Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at William H. Tucker Intercollegiate on September 19, 2025
M Golf
at William H. Tucker Intercollegiate
Grand Canyon University Athletics
WAC 3-peat hope hinges on final-round rally again
4/26/2025 6:34:00 PM | Men's Golf
GCU trails leader Seattle U by 7 entering Sunday in Payson
PAYSON, Arizona — Grand Canyon has proven clutch to be the two-time defending champion of the WAC Men's Golf Championship, and a three-peat will require that program gene to emerge again.
The Lopes enter Sunday's final round of the WAC Championship trailing leader Seattle U by seven strokes after losing four strokes of ground to the Redhawks in Saturday's second round. GCU shot 12 over par Saturday and is in third place for the tournament at 17 over, three strokes behind second-place Tarleton State.
GCU won its first conference title in 2023 after trailing by two strokes early in the third round in Boulder City, Nevada, and made a stirring rally from 10 strokes back on the final round's back nine last year to win. That victory was sealed by a stroke on the final hole of the Golf Club at Chaparral Pines, where the nine conference teams were navigating forest-lined, undulating fairways and heavy winds on Saturday.
The Lopes opened the second round sizzling Saturday when they were 7 under par after two holes, including going 5 under on the par-5, 491-yard second hole. GCU freshman Nixon Lauritzen made the Lopes' only eagle of the tournament on No. 2 and shot a 2-over 74, putting him in a tie for eighth place with sophomore teammate Gavin O'Neill.
O'Neill is the Lopes' birdie leader with eight through two rounds. He was 1 under through Saturday's first six holes before a triple bogey on the par-five seventh hole. His even-par 72 in Friday's first round remains GCU's low round of the tournament.
After that 7-under start on the first two holes, the Lopes did not card another birdie until the back nine.
GCU senior Kiko Coelho was part of that hot start with birdies on each of the first two holes. He also finished strongly, playing Saturday's final seven holes at 1 under to repeat his Friday score of 3-over 75. Coelho and freshman teammate Matthew Diehl are tied for 15th place at 6 over each. Diehl closed his second round with seven consecutive pars.
The Lopes did not use graduate Tommaso Zorzetto's second-round score of 79, which slipped him to a tie for 23rd place at 9 over for the tournament.
GCU's tournament strength has been on Chaparral Pines' par-5 holes, where the Lopes are 7 under collectively through two rounds. But O'Neill is the WAC Championship leader for play on par-4 holes, where he has shot 1 under par.
O'Neill and Zorzetto are returnees from the GCU team that shot a 1-over final round to rally and repeat. Zorzetto will be the first Lopes player to tee off Sunday, leading the comeback attempt at 10:10 a.m. at the first hole. Laurtizen will tee off last of the Lopes at 10:50 a.m.
Follow live scoring here.
The Lopes enter Sunday's final round of the WAC Championship trailing leader Seattle U by seven strokes after losing four strokes of ground to the Redhawks in Saturday's second round. GCU shot 12 over par Saturday and is in third place for the tournament at 17 over, three strokes behind second-place Tarleton State.
GCU won its first conference title in 2023 after trailing by two strokes early in the third round in Boulder City, Nevada, and made a stirring rally from 10 strokes back on the final round's back nine last year to win. That victory was sealed by a stroke on the final hole of the Golf Club at Chaparral Pines, where the nine conference teams were navigating forest-lined, undulating fairways and heavy winds on Saturday.
The Lopes opened the second round sizzling Saturday when they were 7 under par after two holes, including going 5 under on the par-5, 491-yard second hole. GCU freshman Nixon Lauritzen made the Lopes' only eagle of the tournament on No. 2 and shot a 2-over 74, putting him in a tie for eighth place with sophomore teammate Gavin O'Neill.
O'Neill is the Lopes' birdie leader with eight through two rounds. He was 1 under through Saturday's first six holes before a triple bogey on the par-five seventh hole. His even-par 72 in Friday's first round remains GCU's low round of the tournament.After that 7-under start on the first two holes, the Lopes did not card another birdie until the back nine.
GCU senior Kiko Coelho was part of that hot start with birdies on each of the first two holes. He also finished strongly, playing Saturday's final seven holes at 1 under to repeat his Friday score of 3-over 75. Coelho and freshman teammate Matthew Diehl are tied for 15th place at 6 over each. Diehl closed his second round with seven consecutive pars.
The Lopes did not use graduate Tommaso Zorzetto's second-round score of 79, which slipped him to a tie for 23rd place at 9 over for the tournament.
GCU's tournament strength has been on Chaparral Pines' par-5 holes, where the Lopes are 7 under collectively through two rounds. But O'Neill is the WAC Championship leader for play on par-4 holes, where he has shot 1 under par.
O'Neill and Zorzetto are returnees from the GCU team that shot a 1-over final round to rally and repeat. Zorzetto will be the first Lopes player to tee off Sunday, leading the comeback attempt at 10:10 a.m. at the first hole. Laurtizen will tee off last of the Lopes at 10:50 a.m.
Follow live scoring here.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
GCU Athletics 2025-26 Welcome Back
Tuesday, September 16
Kendra Potts Post Match Press Conference | GCU vs NAU 9.7.25
Monday, September 08
"Your Life Arizona" Featuring Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs
Friday, September 05
Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04