Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational on September 20, 2026
M Golf
at 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, September 20
Independence, Minn. | Windsong Farm Golf Club
Grand Canyon
at
2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Strong returns make GCU deep this season
9/18/2026 11:25:00 AM | Men's Golf, Paul Coro
8 Lopes came back, head to Minnesota with addition of long-hitting Keil
For just about any golfer, the amazing Valley courses that Grand Canyon played during preseason qualifying would be a bucket-list trip.
For GCU, it was a grind because of a team with competitiveness and depth that would have left last season's winning qualifying score out of the opening lineup this season.
The Lopes tee off their season Sunday at a top-notch event, Minnesota's 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational, with a roster that is loaded with returnees and readiness.
Eight of GCU's nine players are back from a team that finished just eight strokes off the lead at last season's Mountain West Championship.
"The strength of this team is going to be its depth," Lopes 14th-year head coach Mark Mueller said. "I was honest and upfront with the guys that they are going to have to earn their spots at all times. The strength of this team needs to be its depth and its competition within the team.
"I was really pleased with how they competed in qualifying. They got to play a lot of amazing golf courses. You can't ask for anything better than that to start the year."
After eight qualifying rounds, senior Måns Boje of Sweden was the top finisher at 18 under par to lead a tournament lineup with Southern Illinois transfer Ben Keil, senior Gavin O'Neill of Ireland, junior Matthew Diehl of Redlands, California, and junior Erik Rengardt of Sweden.
The Minnesota event includes an accompanying individual tourney, where sophomore Harry Cox of England, junior Nixon Lauritzen of Canyon Lakes, California, junior Trey Moore of Scottsdale, Arizona, and sophomore Daniel Nilsson of Norway will compete.
Boje's qualifying play featured a 9-under round on the Outlaw Golf Course at Desert Mountain.
"I was hitting a lot of fairways and made a lot of good putts," Boje said. "That was a good run. I'm hitting the ball good and making sure I'm in play off the tee.
"Everyone has stepped up. Everyone has the same goal. We want to get to nationals this year, and I think we can do that. We know we can compete against teams in the top 30."
From Diehl playing at the U.S. Amateur Open to O'Neill winning a summer tournament to Lauritzen qualifying for a PGA event, the returning Lopes' offseason was a steady success before making a major roster addition.
Keil, a big hitter from LaGrange, Indiana, finished second in qualifying and marvels at being on a team so talented that his 4-under score at Outlaw was fifth best that day.
"I've never had anything like this in my life," Keil said as the team trained at the Talking Stick Golf Club's academy range. "The practices are not even a comparison to anywhere I've been able to practice before. The courses that we got to play in qualifying are unbelievable. I feel like I'm a pretty normal guy. I wouldn't be able to get on those places unless I was with the team. It's definitely a privilege.
Mueller was even more impressed by Keil's play because he had never seen any of those courses previously. Keil, an All-Missouri Valley honoree last season, place fifth at the conference tournament last spring. In qualifying, he posted 5-under rounds at Paradise Valley Country Club and The Mirabel Club
"Right away, it seemed like he would be a really good fit," Mueller said. "He's a guy who works really hard and loves golf. He's extremely competitive. He drives it well. Distance is his strength, and he's a good putter. When he puts it in the fairway, he's pretty good."
Being in his fourth GCU season, O'Neill is the team leader. He was part of GCU being able to return eight players.
"I'm really thankful for everything GCU does for us from the executive team to Coach Boggs (Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs) and her team," Mueller said. "They're a huge part of why the eight came back with the resources given. The guys know what was expected. They know what I'm about and what we're trying to do."
Mueller also is thankful for the coaches who chose to join his staff. Former seven-year head coach Judd Easterling is his associate head coach and former GCU standout Michael Salazar (2019-21), a former James Madison assistant, is an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the men's and women's programs.
This year's version of the Lopes get a high-level test immediately with their first trip to the Minnesota event at Windsong Farm Golf Club, where NCAA regional qualifiers Georgia and Oklahoma highlight the field.
"We've got nine guys who can really play," Keil said. "I'm excited. They're the kind of guys that make you better just by being around."
For GCU, it was a grind because of a team with competitiveness and depth that would have left last season's winning qualifying score out of the opening lineup this season.
The Lopes tee off their season Sunday at a top-notch event, Minnesota's 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational, with a roster that is loaded with returnees and readiness.
Eight of GCU's nine players are back from a team that finished just eight strokes off the lead at last season's Mountain West Championship.
"The strength of this team is going to be its depth," Lopes 14th-year head coach Mark Mueller said. "I was honest and upfront with the guys that they are going to have to earn their spots at all times. The strength of this team needs to be its depth and its competition within the team.
"I was really pleased with how they competed in qualifying. They got to play a lot of amazing golf courses. You can't ask for anything better than that to start the year."
After eight qualifying rounds, senior Måns Boje of Sweden was the top finisher at 18 under par to lead a tournament lineup with Southern Illinois transfer Ben Keil, senior Gavin O'Neill of Ireland, junior Matthew Diehl of Redlands, California, and junior Erik Rengardt of Sweden.
The Minnesota event includes an accompanying individual tourney, where sophomore Harry Cox of England, junior Nixon Lauritzen of Canyon Lakes, California, junior Trey Moore of Scottsdale, Arizona, and sophomore Daniel Nilsson of Norway will compete.
Boje's qualifying play featured a 9-under round on the Outlaw Golf Course at Desert Mountain.
"I was hitting a lot of fairways and made a lot of good putts," Boje said. "That was a good run. I'm hitting the ball good and making sure I'm in play off the tee.
"Everyone has stepped up. Everyone has the same goal. We want to get to nationals this year, and I think we can do that. We know we can compete against teams in the top 30."
From Diehl playing at the U.S. Amateur Open to O'Neill winning a summer tournament to Lauritzen qualifying for a PGA event, the returning Lopes' offseason was a steady success before making a major roster addition.
Keil, a big hitter from LaGrange, Indiana, finished second in qualifying and marvels at being on a team so talented that his 4-under score at Outlaw was fifth best that day.
"I've never had anything like this in my life," Keil said as the team trained at the Talking Stick Golf Club's academy range. "The practices are not even a comparison to anywhere I've been able to practice before. The courses that we got to play in qualifying are unbelievable. I feel like I'm a pretty normal guy. I wouldn't be able to get on those places unless I was with the team. It's definitely a privilege.
Mueller was even more impressed by Keil's play because he had never seen any of those courses previously. Keil, an All-Missouri Valley honoree last season, place fifth at the conference tournament last spring. In qualifying, he posted 5-under rounds at Paradise Valley Country Club and The Mirabel Club
"Right away, it seemed like he would be a really good fit," Mueller said. "He's a guy who works really hard and loves golf. He's extremely competitive. He drives it well. Distance is his strength, and he's a good putter. When he puts it in the fairway, he's pretty good."
Being in his fourth GCU season, O'Neill is the team leader. He was part of GCU being able to return eight players.
"I'm really thankful for everything GCU does for us from the executive team to Coach Boggs (Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs) and her team," Mueller said. "They're a huge part of why the eight came back with the resources given. The guys know what was expected. They know what I'm about and what we're trying to do."
Mueller also is thankful for the coaches who chose to join his staff. Former seven-year head coach Judd Easterling is his associate head coach and former GCU standout Michael Salazar (2019-21), a former James Madison assistant, is an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the men's and women's programs.
This year's version of the Lopes get a high-level test immediately with their first trip to the Minnesota event at Windsong Farm Golf Club, where NCAA regional qualifiers Georgia and Oklahoma highlight the field.
"We've got nine guys who can really play," Keil said. "I'm excited. They're the kind of guys that make you better just by being around."
Players Mentioned
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Friday, September 18
Friday, September 18
Thursday, September 17
Thursday, September 17