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
Thursday, February 15
Lihue, Hawaii | Hokuala Golf Club
Grand Canyon
at
John A. Burns Intercollegiate
Photo by: Ocean Course Hokuala
Lopes earn 4th in tough field at Hawaii tournament
2/17/2024 9:15:00 PM | Men's Golf
GCU cards 7-under score, outplays 6 teams ranked in nation's top 50
LIHUE, Kaua'i — The Grand Canyon men's golf team played the John A. Burns Intercollegiate for the seventh time in the past eight seasons to be one of the team's toughest competitions year in and year out. The Lopes held tough this weekend with some of the nation's best by taking fourth place at the conclusion of Saturday's final round.
The fourth-place showing is the fourth top-five placement for the squad this season and second in as many tournaments this spring. The John A. Burns Intercollegiate, held at Ocean Course Hokuala, fielded 20 teams with nine ranked in the NCAA Scoreboard top-50 rankings.
To paint the picture of the level of competition, No. 37 BYU won the tourney last year with the individual medal going to Sam Bennett of Texas A&M, whose three-round score of 8 under at the 2023 Master's Tournament was the lowest score for an amateur since 1964.
This year's winner, No. 9 Arizona, won with a score of 20 under, but the Lopes were neck and neck with the Wildcats throughout the three-day tournament. GCU shot even par Saturday and finished just outside the top three by three strokes. The Lopes surpassed six teams ranked in the national top 50.
Senior Tommaso Zorzetto finished best for the Lopes, carding a three-day score of 3 under par. Zorzetto had 16 birdies, including 13 through his first two rounds. Classmate Nicky Kling finished one shot back of Zorzetto for a top-20 showing, tying for 18th at 2 under. Kling had three birdies Saturday and 14 throughout the tournament.
Senior Matthew Pennington shot the Lopes' best third-round score at 1 under to finish 2 over for the tournament. Pennington registered five birdies, including four on the front nine Saturday. Junior teammate Sam Murphy finished in a tie for 44th at 3 over, while freshman Gavin O'Neill tied for 50th at 5 over. The duo combined for seven birdies over the final round.
The Lopes' overall record improved to 71-27-2 with a 32-5 spring mark.
GCU will take a couple of weeks off before it hosts the GCU Invitational at GCU Golf Course on March 12-13.
The fourth-place showing is the fourth top-five placement for the squad this season and second in as many tournaments this spring. The John A. Burns Intercollegiate, held at Ocean Course Hokuala, fielded 20 teams with nine ranked in the NCAA Scoreboard top-50 rankings.
To paint the picture of the level of competition, No. 37 BYU won the tourney last year with the individual medal going to Sam Bennett of Texas A&M, whose three-round score of 8 under at the 2023 Master's Tournament was the lowest score for an amateur since 1964.
This year's winner, No. 9 Arizona, won with a score of 20 under, but the Lopes were neck and neck with the Wildcats throughout the three-day tournament. GCU shot even par Saturday and finished just outside the top three by three strokes. The Lopes surpassed six teams ranked in the national top 50.
Senior Tommaso Zorzetto finished best for the Lopes, carding a three-day score of 3 under par. Zorzetto had 16 birdies, including 13 through his first two rounds. Classmate Nicky Kling finished one shot back of Zorzetto for a top-20 showing, tying for 18th at 2 under. Kling had three birdies Saturday and 14 throughout the tournament.
Senior Matthew Pennington shot the Lopes' best third-round score at 1 under to finish 2 over for the tournament. Pennington registered five birdies, including four on the front nine Saturday. Junior teammate Sam Murphy finished in a tie for 44th at 3 over, while freshman Gavin O'Neill tied for 50th at 5 over. The duo combined for seven birdies over the final round.
The Lopes' overall record improved to 71-27-2 with a 32-5 spring mark.
GCU will take a couple of weeks off before it hosts the GCU Invitational at GCU Golf Course on March 12-13.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Sunday, December 14
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Highlights
Sunday, December 14
Celly in the hallway! Lopes win!
Sunday, December 14
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Postgame with Bryce Drew
Sunday, December 14