Despite rally, GCU edged by Seattle U for WAC title

Friday, April 25

Chaparral Pines | Payson, Ariz.

Grand Canyon

WAC Championship

Photo by: Darryl Webb/WAC

4/27/2025 8:56:00 PM | Men's Golf, Paul Coro

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Lopes' 3rd-round comeback in Payson falls 3 strokes shy to Redhawks

By: Paul Coro

PAYSON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon's nerve-racking WAC Championship formula looked like it was working again Sunday.

Just like their 2023 and 2024 conference titles, the Lopes surged from behind in the final round and matched last year's rally from a double-digit deficit to lead on the Golf Club at Chaparral Pines back nine.

But the feeling and momentum reversed when Seattle U passed GCU over the final five holes to claim the WAC title by three strokes over runner-up GCU, whose No. 52 national ranking (as of Friday) positions the team for a potential NCAA regional at-large selection Wednesday.

Round 3 of WAC Championship at Chaparral Pines in Payson, Ariz.

Round 3 of WAC Championship at Chaparral Pines in Payson, Ariz.

"We were hoping for a better start in the tournament than we did, but effort-wise the guys did everything they could to get in position on the back nine and they did," Lopes head coach Mark Mueller said. "It just wasn't quite enough. Hats off to Seattle. They made a couple birdies down the stretch that didn't make it easier. We certainly didn't play our best."

GCU freshman Nixon Lauritzen (ninth, 5 over), sophomore Gavin O'Neill (tied for 10th, 6 over) and senior Kiko Coelho (tied for 10th, 6 over) finished top 10 with Utah Valley's Dane Huddleston claiming medalist honors at 1 under after a two-hole playoff with Seattle U's Kevin Li.

Graduate Tommaso Zorzetto shot his tournament's lowest round Sunday, a 1-over 73, to tie for 16th place with GCU freshman Matthew Diehl at 10 over for the weekend.

"We certainly didn't play our best," Mueller said. "We never had a guy get going. We never got going, but they were always right there.

"After not playing well on Day 1, I figured we'd come out and play really well (Saturday), and we didn't, but they battled. Even today, we figured we were going to be right there at the end."

Nixon Lauritzen

Lauritzen, who turned 19 on Sunday, was one of four players to shoot 74 or better in each round of the WAC Championship. His 18th-hole par to close GCU's round held off Tarleton State, which finished one stroke behind the Lopes.

"It was not even close to the way we wanted to play," Lauritzen said. "But in the end, me and the boys are just very grateful to experience a tournament like this on a beautiful course. I'm not mad at anything. We're going to get prepare for the next couple weeks and go kick some butt on another course."

The Lopes entered the day trailing Seattle U by seven and fell to fourth place and a double-digit hole before rallying on another cool, dusty day on the pine-lined, hilly course.

The final rounds were a grind, pushing 6 1/2 hours each but the Lopes rigorously climbed all the way back. They had cut the lead in half by the time the team made the turn and went to the front after every GCU player birdied the par-5 12th hole.

Round 3 of WAC Championship at Chaparral Pines in Payson, Ariz.

The Lopes birdied three more times on the 14th hole, but Seattle U still shot lower there and on the next two holes to take back the lead. Li eagled No. 14 while two teammates birdied.

The Redhawks had final-round scores of 80 and 84, but Li shot even and teammate Walker Lamb birdied four of the final five holes.

"I was checking the leaderboard a little too much today, so I was aware we were coming back," Lauritzen said. "My heart was racing throughout the entire day. I thought it'd go away after Hole 1, but that was not the case. But pressure's a good thing, and I was able to pull through it and play some decent golf."

The 81-team field for the six May 12-14 NCAA regional tournaments will be revealed Wednesday. The Lopes improved their record to 108-41-1 after beating seven of eight conference opponents this weekend.

"I feel like we're definitely in a good spot number-wise," GCU assistant coach Mike Schaloum said. "This might be what we needed to bring us closer and work a little bit harder to get to nationals. If we're playing at La Costa (site of the NCAA Championship), we'll look back at this as what got us there."