Completed Event: Women's Golf at Leadership and Golf Invitational on September 15, 2025 , , T-6th of 16
W Golf
at Leadership and Golf Invitational
T-6th of 16
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, April 23
Blaine, Wash. | Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club
Grand Canyon
at
WAC Championship
Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg
Lopes’ sight set on WAC Championship
4/22/2023 11:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
GCU looks to claim 1st title since 2018
Since the first day of spring competition during the colder weather of early February, the Grand Canyon women's golf team's play has been heating up with results that include six top-three finishes, two second-place showings and two team tournament titles.
Needless to say, the Lopes are catching fire at the right time.
GCU partakes in its first tournament since winning the Bobcat Desert Classic by 15 strokes last weekend in nearby Goodyear, as it heads to Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in Blaine, Washington, to compete in the three-day WAC Championship. Semiahmoo has not hosted the conference tournament since 2016, when GCU was not eligible to win the tournament because of the transition period from Division II to I.
"We are really looking forward to competing in Blaine for the conference championship," said head coach Lauren Giesecke. "The weather conditions will be a little different than what we have currently played in, but the entire spring season has been chilly and rainy for us so we should be very prepared for what's to come. We are looking forward to it!"
The Lopes have had a historic spring, breaking the previous DI-era records for most top-three finishes in a row (five) and most top-three finishes in a spring campaign with six. The accolades have stacked up, with three players totaling four WAC Golfer of the Week honors. Junior Constanza Guerrero has won it twice, with freshman Ryan Flynn and junior Lani Luafalealo also achieving the weekly honor.
"This has been a record-breaking spring for us, and we are going to lean on that success during conference," Giesecke said. "We have been in contention throughout the spring and are excited to see what we can do in Washington. The team is really coming together and stronger than ever. Their hard work has paid already with school records and plenty of WAC golfer of the week awards, so they are excited to get back on the course."
GCU competes in its fifthever WAC Championship, winning in its first year in 2018 (2020 was canceled because of COVID). The Lopes have never finished lower than fourth with a runner-up showing in 2021. Individually, Siripatsorn Patchana claimed the individual title in 2018 and 2022. Since 2013, New Mexico State is the only other team to have multiple individual winners.
"This was the host of my first WAC Championship as the coach here at GCU, so I'm excited to get back and already have some game plans in the works," said Giesecke. "Overall, we are in a great place and look forward to taking on the WAC as a very connected team.
The Lopes' starting five includes Guerrero, Flynn, senior Carmen Belmonte and juniors Carly Strole and Becca Tschetter. That five has started in each of the past five events, taking home first place twice and second place twice. In last year's WAC Championship, Guerrero finished 25th in Kerrville, Texas.
GCU enters the tournament ranked No. 93 in the latest Golfstat rankings. That is third highest in the WAC behind Sam Houston (54) and New Mexico State (84).
The first 18 holes begin Sunday morning. Live results of the tournament can be found here.
Needless to say, the Lopes are catching fire at the right time.
GCU partakes in its first tournament since winning the Bobcat Desert Classic by 15 strokes last weekend in nearby Goodyear, as it heads to Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in Blaine, Washington, to compete in the three-day WAC Championship. Semiahmoo has not hosted the conference tournament since 2016, when GCU was not eligible to win the tournament because of the transition period from Division II to I.
"We are really looking forward to competing in Blaine for the conference championship," said head coach Lauren Giesecke. "The weather conditions will be a little different than what we have currently played in, but the entire spring season has been chilly and rainy for us so we should be very prepared for what's to come. We are looking forward to it!"
The Lopes have had a historic spring, breaking the previous DI-era records for most top-three finishes in a row (five) and most top-three finishes in a spring campaign with six. The accolades have stacked up, with three players totaling four WAC Golfer of the Week honors. Junior Constanza Guerrero has won it twice, with freshman Ryan Flynn and junior Lani Luafalealo also achieving the weekly honor.
"This has been a record-breaking spring for us, and we are going to lean on that success during conference," Giesecke said. "We have been in contention throughout the spring and are excited to see what we can do in Washington. The team is really coming together and stronger than ever. Their hard work has paid already with school records and plenty of WAC golfer of the week awards, so they are excited to get back on the course."
GCU competes in its fifthever WAC Championship, winning in its first year in 2018 (2020 was canceled because of COVID). The Lopes have never finished lower than fourth with a runner-up showing in 2021. Individually, Siripatsorn Patchana claimed the individual title in 2018 and 2022. Since 2013, New Mexico State is the only other team to have multiple individual winners.
"This was the host of my first WAC Championship as the coach here at GCU, so I'm excited to get back and already have some game plans in the works," said Giesecke. "Overall, we are in a great place and look forward to taking on the WAC as a very connected team.
The Lopes' starting five includes Guerrero, Flynn, senior Carmen Belmonte and juniors Carly Strole and Becca Tschetter. That five has started in each of the past five events, taking home first place twice and second place twice. In last year's WAC Championship, Guerrero finished 25th in Kerrville, Texas.
GCU enters the tournament ranked No. 93 in the latest Golfstat rankings. That is third highest in the WAC behind Sam Houston (54) and New Mexico State (84).
The first 18 holes begin Sunday morning. Live results of the tournament can be found here.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Head Coach Brent Nicoson Meets the Team | August 29, 2024
Friday, February 07