"The championship run started the day after we finished second at the Spring NCCGA Championships in April."

As Lopes' Head Coach Ryan Woodworth emphasized, the Grand Canyon University Men's Club Golf team finished what they set out to do seven month ago, securing the first-place trophy at the 2023 National Collegiate Club Golf Association Fall National Championship at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia, Mississippi. The team finished tied for first at 15-over par but ultimately secured the win via an extra-hole shootout with the University of Florida.

Following their second-place finish at the 2023 Spring NCCGA Championship, there was no question that the Lopes' squad knew what it would take to bring home the trophy in the fall.

"The Spring NCCGA Championship gave our guys the confidence to believe they could win a title," said Woodworth. "With that confidence came determination. I've seen it all year. These guys were locked in and playing their hearts out every time."

"Locked in" is one way to describe the performance as the Lopes battled past constant pressure. Ranked first going into the weekend? Finishing the opening round in first place? Watching second-place Florida surge on the second day to force a playoff? No problem.

"Our guys never let the pressure get to them and never took their foot off the gas," said Woodworth. "They stayed confident and aggressive the entire weekend."

Speaking of staying confident and aggressive, new GCU transfer Brandon Winters continued his hot debut semester for the Lopes. Winters shot 71 and 67 to finish 6-under 138 and win the individual medal by four strokes.

"Brandon and I have played together a lot this year and we do a great job of feeding off of each other and staying focused," said Lopes' senior captain David Charos, who has been a mainstay for GCU Club Golf success over recent years and delivered an important 1-over-par finish on Day 2.

"A huge thanks to our captain David," said Woodworth. "He has been a great leader and has done an amazing job in his time here. We are sad to lose him, but I know he will go on to do great things."

Charos graduates from GCU in December but appreciates the journey that GCU Club Golf has been.

"After the final putt, it was hard not to feel all of the emotions," said Charos. "All of the hours of hard work, discipline, and dedication paid off. This was a great way to go out and close my college career. For us, we always said the pressure was a privilege, and we proved our ranking."

Other notable finishes for the Lopes include Zach Cozza, from the Lopes' 'B' team, finishing second individually at 2-under 142, and Angelo Luciani finishing at 3-over 147.

Here are the full tournament results:
 

Rank	Team Name	Total Score
1	Grand Canyon	735
2	University of Florida	735
3	High Point University	750
4	Virginia Tech	753
5	Grand Canyon (B)	754