This theme is emerging among the individual leaders at the National Golf Invitational
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MARICOPA, Ariz. — Nixon Lauritzen's first collegiate event was at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. His debut round, he torched the course about 40 minutes south of Phoenix to the tune of nine birdies, eventually finishing solo third.
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Fast forward to last month, Lauritzen, a sophomore at Grand Canyon, was again back at Southern Dunes. In a feat of deja vu, he once again had nine birdies in the opening round and eventually finished T-6.
That's why it's no surprise to see Lauritzen once again torch the golf course, this time in a postseason championship.
Lauritzen tallied 10 birdies during a second-round 7-under 65 on Saturday in the 2026 Men's National Golf Invitational. He stepped on the tee of the par-5 16th hole at 9 under for his round and eyeing the NGI single-round scoring record of 62. Instead, he three-putted for par on 16, made par on 17 before a poor tee shot and soft bunker shot resulted in a double bogey on the closing 18th.
Heading into the final round, Lauritzen is three shots behind Wyoming's Brody Leid, who paces the field at 14 under. And for the winner come Sunday: an exemption into the PGA Tour's Butterfield Bermuda Championship in October.
"I really have no idea why I keep playing well here," said Lauritzen, who is one of six players to shoot both rounds in the 60s thus far. "Honestly, it just sets up nice with wedges. I'm a pretty solid wedge player, and having that many wedges on the course, you can shoot low when you have that many in."
Lauritzen's 7-under round tied GCU teammate Erik Rengardt for the low round of the day. The two have paced GCU to a eight-shot advantage with 18 holes to play, sitting in front of Missouri with Rhode Island another shot back. The teams will be grouped together in Sunday's final round.
As for Leid, he's similar to Lauritzen in the fact he has tournament experience at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. Leid also played in the event last month, finishing T-53. That tournament was the third of five in a row leading into the NGI that Leid has improved his finishing position.
Entering the NGI, Leid tied for fourth at the Mountain West Conference Championship. On Saturday, the first-round co-leader carded a 66 to back his 64 from Friday, and the 14-under total sets a tournament 36-hole scoring record. The overall record is 15 under, and if the winds continue to lie down as they have in the first two rounds, that will be rewritten Sunday.
Leid said he feels more comfortable around the course, especially on the greens. Last month, he couldn't find that rhythm on the putting surfaces. This week, his putter is hotter than the sun scorching the Arizona desert.
"I'm just making a lot of putts," Leid said. "If I am doing that, I usually play pretty well because I hit it pretty well. Just being able to make putts is nice."
Leid said he also found something in his swing recently that has helped him turn the tide. He was struggling with early extension, and since correcting that flaw has been in full control of his game.
With a three-shot lead in tow, he's 18 holes away from the biggest win of his life, one that will give him a postseason victory and a spot in a PGA Tour event.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: National Golf Invitational 2026: Why experience pays off for leaders