Lopes conclude Cowboy Classic

Monday, April 3

Chandler, Ariz. | Whirlwind Golf Club

Grand Canyon

Cowboy Classic

4/3/2023 8:28:00 PM | Men's Golf

Results Photo Gallery

GCU's Murphy, Zorzetto tie for 38th at 5 over par

By: Nick Macdonald

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon men's golf team concluded the Wyoming Cowboy Classic on Tuesday at the Whirlwind Golf Club's Cattail Course, totaling a score of 22 over par for 13th place out of 21 teams.

The Lopes finished the tournament with the second-most pars (167) and the fifth-highest, par-5 average score (4.82 per hole). No. 28 San Diego State won the tournament at 7 under, followed by Kansas at 6 under and No. 50 Missouri at 1 under. A total of six teams entered the tournament ranked in the top 100 via Golfstat.

The Lopes led all WAC teams who competed in the tournament (UT Arlington, Utah Valley and Southern Utah), as juniors Sam Murphy and Tommaso Zorzetto tied for 38th at 5 over par. The duo combined for 15 birdies as Murphy jumped 14 spots from his spot after the first two rounds.

GCU senior Matthew Braley finished next in a tie for 65th at 9 over par. Braley had the biggest jump from Day 1 to Day 2 on the team, climbing 25 spots as he shot an even scorecard Tuesday. Sophomore Josh McCabe also tied with Braley at 9 over, while junior Nicky Kling tied for 70th at 10 over. McCabe had the best single-round score with a 20-under 70 in round one.

The Lopes take 10 days off before it concludes the regular season of play at the El Macero Classic in El Macero, California, on April 14-16. The Lopes follow that tournament up with the WAC Championship at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada, on April 28-30.

Day 1 recap

In an uncharacteristically windy day in the Valley with gusts reaching 35 miles per hour, the Grand Canyon men's golf team completed Day 1 of the Wyoming Cowboy Classic on Monday at Whirlwind Golf Club's Cattail Course, shooting 10 over par for 14th place.

No. 50 Missouri leads the 21-team field at 11 under par, with Kansas (10 under) and Pacific (5 under) in second and third, respectively. Through 36 holes, GCU is tied for fifth in total pars (110) and is tied for fourth in par-5 scoring (4.68 per hole).

Zorzetto led the Lopes with a 1-over Monday, including a 1-under scorecard through the first 18 holes. Zorzetto is tied for 36th with six birdies to his credit so far in the tournament. He birdied three of his final seven holes in the second round as the team had 29 for the day.

Murphy and McCabe tied for 52nd at 3 over par, both shooting even par in the first round. The duo combined for 10 birdies, with Murphy ending his day -3 over his final seven holes.

Kling is one shot behind them at +4 and in a tie for 59th. Kling had GCU's most birdies in a single round with five in the second round as he shot back-to-back 74s. Braley is tied for 90th after shooting 9 over for the day, including a first round of 73.