NAU Golf Wraps Up Fall Semester with Intrasquad Competition

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 19, 2020) – In lieu of a fall season, the Northern Arizona golf team hosted their own intrasquad – and aptly named – Corona Classic this past weekend, with sophomore Lorel Hayward emerging as the winner of the three-day competition.
 
Hayward posted a pair of rounds in the 70s on her way to shooting a three-round score of 234 to best junior Ashley Croft by eight strokes for the win.
 
"When Lorel came back at the beginning of the semester she was not playing well," said head coach Brad Bedortha. "To see her growth from when she got here this semester to where we're ending, it's been really fun to watch. I'm really proud of her because she's come a long way this semester and if she proves to herself that she can do this, it's only going to help her and help our team."
 
The team played a three-day tournament across three local golf courses on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Lumberjacks played at Continental Country Club (par-73), Pinewood Country Club (par-72) and Aspen Valley Golf Club (par-72).
 
Croft opened the Corona Classic with a team-best seven-over par 80 on Friday at Continental before Hayward responded with a four-over par 76 on Saturday at Pinewood. Hayward's second round score was the lowest of the weekend by any Lumberjack and propelled her into first on the leaderboard – a spot she held throughout the remainder of the weekend.
 
As a team, the 'Jacks played their best round of the weekend on Sunday with three rounds in the 70s. Both Hayward and Croft recorded a five-over par 77 at Aspen Valley with sophomore Alyza Flores posting a seven-over par 79 on the final day.
 
Hayward's three-round score of 234 was eight strokes better than Croft's total of 242. Flores finished one stroke back of Croft for third at 243. Senior Sara Padilla only competed on Saturday and Sunday and concluded the weekend with a two-round score of 168.
 
"We haven't been able to get on the golf course as much; sometimes when you're out on the range and it's working, it's a completely different ballgame in competition," Bedortha said. "That was one of the main reasons I wanted to do (the Corona Classic) because I wanted them to get back into competing. We saw some good things – we finished on a positive note – and now we have one more week of practice and they know what they need to work on."
 
NAU will finish out the semester with one final week of practice on the course and three more weeks of workouts before turning its attention to the spring.
 
As of now, the Lumberjacks are slated to open the spring season at the Rebel Beach Intercollegiate on Feb. 15 and 16 in Las Vegas, Nev.