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Lauritzen's Desert Mastery: 10 Birdies Lead Golfers
24 May
Summary
- Nixon Lauritzen shot a 7-under 65 with 10 birdies.
- Brody Leid leads the tournament at 14-under par.
- The winner earns a PGA Tour Butterfield Bermuda Championship exemption.
Nixon Lauritzen, a sophomore at Grand Canyon, showcased remarkable skill at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, a course where he has previously excelled. In the second round of the 2026 Men's National Golf Invitational, Lauritzen tallied an impressive 10 birdies, posting a 7-under-par 65. This performance places him three shots behind the current leader, Brody Leid of Wyoming, who has set a tournament 36-hole scoring record at 14-under par.
Lauritzen expressed surprise at his consistent success at this venue, attributing it to the course's setup favoring his strong wedge game. Meanwhile, Leid noted his growing comfort on the greens and recent swing adjustments contributing to his strong play. Both golfers have prior experience at Southern Dunes, having competed there last month.
The stakes are high for the final round, as the individual champion will earn an exemption into the PGA Tour's Butterfield Bermuda Championship scheduled for October. Grand Canyon University, paced by Lauritzen and teammate Erik Rengardt, holds a significant eight-shot lead in the team standings over Missouri and Rhode Island.
