Completed Event: Men's Golf at 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational on September 20, 2026 , , 9th of 15
M Golf
at 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
9th of 15
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, September 20
Independence, Minn. | Windsong Farm Golf Club
Grand Canyon
at
2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
9/21/2026 6:22:00 PM | Men's Golf
GCU finishes 9th in Minnesota 15-team event
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – Grand Canyon's 2026-27 season began this week with senior Gavin O'Neill recording a top-20 finish at the 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational at Windsong Farm Golf Club.
The Lopes placed ninth out of 15 programs, shooting 30 over par with two players finishing in the top 40 of 84 tournament golfers.
Georgia won the event at 9 under, followed by Oklahoma (3 under) and Rutgers (8 over). With an 8-over final round Monday, GCU finished ahead of Iowa State, Minnesota and Nebraska in the final standings.
O'Neill tied for 19th play by shooting 3 over for the tournament after a 2-under third round. O'Neill recorded five birdies in his final round for the most by a Lopes in any round Sunday and Monday. His eight tournament birdies tied for 19th, and he was one of seven players to have an eagle.
GCU junior Matthew Diehl tied for 40th with a 9-over total, carding an even score in Monday's final round. After a 2-over start through his first five holes Monday, Diehl locked in with pars and a pair of birdies the rest of the way. He moved up 21 spots from his Sunday finish, making the Lopes' largest jump up the leaderboard.
O'Neill and Diehl's turnaround play mirrored GCU's play as a whole. After starting 12 over in round one, each round improved by two strokes to eventually claim its first top-10 finish of the season.
Lopes newcomer Ben Keil, a senior, tied for 45th at 10 over, followed by junior Erik Rengardt (tied for 50th, 11 over) and senior Måns Boje (tied for 62nd, 13 over).
GCU totaled 178 pars, second most among the 15-team field. Diehl and Rengardt each had 38.
The Lopes will get a quick rest and resume play this weekend at the William H. Tucker Invitational, which will hold the first and second rounds Friday and the final round Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Lopes placed ninth out of 15 programs, shooting 30 over par with two players finishing in the top 40 of 84 tournament golfers.
Georgia won the event at 9 under, followed by Oklahoma (3 under) and Rutgers (8 over). With an 8-over final round Monday, GCU finished ahead of Iowa State, Minnesota and Nebraska in the final standings.
O'Neill tied for 19th play by shooting 3 over for the tournament after a 2-under third round. O'Neill recorded five birdies in his final round for the most by a Lopes in any round Sunday and Monday. His eight tournament birdies tied for 19th, and he was one of seven players to have an eagle.
GCU junior Matthew Diehl tied for 40th with a 9-over total, carding an even score in Monday's final round. After a 2-over start through his first five holes Monday, Diehl locked in with pars and a pair of birdies the rest of the way. He moved up 21 spots from his Sunday finish, making the Lopes' largest jump up the leaderboard.
O'Neill and Diehl's turnaround play mirrored GCU's play as a whole. After starting 12 over in round one, each round improved by two strokes to eventually claim its first top-10 finish of the season.
Lopes newcomer Ben Keil, a senior, tied for 45th at 10 over, followed by junior Erik Rengardt (tied for 50th, 11 over) and senior Måns Boje (tied for 62nd, 13 over).
GCU totaled 178 pars, second most among the 15-team field. Diehl and Rengardt each had 38.
The Lopes will get a quick rest and resume play this weekend at the William H. Tucker Invitational, which will hold the first and second rounds Friday and the final round Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Players Mentioned
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08