Lopes struggle at Desert Mountain Intercollegiate

Saturday, March 5

Scottsdale, Ariz. / Desert Mountain

Grand Canyon

Desert Mountain Intercollegiate

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

3/6/2022 10:08:00 AM | Men's Golf

GCU's Cristoni, Kling finish in Scottsdale event's top 20

By: Kellie Reynolds

The Grand Canyon men's golf team competed in the Desert Mountain Collegiate on Desert Mountain Club's Outlaw Course in Scottsdale this weekend. The 16-team tournament was hosted by Michigan and included two top-50 teams in UAB (37) and Mississippi State (48).

Freshman Matteo Cristoni was the Lopes' top scorer in the 54-hole tournament at 2 over par and tied for 11th. Cristoni finished with three birdies in the final round.

Sophomore Nicky Kling was the only other Lope to finish in the top 20 as he shot 6 over par on the Outlaw Course to finish tied for 20th. Kling scored 3 over par in the second and third rounds.

After a top-11 opening round, freshman Sam Murphy dropped to an 8-over-par finish and a tie for 31st. Murphy managed to score four birdies in his final round.

In his first tournament this spring, Denmark native Tim Nielsen finished 19 over par. After a rough second round, he turned it around and improved immensely. The final two Lopes were Matthew Braley and Zac Owens.

Cristoni, Murphy in top 10 after 1st round

After round one, Cristoni and Murphy were the top two Lopes finishing in the top 10. Cristoni shot three under par tying him for fifth place while Murphy was two under par trying him in tenth.

Kling was even after the first round on the Desert Mountain Outlaw Course tying him at 31st. Nielsen finished his first round of competition this season at 3 over par to tie him at 51st.

Oklahoma native Matthew Braley struggled in his opening round in Scottsdale, ending the opening round at 11 over par while graduate student Zac Owens ended the day at 13 over par.

The Lopes will be back in action on March 14-15 as they host the GCU Invitational.