PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 23, 2020) – The Northern Arizona golf team shot a 19-over par 307 in Sunday's final round of the GCU Invitational to finish 10th overall at 31-over par 607 (300-307) for the weekend. Sophomore
Aleksandra Chekalina and freshmen
Alyza Flores tied for team-best honors at five-over par 149 and for 18th on the individual leaderboard.
"We played fairly well yesterday until the final three holes and today was a struggle from the beginning," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "We need to continue to work hard and improve in the areas that are affecting our scores. We have a lot more golf to play this semester and we definitely need to improve."
As a team, the Lumberjacks fell four spots to 10th after opening the day in sixth-place. NAU finished fourth among five Big Sky schools at the Grand Canyon-hosted tournament.
Grand Canyon won its home tournament at the par-72 GCU Championship Golf Course, turning in a two-round total of even-par 576 (287-289). The Lopes were one stroke better than California Baptist, who finished runner-up at one-over par 577 (291-286). The two teams were way out in front with Portland State, the top-finishing Big Sky team in third-place at 18-over par 594 (294-300).
Grand Canyon's Alexis Linam claimed medalist honors at six-under par 138 (68-70).
After carding an even-par 72 on Saturday in the first round, Flores shot a five-over par 77 second round to finish at 149 for the tournament. Chekalina posted a three-over par 75 on Sunday following a two-over par 74 in the first round to tie Flores at five-over par 149.
Senior
Emma Reyes was third on the team at eight-over par 152 (75-77), putting her in a tie for 32nd. Both sophomore
Elle Kocourkova and senior
Morgan Messick were one stroke better on Sunday than they were on Saturday to finish in a tie for 58th and 64th respectively. Kocourkova closed at 13-over par 157 (79-78) and Messick was two strokes back at 15-over par 159 (80-79).
Individually, sophomore
Ashley Croft was actually the Lumberjacks' top finisher in a tie for 14th at three-over par 147 (73-74). Freshman
Lorel Hayward and junior
Sara Padilla were tied for 76th at 20-over par 164.
NAU will have a couple of weeks off until the 'Jacks return to the links at the Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational hosted by San Jose State on March 9 and 10.
Full Team Leaderboard
1. Grand Canyon – 287-289 = 576 (E)
2. California Baptist – 291-286 = 577 (+1)
3. Portland State – 294-300 = 594 (+18)
4. Seattle – 296-300 = 596 (+20)
5. UTEP – 304-293 = 597 (+21)
T6. Utah Valley – 298-303 = 601 (+25)
T6. Hawai'i – 302-299 = 601 (+25)
T8. Eastern Washington – 301-302 = 603 (+27)
T8. Southern Utah – 302-301 = 603 (+27)
10. Northern Arizona – 300-307 = 607 (+31)
11. UC Riverside – 311-305 = 616 (+40)
12. North Dakota State – 317-305 = 622 (+46)
13. Montana State – 315-310 = 625 (+49)
14. Bakersfield – 328-310 = 638 (+62)
NAU Individual Scores
T13.
Ashley Croft* – 73-74 = 147 (+3)
T18.
Alyza Flores – 72-77 = 149 (+5)
T18.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 74-75 = 149 (+5)
T32.
Emma Reyes – 75-77 = 152 (+8)
T58.
Elle Kocourkova – 79-78 = 157 (+13)
T64.
Morgan Messick – 80-79 = 159 (+15)
T76.
Lorel Hayward* – 79-85 = 164 (+20)
T76.
Sara Padilla* – 85-79 = 164 (+20)
* Playing as individual
