Completed Event: Women's Golf at Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational on September 29, 2025 , , T-8th of 15
W Golf
at Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational
T-8th of 15
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Pro events provide strong results
6/25/2020 1:32:00 PM | Women's Golf
Statistically, Lopes play better against stronger summer competition
The Grand Canyon women's golf team won its last event of the 2019-20 season. In any typical year, this would mean a conference championship or, for some, a national championship.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the only thing that could stop the Lopes from competing for a postseason spot at NCAA regionals. Several Lopes have remained in competition at local Cactus Tour events with impressive results.
"I'm very proud of our players and their wanting to continue competing during these uncertain times with COVID-19," GCU head coach Lauren Giesecke said. "The Cactus Tour has been a great avenue for our team and, with their strict guidelines during competition, our players have felt safe while playing.  With last year's season being cut short, I know our players were itching to get out and compete to show where we were as a team/individuals. We have discussed this a lot as a team, and we felt like there were glimpses of greatness throughout the fall. But once spring began, we knew we were ready and it showed just days before the season was canceled." Â
In just five events in 2019-20, the Lopes were posting impressive results. Siripatsorn Patchana recorded eight par-or-better rounds while all five of her finishes were good for top-12 results. The junior from Bangkok, Thailand, led the WAC in scoring average by over a shot. As a team, the Lopes posted two rounds that rank among the all-time top five in GCU women's golf history.
The Lopes captured their tournament, the GCU Invitational in February, but the event became the last of the season. The Lopes were in Mesa, Arizona, competing in a practice round for the Clover Cup that is hosted by Notre Dame, when the NCAA suspended spring sports competition.
Payton Fehringer was one of the first to continue competition in Cactus Tour events. The sophomore from Pocatello, Idaho, played in three events, finishing as the top amateur each time, including a runner-up finish.
"Being able to compete against LPGA professionals, Symetra Tour, and some of the best college players in the area has been a great opportunity for our team," Giesecke said. "Our players have stepped up to the competition and I am so proud to see their work pay off."
Fehringer, Patchana and incoming freshman Carly Strole (Millennium High School in Avondale, Arizona) each averaged 72.67 strokes per round. Alexis Linam has played in four events with a 74.25 stroke average, which is over a stroke better than what the junior posted when she won the GCU Invitational.
"I'm so proud of the scores we have been seeing from our players throughout each event," Giesecke said. "To have three players averaging a 72 is quite impressive and gives us a lot to look forward to for the fall Carly will be an incoming freshman for us and has really jumped up the leaderboards over the previous year. Playing like this in a professional event just shows off her game and that she can compete against the best at any level."
The Cactus Tour is currently on its Nevada and California swing. It will return to Arizona in August with tournaments in Mesa and Scottsdale.
"Siri, Payton, and Alexis have shown their level of consistency throughout many rounds on the Cactus Tour," Giesecke said. "Each had an opportunity for a victory, so I think that has helped in their confidence and pushed them to practice harder. Unfortunately, and understandably, there are not a lot of tournaments available right now, so the fact that these events are located in our backyard, has been a blessing."
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The COVID-19 pandemic was the only thing that could stop the Lopes from competing for a postseason spot at NCAA regionals. Several Lopes have remained in competition at local Cactus Tour events with impressive results.
"I'm very proud of our players and their wanting to continue competing during these uncertain times with COVID-19," GCU head coach Lauren Giesecke said. "The Cactus Tour has been a great avenue for our team and, with their strict guidelines during competition, our players have felt safe while playing.  With last year's season being cut short, I know our players were itching to get out and compete to show where we were as a team/individuals. We have discussed this a lot as a team, and we felt like there were glimpses of greatness throughout the fall. But once spring began, we knew we were ready and it showed just days before the season was canceled." Â
In just five events in 2019-20, the Lopes were posting impressive results. Siripatsorn Patchana recorded eight par-or-better rounds while all five of her finishes were good for top-12 results. The junior from Bangkok, Thailand, led the WAC in scoring average by over a shot. As a team, the Lopes posted two rounds that rank among the all-time top five in GCU women's golf history.
The Lopes captured their tournament, the GCU Invitational in February, but the event became the last of the season. The Lopes were in Mesa, Arizona, competing in a practice round for the Clover Cup that is hosted by Notre Dame, when the NCAA suspended spring sports competition.
Payton Fehringer was one of the first to continue competition in Cactus Tour events. The sophomore from Pocatello, Idaho, played in three events, finishing as the top amateur each time, including a runner-up finish.
"Being able to compete against LPGA professionals, Symetra Tour, and some of the best college players in the area has been a great opportunity for our team," Giesecke said. "Our players have stepped up to the competition and I am so proud to see their work pay off."
Fehringer, Patchana and incoming freshman Carly Strole (Millennium High School in Avondale, Arizona) each averaged 72.67 strokes per round. Alexis Linam has played in four events with a 74.25 stroke average, which is over a stroke better than what the junior posted when she won the GCU Invitational.
"I'm so proud of the scores we have been seeing from our players throughout each event," Giesecke said. "To have three players averaging a 72 is quite impressive and gives us a lot to look forward to for the fall Carly will be an incoming freshman for us and has really jumped up the leaderboards over the previous year. Playing like this in a professional event just shows off her game and that she can compete against the best at any level."
The Cactus Tour is currently on its Nevada and California swing. It will return to Arizona in August with tournaments in Mesa and Scottsdale.
"Siri, Payton, and Alexis have shown their level of consistency throughout many rounds on the Cactus Tour," Giesecke said. "Each had an opportunity for a victory, so I think that has helped in their confidence and pushed them to practice harder. Unfortunately, and understandably, there are not a lot of tournaments available right now, so the fact that these events are located in our backyard, has been a blessing."
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| PLAYER | EVENTS | ROUNDS | AVG. SCORE | PAR OR BETTER | TOP 10 | TOP 20 | TOP FINISH | AVG. AMATEUR FINISH |
| Fehringer | 3Â Â | 9 | 72.67 | 3 | 3 | 3 | t2 | 1 |
| Patchana | 2Â Â Â | 6 | 72.67 | 3 | 2 | 2 | t6 | 1.5 |
| Strole | 1 | 3 | 72.67 | 1 | 1 | 1 | t8 | 4 |
| Linam | 4 | 12Â Â Â Â Â | 74.25 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4.5 |
| Hernandez | 3 | 9 | 77.44 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8.7 |
| Voisard | 3 | 9 | 78.89 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 14 |
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Players Mentioned
Head Coach Brent Nicoson Meets the Team | August 29, 2024
Friday, February 07