Completed Event: Men's Golf at William H. Tucker Invitational on September 19, 2025 , , 7th of 18
M Golf
at William H. Tucker Invitational
7th of 18
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, September 17
Manhattan, Kan. | Colbert Hills Golf Club
Grand Canyon
at
Wildcat Invitational
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Defending WAC champs point to daily improvement
9/14/2023 11:15:00 AM | Men's Golf, Paul Coro
GCU returns 3 players from title team, including Zorzetto, Kling off summer success
The Grand Canyon men's golf program would love to eventually be known as a home of champions, a reputation in the works after the Lopes won their first WAC Championship last season.
Â
But on the way to that status, GCU starts another long season's path of doglegs and bunkers with the immediate goal that produced the ultimate result last season – steady improvement.
Â
From the time they tee off their season Sunday at Kansas State's Wildcat Invitational to when they travel 100 miles to Payson, Arizona, for the WAC Championship in April, the Lopes are aiming for a remodeled team of six returnees and six newcomers to get better with each day.
Â
"
We want to be known for what we're doing on a daily basis, so we're hoping that a bunch of guys can make that step," GCU 11th-year head coach Mark Mueller said. "That needs to be our calling card, for guys to want to put in work and get better from the time they get here to the time they leave.
Â
"We're grateful for everything that GCU does for us, the opportunities that we're given and to play the places we do. If we work hard and be grateful, we have a good chance to end up in a good position at the end of the year."
Â
The Lopes return three players from the five-man lineup that won the WAC Championship, where GCU has finished first or second in four of five attempts since becoming eligible for Division I postseason play.
Â
GCU will play the fall half of the season without junior Sam Murphy, who underwent ankle fusion surgery this summer after winning the Connacht Men's Championship on home turf in Ireland.
Â
Murphy took sixth at the WAC Championship, where returnees Nicky Kling (14th) and Tommaso Zorzetto (26th) also contributed to a 34-under-par team performance.
Â
Kling, a senior from Scottsdale Chaparral High School, tied for third place at the Arizona Open last month with GCU Golf Course PGA Director Jesse Mueller, the team's volunteer assistant coach. Firing three sub-70 rounds at Mesa Country Club, Kling was the only amateur to finish among the top seven at the tournament.
Â
"Nicky wants to be a professional golfer after this year, so we're looking for him to take a step up this year and we're looking for him to go about his business in a professional manner," Mark Mueller said.
Â
Kling shot the second-best round of the GCU Invitational last season (65) and carded a 5-under tournament at the WAC Championship.
Â
"I've worked a lot on my mental game," Kling said. "I'm figuring out what I need to do to, not play the best, but score the best I can every round. There's a difference between playing well and scoring well. Whether it's 1 over or even to 5 under or 6 under, I have to figure out what I've got to do to get there."
Â
Zorzetto, a senior from Padova, Italy, figured out a lot about his golf game over the past year, drawing motivation and guidance from Lopes assistant coach Mike Schaloum to turn around his short game and the overall results ensued. Zorzetto's final-round eagle shifted momentum during the Lopes' surge into first place at the WAC Championship in Boulder City, Nevada.
Â
"Tommaso, of all the players I've every coached, has probably made the biggest jump in terms of his work ethic," Mark Mueller said. "He spent hours upon hours upon hours working on his short game, and he's turned it into a strength.
"His game has just taken off, which is just special to see. You love to see that because it proves it's possible. If you put in the work individually, especially in Phoenix, you can get better."
Â
The confidence carried over into the summer when Zorzetto returned to Italy and won two individual tournaments, including the Men's International Championship of Italy. In his homeland's premier amateur event, he outplayed a 120-player field with a 14-under, three-round tournament score in Fiano.
Â
"I feel like I can beat anybody," Zorzetto said. "When I say anybody, I mean anybody, even the first in the world. I feel good about myself. I know I can hit the ball properly. I've worked hard with the coaches on my short game. That's what takes you to the next level, so I hope I can elevate it even more this year."
Â
The opening tournament's traveling group also will include Glendale Community College transfer Warner Beach, the Division II junior college national champion from Buckeye, and Gavin O'Neill, a freshman from Ireland who earned his ticket with eight strong rounds in team qualifying.
Â
Returnees Craig Passmore, a senior from England, and Josh McCabe, a junior from Ireland, also will play in Manhattan, Kansas, along with senior Matthew Pennington, a transfer who won conference and regional titles last season for Division II CSU San Marcos.
Â
Pennington, who is from Reno, Nevada, also has made it past four PGA pre-qualifying stages to reach those events' Monday qualifying rounds.
Â
"They're definitely excited," Mark Mueller said. "There's definitely a feeling that we've done it, so they're confident and eager to play. It's been fun so far, for sure. There's a feeling that they did it last year, so let's put our best foot forward to do it again."
Â
The GCU roster rounds out with Jake Lawson coming off a redshirt season, Joseph Cardon transferring from Westmont, Antonio Bulgheroni moving from GCU Club Golf and freshman Alexander Cooke redshirting for a wrist fracture.
Â
"We really like this group of guys," Mark Mueller said. "They have good attitudes. They work hard. They do it in the classroom.
Â
"We want to put ourselves in a position to win, and they know that starts now."
Â
Â
But on the way to that status, GCU starts another long season's path of doglegs and bunkers with the immediate goal that produced the ultimate result last season – steady improvement.
Â
From the time they tee off their season Sunday at Kansas State's Wildcat Invitational to when they travel 100 miles to Payson, Arizona, for the WAC Championship in April, the Lopes are aiming for a remodeled team of six returnees and six newcomers to get better with each day.
Â
"
We want to be known for what we're doing on a daily basis, so we're hoping that a bunch of guys can make that step," GCU 11th-year head coach Mark Mueller said. "That needs to be our calling card, for guys to want to put in work and get better from the time they get here to the time they leave.Â
"We're grateful for everything that GCU does for us, the opportunities that we're given and to play the places we do. If we work hard and be grateful, we have a good chance to end up in a good position at the end of the year."
Â
The Lopes return three players from the five-man lineup that won the WAC Championship, where GCU has finished first or second in four of five attempts since becoming eligible for Division I postseason play.
Â
GCU will play the fall half of the season without junior Sam Murphy, who underwent ankle fusion surgery this summer after winning the Connacht Men's Championship on home turf in Ireland.
Â
Murphy took sixth at the WAC Championship, where returnees Nicky Kling (14th) and Tommaso Zorzetto (26th) also contributed to a 34-under-par team performance.
Â
Kling, a senior from Scottsdale Chaparral High School, tied for third place at the Arizona Open last month with GCU Golf Course PGA Director Jesse Mueller, the team's volunteer assistant coach. Firing three sub-70 rounds at Mesa Country Club, Kling was the only amateur to finish among the top seven at the tournament.Â
"Nicky wants to be a professional golfer after this year, so we're looking for him to take a step up this year and we're looking for him to go about his business in a professional manner," Mark Mueller said.
Â
Kling shot the second-best round of the GCU Invitational last season (65) and carded a 5-under tournament at the WAC Championship.
Â
"I've worked a lot on my mental game," Kling said. "I'm figuring out what I need to do to, not play the best, but score the best I can every round. There's a difference between playing well and scoring well. Whether it's 1 over or even to 5 under or 6 under, I have to figure out what I've got to do to get there."
Â
Zorzetto, a senior from Padova, Italy, figured out a lot about his golf game over the past year, drawing motivation and guidance from Lopes assistant coach Mike Schaloum to turn around his short game and the overall results ensued. Zorzetto's final-round eagle shifted momentum during the Lopes' surge into first place at the WAC Championship in Boulder City, Nevada.Â
"Tommaso, of all the players I've every coached, has probably made the biggest jump in terms of his work ethic," Mark Mueller said. "He spent hours upon hours upon hours working on his short game, and he's turned it into a strength.
"His game has just taken off, which is just special to see. You love to see that because it proves it's possible. If you put in the work individually, especially in Phoenix, you can get better."
Â
The confidence carried over into the summer when Zorzetto returned to Italy and won two individual tournaments, including the Men's International Championship of Italy. In his homeland's premier amateur event, he outplayed a 120-player field with a 14-under, three-round tournament score in Fiano.Â
"I feel like I can beat anybody," Zorzetto said. "When I say anybody, I mean anybody, even the first in the world. I feel good about myself. I know I can hit the ball properly. I've worked hard with the coaches on my short game. That's what takes you to the next level, so I hope I can elevate it even more this year."
Â
The opening tournament's traveling group also will include Glendale Community College transfer Warner Beach, the Division II junior college national champion from Buckeye, and Gavin O'Neill, a freshman from Ireland who earned his ticket with eight strong rounds in team qualifying.
Â
Returnees Craig Passmore, a senior from England, and Josh McCabe, a junior from Ireland, also will play in Manhattan, Kansas, along with senior Matthew Pennington, a transfer who won conference and regional titles last season for Division II CSU San Marcos.
Â
Pennington, who is from Reno, Nevada, also has made it past four PGA pre-qualifying stages to reach those events' Monday qualifying rounds.
Â
"They're definitely excited," Mark Mueller said. "There's definitely a feeling that we've done it, so they're confident and eager to play. It's been fun so far, for sure. There's a feeling that they did it last year, so let's put our best foot forward to do it again."
Â
The GCU roster rounds out with Jake Lawson coming off a redshirt season, Joseph Cardon transferring from Westmont, Antonio Bulgheroni moving from GCU Club Golf and freshman Alexander Cooke redshirting for a wrist fracture.
Â
"We really like this group of guys," Mark Mueller said. "They have good attitudes. They work hard. They do it in the classroom.
Â
"We want to put ourselves in a position to win, and they know that starts now."
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
GCU Men's Basketball vs. USC - Highlights
Sunday, October 26
GCU Men's Basketball vs. USC - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Sunday, October 26
GCU Men's Basketball vs. USC - Postgame with Bryce Drew
Sunday, October 26
GCU Men's Basketball vs. USC - Postgame with Nana Owusu-Anane
Sunday, October 26