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
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Diehl delivers 1st-round 66 puts Lopes in top 5 in New Mexico
9/19/2025 6:17:00 PM | Men's Golf
GCU sophomore sits in 2nd with Nilsson 6th as Lopes tally 41 birdies
ALBUQUERQUE – Coming off a record-breaking season in which he set Grand Canyon's single-season scoring average record, Lopes sophomore Matthew Diehl's sights on breaking that mark began with a first-round 66 and a second-round 70 in the William H. Tucker Invitational.
Competing in New Mexico for the second straight season, GCU's first round saw 21 birdies among scoring players, including 13 on the back nine. Diehl had four birdies on the back nine, while sophomore teammate Nixon Lauritzen notched an eagle on the par-5 18th to finish with a 34 on the back-nine score.
Competing in his first tournament as a scoring member, sophomore Campbell Kerr registered a 1-under 71 for the GCU's second-best score of the first round. Nilsson and Lauritzen went even, while sophomore teammate Erik Rengardt shot 3 over. Sophomore Måns Boje carded a 2-over card as the Lopes' individual entry.
It was Nilsson who caught fire late in his second round, tallying six birdies with four over his final seven holes. Nilsson jumped 28 spots to sixth place, placing two Lopes in the top 10, one of three teams to have two or more players among the top 10.
The Lopes shot 7 under through the first 18 and 4 under over the next. GCU's par-4 scoring average of 4.06 is third best among the field while its 41 birdies are fourth most and only two back from overall leader New Mexico.
The third and final round will be played Saturday morning at the UNM Championship Course. GCU will head straight to Washington to partake in The Tindall at Gold Mountain Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday.
News and notes
- GCU is tied for fourth out of 18 schools after two rounds at the UNM Championship Course, holding an 11-under score with 18 holes to play. The Lopes are six back from eighth-ranked host New Mexico.
- In its inaugural Mountain West season Friday. GCU is one of four MW teams competing in Albuquerque, The Lopes are second and hold six-plus stroke leads over Fresno State and Colorado State.
- Diehl, who earned WAC Freshman of the Year and All-WAC first team last season, was stellar in his first round of 2025-26. He recorded seven birdies to just one bogey in the first round and finished with 12 birdies for the day.
- GCU freshman Daniel Nilsson began his college career with an even-par first round and a 5-under second. The Norwegian is tied with Diehl and tied for second among the 100-player field in birdies. His two-round score is tied for sixth.
Competing in New Mexico for the second straight season, GCU's first round saw 21 birdies among scoring players, including 13 on the back nine. Diehl had four birdies on the back nine, while sophomore teammate Nixon Lauritzen notched an eagle on the par-5 18th to finish with a 34 on the back-nine score.
Competing in his first tournament as a scoring member, sophomore Campbell Kerr registered a 1-under 71 for the GCU's second-best score of the first round. Nilsson and Lauritzen went even, while sophomore teammate Erik Rengardt shot 3 over. Sophomore Måns Boje carded a 2-over card as the Lopes' individual entry.
It was Nilsson who caught fire late in his second round, tallying six birdies with four over his final seven holes. Nilsson jumped 28 spots to sixth place, placing two Lopes in the top 10, one of three teams to have two or more players among the top 10.
The Lopes shot 7 under through the first 18 and 4 under over the next. GCU's par-4 scoring average of 4.06 is third best among the field while its 41 birdies are fourth most and only two back from overall leader New Mexico.
The third and final round will be played Saturday morning at the UNM Championship Course. GCU will head straight to Washington to partake in The Tindall at Gold Mountain Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday.
Players Mentioned
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