Completed Event: Women's Golf at Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational on September 29, 2025 , , T-8th of 15
W Golf
at Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational
T-8th of 15
Grand Canyon University Athletics
WAC title moves into Lopes' striking distance
4/20/2024 6:10:00 PM | Women's Golf, Paul Coro
GCU trails Abilene Christian by 5 entering Sunday's final round in Payson
PAYSON, Ariz. – For two days, the Grand Canyon women's golf team has walked the demanding, undulating hills of The Rim Golf Club at the high altitude of 5,000 feet.
The Lopes' position in the WAC Championship race has been up and down much the same, but GCU is positioned to finish with a Mogollon Rim high in Sunday's final round.
With a two-spot jump in Saturday's second round, the Lopes trail leader Abilene Christian by five strokes when GCU's five-player group returns to pursue its first conference title since 2018.
"We had a good bounce-back from yesterday, especially when we starts off that hot," said Lopes head coach Lauren Giesecke, whose team scorched front nine for 11 birdies and an eagle. "That was positive to see. We've got to do some course-management planning and reassess some holes, but we know we're in it. It's up for the taking."
GCU stayed on the practice range into the evening Saturday to set up another improvement Sunday. The Lopes improved on Friday's opening round by eight strokes Saturday senior Becca Tschetter and junior Leighton Shosted each shooting 1 over.
Shosted is tied for third place individually, one stroke behind second place and five behind leader Ryan Honea of Abilene Christian (even after two rounds).
"I'm happy, but there are always shots you can improve on," said Shosted, a Mesa Mountain View High School graduate who transferred from WAC foe Utah Valley. "I think we're going to go out and get after it tomorrow. I'm excited to see what we can do.
"I trust my teammates. We lean on each other a lot and hype each other up. Being in this position gives us something to work for and go out there and grind to do our best."
Much like Shosted opening the first two holes with birdies (one from the bunker), Tschetter made a 21-foot par on the first hole and saw GCU President Brian Mueller before making a 15-foot birdie on the second hole and flashing him a "Lopes Up" sign.
"It's so cool that he came out," said Tschetter, the GCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president. "He's such a selfless guy. He could be anywhere, and he chose to come out and watch us."
The scoreboard surge slowed on the back nine, where sophomore Ryan Flynn was the only GCU player to card birdies. Flynn is tied with Tchetter for seventh place at 6 over par, one behind the tie for third.
With GCU senior Constanza Guerrero playing par-5 holes at 2 under and senior teammate Carly Strole carding one of the tournament's two eagles Saturday, The Lopes will lean on the experience of its roster and its resume of success.
The Lopes have a won five tournaments, a Division I-era program record, this season with two of them coming when GCU entered the final round without the lead.
"Being one to five strokes behind is kind of our sweet spot," Tschetter said. "We end up playing even better when we have that fire under us. Hopefully, that's going to keep repeating itself. We know that feeling of winning. This is a championship team. We do championship things. I'm ready to see what tomorrow holds for us."
GCU will play in the final pairings Sunday, matching up with leader Abilene Christian. Seattle U and California Baptist remain in the race, trailing the Lopes by two and three strokes, respectively.
The winner of the WAC Championship will advance to an NCAA regional.
"This is a tough course," Giesecke said. "It's not just physically demanding, but mentally demanding. We're finishing later in the afternoon with the sun baking on them, but they're just going to have to dig deep. Everybody will be fighting the same battles we are, but I trust that they're tough mentally and physically. We put all this work in the entire year so it will pay off."
The Lopes' position in the WAC Championship race has been up and down much the same, but GCU is positioned to finish with a Mogollon Rim high in Sunday's final round.
With a two-spot jump in Saturday's second round, the Lopes trail leader Abilene Christian by five strokes when GCU's five-player group returns to pursue its first conference title since 2018.
"We had a good bounce-back from yesterday, especially when we starts off that hot," said Lopes head coach Lauren Giesecke, whose team scorched front nine for 11 birdies and an eagle. "That was positive to see. We've got to do some course-management planning and reassess some holes, but we know we're in it. It's up for the taking."
GCU stayed on the practice range into the evening Saturday to set up another improvement Sunday. The Lopes improved on Friday's opening round by eight strokes Saturday senior Becca Tschetter and junior Leighton Shosted each shooting 1 over.Shosted is tied for third place individually, one stroke behind second place and five behind leader Ryan Honea of Abilene Christian (even after two rounds).
"I'm happy, but there are always shots you can improve on," said Shosted, a Mesa Mountain View High School graduate who transferred from WAC foe Utah Valley. "I think we're going to go out and get after it tomorrow. I'm excited to see what we can do.
"I trust my teammates. We lean on each other a lot and hype each other up. Being in this position gives us something to work for and go out there and grind to do our best."
Much like Shosted opening the first two holes with birdies (one from the bunker), Tschetter made a 21-foot par on the first hole and saw GCU President Brian Mueller before making a 15-foot birdie on the second hole and flashing him a "Lopes Up" sign."It's so cool that he came out," said Tschetter, the GCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president. "He's such a selfless guy. He could be anywhere, and he chose to come out and watch us."
The scoreboard surge slowed on the back nine, where sophomore Ryan Flynn was the only GCU player to card birdies. Flynn is tied with Tchetter for seventh place at 6 over par, one behind the tie for third.
With GCU senior Constanza Guerrero playing par-5 holes at 2 under and senior teammate Carly Strole carding one of the tournament's two eagles Saturday, The Lopes will lean on the experience of its roster and its resume of success.The Lopes have a won five tournaments, a Division I-era program record, this season with two of them coming when GCU entered the final round without the lead.
"Being one to five strokes behind is kind of our sweet spot," Tschetter said. "We end up playing even better when we have that fire under us. Hopefully, that's going to keep repeating itself. We know that feeling of winning. This is a championship team. We do championship things. I'm ready to see what tomorrow holds for us."
GCU will play in the final pairings Sunday, matching up with leader Abilene Christian. Seattle U and California Baptist remain in the race, trailing the Lopes by two and three strokes, respectively.
The winner of the WAC Championship will advance to an NCAA regional.
"This is a tough course," Giesecke said. "It's not just physically demanding, but mentally demanding. We're finishing later in the afternoon with the sun baking on them, but they're just going to have to dig deep. Everybody will be fighting the same battles we are, but I trust that they're tough mentally and physically. We put all this work in the entire year so it will pay off."
Players Mentioned
/ 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