Kling captures Wildcat Invitational title

Sunday, September 17

Manhattan, Kan. | Colbert Hills Golf Club

Grand Canyon

Wildcat Invitational

Photo by: © Austin Van Meter/K-State Sports

9/18/2023 1:29:00 PM | Men's Golf

FINAL RESULTS

Senior cards 13 under; Lopes place 3rd at 15-team Kansas State tournament

By: Nick Macdonald

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Prior to the Grand Canyon men's golf team's season-opening tournament at Kansas State, Lopes head coach Mark Mueller said, "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 made a giant leap in the right direction Monday with a third-place finish at the Wildcat Invitational, where Lopes senior Nicky Kling captured the individual title at 13 under par as one of three GCU top-20 finishers at Colbert Hills Golf Course.

The Lopes shot 6 under as a team to be one of four teams in the 15-team field to finish under par. GCU shot 3 over in Monday's final round to tie for the fourth-lowest score on the day, when scores were vastly different from Sunday's first 36 holes due to heavy winds. GCU shot 9 under in Sunday's first and second rounds combined and entered Monday two strokes back of a top-three finish.

"Overall, it was a good way to start the year," Mueller said. "We saw a lot of good stuff. We will get back to work when we get home and continue to get better. Obviously, I'm really happy for Nicky. Great way to start the year."

Kling had an in-house battle for medalist honors heading into the final 18 holes, sitting one stroke back from GCU classmate Matthew Pennington for the outright lead. Kling began his day on hole No. 4 and birdied the fifth and seventh holes to start off strong. Back-to-back bogeys on the eighth and ninth hole saw his scorecard go even, but the damage was minimal, as the Paradise Valley, Arizona, native cruised on holes 10-18 with three birdies and an eagle on the par-four 13th with impressive iron play and strong putting.

GCU tallied four eagles over the 54 holes, but Kling's eagle on the 13th hole was the shot of the tournament. Kling reached the green off the tee, sitting 35 feet from the pin toward the back left of the three-tier green. Kling sank the putt to move to 4 under for the round with eight holes to play.

"I thought if I played well that I'd have a really good chance to win," Kling said. "I was looking to win a couple times in the fall, so it's nice to get one right away. It's really cool. I had a feeling that I was going to get my first college win soon this year."

It was the first college tournament title for the Chaparral High School alumnus.

"I just know that I'm good enough to actually win these if I just play my game and do the best I can," Kling said. "Now I know I can do it. I just have to keep working hard and keep showing up to these tournaments, do the best that I can and see what happens."

Pennington, a transfer from CSU San Marcos, tied for third overall at 8 under par in his first tournament as a Lope. While Pennington shot 2 over for the day, he eagled the par-five seventh hole to put himself 1 under with 10 holes to play. Pennington performed as an individual for the Lopes and shot 68, 66 and 74 over the three rounds.

GCU freshman Gavin O'Neill earned a top-20 finish in his first collegiate tournament with a 1-over scorecard to tie for 19th. O'Neill shot even in Monday's final round with three birdies. He had two birdies, one bogey and five pars over his final eight holes.

Lopes seniors Tommaso Zorzetto and Craig Passmore tied for 27th at 4 over. The duo had five birdies combined over the final 18 holes. Junior teammate Josh McCabe finished one stroke behind them at 6 over for 41st place, while GCU freshman Warner Beach tied for 50th at 8 over with 15 pars in Monday's final round.

The Lopes take two weeks off before heading to Boulder, Colorado, to partake in the Mark Simpson Invitational on Oct. 2-3.