Lumberjacks Finish in Third at Hobble Creek Fall Classic

FINAL RESULTS
TEAM LEADERBOARD
PLAYER LEADERBOARD

SPRINGVILLE, Utah (September 10, 2019) - The Northern Arizona University women's golf team finished in third-place as the Hobble Creek Fall Classic concluded on Tuesday in Springville, Utah. The 'Jacks shot a final round score of 301 (+17), finishing the tournament shooting 880, 28-over par. Sophomore Aleksandra Chekalina earned a third-place finish on the player leaderboard at just one-over par after shooting 72 (+1) in the final round of play.

Cal State Fullerton won the Fall Classic with a total team tally of 878 (+26), just one stroke lower than second-place finishers New Mexico State (879, +27). The next closest Big Sky Conference school to NAU was Weber State, with the Wildcats placing eighth on the team leaderboard (895, +43).

"It was a tough day today because we had a chance to win," said head women's golf coach Brad Bedortha. "Overall we are happoy with third because it is just the first tournament of the season and we beat some really good teams."

Chekalina's third-place showing was the top individual performance of her young collegiate career. Last season at the Big Sky Conference Championships the Russian native tied for fifth-place, which was her previous best score. It was the fourth time in her time at NAU that she made the top-10.

Fellow sophomore Ashley Croft tied for 12th-place at six-over par after she shot a 2-over par (73) in her final round. Croft earned her sixth top-20 finish in her career. Freshman Alyza Flores shot a round of 78 (+7) on her day, finishing the tournament in a tie for 29th-place. 

Senior Emma Reyes was also at 78 (+7) in the final round, putting her total tally to 228 (+15) and landing her in a tie for 46th-place. Sophomore Elle Kocourkova tied for 62nd after shooting 19-over on the tournament. Freshman Lorel Hayward had her best round of the Classic on Tuesday going for 77 (+6) in the final round. She would end the tournament in a tie for 77th-place. 

"I'm happy with the way we competed," concluded Bedortha. "We're excited to get back to Flagstaff to work on our mistakes so that we are ready for our next tournament."

Northern Arizona women's golf will return on Monday, Sept. 23 for the opening round of the Coeur d'Alene Collegiate Invitational hosted by Gonzaga University in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.