Bullseyes on their backs?
 
No problem.
 
Trailing their archrivals by four strokes going into the final day, the Grand Canyon University Men's Club Golf team tamed Course No. 8 at the legendary Pinehurst Country Club Golf Course in North Carolina Sunday, finishing with an overall team score of 755 and hoisting the National Collegiate Club Golf Association's National Championship trophy for the 3^rd straight time. The Lopes finished an impressive 11 strokes better than 2^nd-place Arizona State University, and another five strokes stronger than both the University of Mississippi and Clemson University, who finished in a 3^rd-place tie. It's not only the second straight fall national championship and third straight overall national title, but it's the 4^th national title crown that the Lopes will put in the trophy case in their nine years of existence.
 
"I'm not sure I have had enough time to decompress and really think about (how amazing the three-peat is)," said Lopes' Head Coach Ryan Woodworth. "Winning a national championship is hard, but to do it three straight times is wild. To do it at Pinehurst is even more special."
 
The previous two national titles were studies in endurance for the Lopes, since last fall, they had to outlast the University of Florida in a playoff to secure the trophy, and in April, the Lopes were declared co-champions with Miami University of Ohio after inclement weather washed out the final round of the tournament. This time around, there was no one close enough to GCU on the back nine to make it grueling to win the title. It didn't seem that easy in Round 1, though, since the Lopes – who played Pinehurst's Course No. 5 (there are 10 overall) on the first day - were stuck in the middle of 10 teams separated by just 11 strokes at the top of the leaderboard, landing in 4^th place after the first 18 holes with a score of 381 - five strokes behind Round 1 leaders James Madison University.
 
"I knew No. 5 would give our team some struggles with the layout: very narrow with out-of-bounds left and right on just about every hole," said Woodworth. I knew if we could stay within five strokes, we would have a good chance going into the final round. No. 8 was a much better layout for our team, so I think we were more confident. Plus, this isn't new territory for our mindset. We have now been in this position before, so the players know how to settle their nerves and play."
 
While the Lopes' temperaments were stable playing No. 8 Sunday morning, teams in front of them like JMU and Texas A&M University – who was 3^rd after Day 1 – fell apart, finishing 10^th and 14^th, respectively. ASU (2^nd after Round 1) stayed within range of GCU on Day 2, but the Lopes were one of only three teams to shoot under 380 on Day 2 (with a 374), and the Sun Devils' 389 eventually gave GCU plenty of breathing room.
 
Bolstering the Lopes' attack throughout the tournament was senior Dillyn Schmidke, who led a logjam of players on the individual leaderboard after Round 1 as the only player to shoot under par with a one-under 71. Schmidke may have been disappointed with his final-round 77, but it still placed him tied for 4^th at the end with Clemson's Alex Landry – just two strokes behind the eventual winner, James Madison's Patrick Burhop. The Lopes' Sunday rally wasn't by accident, either, since although Schmidke was their only golfer in the top 15 after Saturday, in the end, Zach Cozza (+6, tied for 8^th), Aaron Moore (+7, T-12^th) and Matthew Reimers (+8, T-16^th) were all dotting the leaderboard.
 
"(Lopes' Assistant Coach) Mike (Mueller) and I knew Dillyn was going to have a good tournament, since he was hitting the ball so well over the three days we were there," said Woodworth. "I know he was a little bummed about how he finished. His putter just went ice cold on him, but there are so many positives for him to take away from this that will only make him a better player."
 
The Lopes will have all of four months to enjoy the win, since the nation will be gunning for them at the 2025 NCCGA Spring Nationals, which will be held in late April at a course still to be determined. In the meantime, the Lopes will resume practice in early January right after the semester break in preparation for their first Desert Regional tournament of the spring in February.