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
Kling clings to victory with last-hole birdie
6/23/2021 11:25:00 AM | Men's Golf, Paul Coro
GCU golfer wins Sizzler Amateur by playing 4 under on final 8 holes
Grand Canyon golfer Nicky Kling came into the final round of the Sizzler Amateur on Tuesday in a great position to win the tournament, sitting in a third-place tie that was four strokes behind the leader.
When he bogeyed four times on the front nine, Kling did not change his perspective even as he slipped down the leaderboard at Troon North Golf Club's Monument Course. Kling rallied with four birdies on the last eight holes, including a tiebreaking birdie on the 18th hole to win the three-round event at 7 under par.
"It means a lot for me," Kling said. "I knew that I've been playing pretty well, but I haven't had many tournaments to prove my game. Now, I've got more confidence to win another a tournament this summer and into the college season."
Kling won the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series tournament, which former Lopes golfer Trevor Lampson also won in 2019, by two strokes over a runner-up quartet – Oklahoma's Ben Lorenz, Arizona State's James Leow, Colorado's Justin Biwer and Missouri S&T's Carl Miltun.
Kling positioned himself well in the 103-player field on Monday, when he did not bogey for the first 15 holes of his 4-under second round. Tuesday's third-round turnaround began at No. 11, where an up-and-down birdie began the roll.
Kling and Biwer entered No. 18 tied for the lead and the Lopes sophomore-to-be hit a clutch second shot with 15 feet of the pin before Biwer came up short of the green. Only needing a par to win, Kling rolled in the uphill birdie putt anyway to fittingly cap three rounds of strong drives and an efficient short game on the narrow desert course.
"I'm really happy for Nicky to win this event," GCU coach Mark Mueller said. "He has been working hard and I hope he can use this as a stepping stone to keep improving and getting better the rest of the summer and really help us next year."
Kling showed he can do that when, after only playing one regular-season event, he qualified to be in the Lopes' quintet for the WAC Championships and fired a first-round 68 to be in the top eight. He finished in a tie for 11th, as GCU ended the tournament one stroke off the lead.
Kling lost his first GCU fall season to the COVID-19 shutdown and then battled a forearm injury when the spring semester began. The Scottsdale Chaparral High School graduate said that the daily competition and coaching within the GCU program pushed his game forward as his arm improved in the spring.
"We're always playing for something and you get zoned in because you want to beat the guys," Kling said of playing at GCU Golf Course.
When he bogeyed four times on the front nine, Kling did not change his perspective even as he slipped down the leaderboard at Troon North Golf Club's Monument Course. Kling rallied with four birdies on the last eight holes, including a tiebreaking birdie on the 18th hole to win the three-round event at 7 under par.
"It means a lot for me," Kling said. "I knew that I've been playing pretty well, but I haven't had many tournaments to prove my game. Now, I've got more confidence to win another a tournament this summer and into the college season."Kling won the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series tournament, which former Lopes golfer Trevor Lampson also won in 2019, by two strokes over a runner-up quartet – Oklahoma's Ben Lorenz, Arizona State's James Leow, Colorado's Justin Biwer and Missouri S&T's Carl Miltun.
Kling positioned himself well in the 103-player field on Monday, when he did not bogey for the first 15 holes of his 4-under second round. Tuesday's third-round turnaround began at No. 11, where an up-and-down birdie began the roll.
Kling and Biwer entered No. 18 tied for the lead and the Lopes sophomore-to-be hit a clutch second shot with 15 feet of the pin before Biwer came up short of the green. Only needing a par to win, Kling rolled in the uphill birdie putt anyway to fittingly cap three rounds of strong drives and an efficient short game on the narrow desert course.
"I'm really happy for Nicky to win this event," GCU coach Mark Mueller said. "He has been working hard and I hope he can use this as a stepping stone to keep improving and getting better the rest of the summer and really help us next year."
Kling showed he can do that when, after only playing one regular-season event, he qualified to be in the Lopes' quintet for the WAC Championships and fired a first-round 68 to be in the top eight. He finished in a tie for 11th, as GCU ended the tournament one stroke off the lead.
Kling lost his first GCU fall season to the COVID-19 shutdown and then battled a forearm injury when the spring semester began. The Scottsdale Chaparral High School graduate said that the daily competition and coaching within the GCU program pushed his game forward as his arm improved in the spring.
"We're always playing for something and you get zoned in because you want to beat the guys," Kling said of playing at GCU Golf Course.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Friday, August 07
Friday, August 07
Friday, August 07
Wednesday, August 05