Haines takes lead in 2nd GCU year; Vakasiuola stands out among 4 freshmen
By: Paul Coro
When last season's Grand Canyon women's golf team was playing its first tournament in early September, this one was competing in intrasquad qualifying to prepare its first tournament.
Â
          Brent Nicoson
With four freshmen and a transfer joining three returners on the Lopes, second-year head coach Brent Nicoson was intentional with the later season start to mold the clay before it comes under fire.
The time together in the desert sun was like a kiln for their clay, making a solid structure for a GCU season that begins Monday at the Leadership and Golf Invitational near Tacoma, Washington.
"I already feel like our culture is where we want it in Year 2," Nicoson said. "Coaches and mentors told me it'd take three to four years, but we've got it in there in two.
"Everybody's upbeat and positive. You can tell they're going to get it. They want to be out practicing. I'm never going to have to coach energy or effort in this group."
Nicoson's first GCU team earned two tournament victories last season and the top conference seed of the regular season. Four all-conference players needed to be replaced for this Lopes season's first ' Mountain West campaign.
The early weeks revealed the chemistry of GCU's roster. Five qualifying rounds revealed its competitiveness.
Â
          Alexis Vakasiuola
All eight players were in the mix for the opening tournament's five Lopes lineup spots, with freshman Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley, Arizona, rolling to the top spot.
"Alexis stayed relaxed from Day 1," Nicoson said. "She's a powerful kid who can hit it a long way."
Vakasiuola, whose sister Alyzzah played on last season's GCU team, shot a sizzling 12 under par over five rounds (three at GCU Golf Course, one at Phoenix Country Club and one at Raven Golf Club).
"I just told myself to stay calm and do what I do," Vakasiuola said. "I said my prayers before my round to ask Him to give me strength.
"Even through we're a relatively new team, I just really like our culture and our team. We get along really well. We all help each other, support and motivate. It's nice to have those people around you to push you to become better every day."
Â
            Jess Haines
Much of that Lopes culture comes from a key returnee, junior Jess Haines of England. Amid last season, Haines asked Nicoson about what she needed to do to become a leader when she would be one of two upperclassmen on the team this season.
"She wanted to do it so she could be the best leader she could be, which is a really cool thing," Nicoson said.
Haines won the West of England Amateur Championship War Memorial Trophy in mid-August before leaving for Phoenix. Her confidence carried over to qualifying, where she placed second to back up how she is feeling more comfortable in her second GCU season.
"It's definitely nice coming back and knowing how everything works," Haines said. "The culture is pretty good at the minute. Everyone's getting on really nice, and we've got some talent. I'd love to see the freshmen progress. I've got a good feeling that this year's going to be a good year."
Lena Tremouille of France, the other experienced returnee entering her third GCU season, finished third in qualifying.
"She feels more at home this year," Nicoson said. "Her game has matched that. Lena was really solid in qualifying. The more she gets around these kids to push her, she's going to get even better."
The third GCU returnee, sophomore Matilda Samervong, remarked to Nicoson how hard the older players are going to have to work because of the grind of the freshman class. Samervong missed the fifth spot by one stroke behind freshman Rosie Maguire of Scotland, who took a gap year before joining the Lopes.
"Rosie is the sweetest young lady and works her butt off," Nicoson said. "She wants this so bad."
Maguire finished just behind another newcomer, sophomore Allie Justiz, who committed to GCU before switching to Texas State for her freshman year. The native of Arcadia, Oklahoma, followed her initial instinct back to GCU and finished fourth in qualifying after being second through three rounds.
"She's very thankful and grateful to be here," Nicoson said. "She's very solid and consistent, keeps it in front of her. She's never out of a hole."
GCU freshmen Honor Johnson of England and Clara Duerr of Germany were also in the mix for the five lineup spots entering the final round. It makes Nicoson feel like he is a coin flip away from any five of the eight playing in a tournament lineup.
"We're going to be young, so I don't know what we're going to have out of the gate, but I have complete belief in this group," Nicoson said. "They're talented. They can do it. It's just a matter of how quickly they figure out the college game."
The team will have the next two years together, and Nicoson has told the four freshmen that they could level up GCU's program stature over their careers.
"I don't know if you could find a group this early in the season that's tighter," said Nicoson, who won three NCAA Division II championships at UIndy.
Nicoson also credits the return of assistant coach Chelsea Carroll for the solid culture. Carroll assisted the GCU women's golf program from 2022 to 2024 after leading South Mountain Community College's men's team to a national championship.
"It's great having her as a leader beside me because we have the same vision," Nicoson said. "We have one vision through eight players and two coaches. Our vision as a team is 'Why can't we be that team in Phoenix? Why can't we be the best team in Arizona?' "
