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
Photo by: Thomas Pace
Insider: Strole moves into GCU on golf roll
8/20/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Golf, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
Incoming Lopes freshman takes 4th at state tournament
The Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale is challenging enough for newcomers with its unique layout but managing life distractions, scorching weather and tournament stakes tested Carly Strole even more.
There were times during the Arizona Stroke Play Championship this week when Strole's mind wandered to what was going to follow the event – her move-in at Grand Canyon.
Two days before her collegiate life starts at GCU, Strole was playing with the leader group for the third and final round Wednesday. Her future teammate, Lopes senior Siripatsorn Patchana, finished at 1 under par in second place to Arizona State's Ashley Menne while Strole took fourth place at 4 over par.
Together, Patchana and Stroke accounted for three of the tournament's five subpar rounds over three days.
"Getting ready for college in some ways took my focus off the tournament, which kind of helped me because there weren't a lot of nerves out there," Strole said. "Coming in, I was thinking, 'What do I need to get at Walmart?' I started thinking about that on the golf course."
Strole's strong showing capped a successful summer send-off to her junior career. She played in a professional Cactus Tour event and won the Mesa City Junior Championship at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in June and won the PING Invitational in July … at GCU Golf Course.
"It was my last junior event so it was kind of cool to get the win at home," Strole said.
This week, Strole shot a 3-under-par round of 69 on Tuesday for the second-best round of the tournament. With her father, Pat, caddying, she was tied for third with Xavier (Ohio) senior Mikayla Fitzpatrick until the last hole Wednesday.
Strole chose GCU, her sister's alma mater, during her junior year of online schooling in nearby Avondale. She did not enjoy college recruiting as much as she expected, except when she heard from Lopes head coach Lauren Giesecke and assistant coach Kelli Bowers.
"Even if I started playing bad in a tournament, they wouldn't walk away from me," Strole said. "How encouraging they were made me want to go there. They sold it for me because they're so compassionate and I knew a few girls on the team that I liked. It's just a great atmosphere in general."
A WAC ruling recently postponed fall sports events but a year-round golf schedule keeps the spring schedule and postseason in tact. Strole is built for this because she kept improving her game in recent school years, even though she was not part of a high school team.
She worked and practiced at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear and now will have a similar availability at GCU Golf Course, but with coaches and teammates.
"Doing stuff that I've never done before is very exciting," Strole said. "Lauren and Kelli have so much knowledge on the golf course that they can help me grow as a player."
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There were times during the Arizona Stroke Play Championship this week when Strole's mind wandered to what was going to follow the event – her move-in at Grand Canyon.
Two days before her collegiate life starts at GCU, Strole was playing with the leader group for the third and final round Wednesday. Her future teammate, Lopes senior Siripatsorn Patchana, finished at 1 under par in second place to Arizona State's Ashley Menne while Strole took fourth place at 4 over par.
Together, Patchana and Stroke accounted for three of the tournament's five subpar rounds over three days.
"Getting ready for college in some ways took my focus off the tournament, which kind of helped me because there weren't a lot of nerves out there," Strole said. "Coming in, I was thinking, 'What do I need to get at Walmart?' I started thinking about that on the golf course."
Strole's strong showing capped a successful summer send-off to her junior career. She played in a professional Cactus Tour event and won the Mesa City Junior Championship at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in June and won the PING Invitational in July … at GCU Golf Course.
"It was my last junior event so it was kind of cool to get the win at home," Strole said.
This week, Strole shot a 3-under-par round of 69 on Tuesday for the second-best round of the tournament. With her father, Pat, caddying, she was tied for third with Xavier (Ohio) senior Mikayla Fitzpatrick until the last hole Wednesday.
Strole chose GCU, her sister's alma mater, during her junior year of online schooling in nearby Avondale. She did not enjoy college recruiting as much as she expected, except when she heard from Lopes head coach Lauren Giesecke and assistant coach Kelli Bowers.
"Even if I started playing bad in a tournament, they wouldn't walk away from me," Strole said. "How encouraging they were made me want to go there. They sold it for me because they're so compassionate and I knew a few girls on the team that I liked. It's just a great atmosphere in general."
A WAC ruling recently postponed fall sports events but a year-round golf schedule keeps the spring schedule and postseason in tact. Strole is built for this because she kept improving her game in recent school years, even though she was not part of a high school team.
She worked and practiced at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear and now will have a similar availability at GCU Golf Course, but with coaches and teammates.
"Doing stuff that I've never done before is very exciting," Strole said. "Lauren and Kelli have so much knowledge on the golf course that they can help me grow as a player."
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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