FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 21, 2020) – The Northern Arizona golf team makes the short trip down the I-17 to Phoenix for the GCU Invitational at the GCU Championship Golf Course (par-72). The Lumberjacks are slated for 36 holes on Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday with a shotgun start of 8 a.m. on both days.
The Lumberjacks will be one of 14 teams in the field hosted by Grand Canyon. For the first time this spring, NAU will share a course with fellow Big Sky schools as Eastern Washington, Montana State, Portland State and Southern Utah will compete this weekend in Phoenix.
NAU will look to take a few steps forward coming off its performance at the Rebel Beach Intercollegiate earlier this week. There, the 'Jacks placed 11th as a team with a three-round score of 51-over par 915 (305-297-313).
Sophomore
Aleksandra Chekalina, the reigning Big Sky Golfer of the Week, was the Lumberjacks' top finisher in a tie for 28th at nine-over par 225 (77-73-75). Chekalina has NAU's top stroke average as well at 75.33.
Joining Chekalina in the Lumberjacks' lineup this weekend will be senior
Morgan Messick, freshman
Alyza Flores, senior
Emma Reyes and sophomore
Elle Kocourkova.
In just her second tournament of the season, Messick posted a season-best 16-over par 232 (79-75-78) for a tie of 47th on the individual leaderboard at the Rebel Beach. Reyes, who will be inserted into the lineup after competing earlier this week as an individual, and Flores carded a three-round score of 17-over par 233 in a tie for 49th.
Also slated to compete as individuals will be junior
Sara Padilla, sophomore
Ashley Croft and freshman
Lorel Hayward. Padilla and Hayward will be making their spring season debuts after each competing in a pair of tournaments in the fall.
At last year's GCU Invitational, NAU placed 15th out of 20 teams at 56-over par 920 (307-314-299). Chekalina and Croft tied for 19th overall at eight-over par 224. In NAU's best round of the tournament, Kocourkova carded a three-under par 69 third round, which still stands her career-best 18-hole score.
Live scoring for the GCU Invitational will be available on
Golfstat.
