighed on my decision was I figured it was an extra year to get my game in shape to play professionally and I wanted to accomplish some of my goals that I had set for myself at GCU," said Lampson, a local product from Chandler Valley Christian High School. "I know we are going to have a good team this coming year and I want to try and help the team as much as I can. I believe we have a really good chance to win some events this year, including conference which will give us the opportunity to compete at regionals and have a chance to make it to nationals."
Salazar won medalist honors in his second GCU appearance at the Mark Simpson Invitational, hosted by Colorado in October. He matched Lampson with a team-leading nine par-or-better rounds, which accounted for half of the rounds he played. Salazar, a native of El Paso, Texas, is thrilled to return to GCU.
"GCU provides me with an unlimited supply of sources to get my game better," Salazar said. "I also feel I have unfinished business in collegiate golf. The opportunity to get my master's weighed in on my decision. I want to help GCU in tournaments and the chance to play with new teammates as well. I plan to become a golf coach for a university and the ability to be around more teammates allows me to learn coping and communication when the time comes."
In six tournaments last season, the Lopes finished second twice and third once while setting a school record for team score with a 25-under-par performance at the Colorado event. It was part of GCU's 48-under-par play over three consecutive tournaments.
After facing NCAA regional-level competition in Hawaii, the Lopes were preparing for the GCU Invitational when the season was halted with four regular-season tournaments remaining.
Next season's roster will be filled with newcomers as Dixie State and Tarleton State join the WAC but GCU's leadership will remain with Lampson and Salazar at the top.
"Trevor and I can demonstrate the factors and importance of the short game, what is needed to reach the next level and help GCU become a top-50 school," Salazar said. "Playing against elite schools in my two years at GCU, I have learned the difference between schools that finish in the middle of the pack and those who are in contention in just about every tournament."
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Tuesday, June 16
Monday, June 15
Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11