FAIRFAX, Calif. (March 9, 2020) – The Northern Arizona golf team fired their lowest round of the spring season and tallied their lowest 36-hole score since October in an impressive first day of the Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational on Monday, finishing in eighth at 21-over par 597 (303-294).
The Lumberjacks were led by sophomore
Elle Kocourkova, who is tied for eighth at the end of two rounds. Kocourkova, tied for the team-high with four birdies to go with 27 pars, carded a one-over par 145 (71-74) on Monday. Her first round 71 was her second under par round of the season and her 36-hole score was just two strokes off her season-best.
"It was a very good day for us," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "It was great seeing Elle play well all day and Emma (Reyes) was great in the second round. Aleks (Chekalina) was solid all day and Ashley (Croft) did very well in round one. It was great to see us compete this well and we have the ability to play well. Hopefully this will be a confidence boost for us."
A pair of Pac-12 schools – Washington State and California – are sitting in first and second atop the team leaderboard through two rounds at the par-72 6,157 yard Meadow Club. Washington State leads at six-over par 582 (293-289) while California is a stroke back at seven-over par 583 (294-289).
In a field featuring nine top 100 teams out of 13 total, the Lumberjacks are currently ahead of two top 100 teams in No. 78 Kansas State and No. 89 Gonzaga.
NAU jumped three spots from 11th to eighth between the first and second rounds after posting a six-over par 294 in the second round. The Lumberjacks' 294 was tied for third-best second round score on Monday and was their lowest round since the final round of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in late October.
Behind Kocourkova was sophomore
Aleksandra Chekalina, who is tied for 23rd individually at six-over par 150 (76-74). Chekalina is tied for the tournament-lead with 28 pars with two other players.
Sophomore
Ashley Croft posted NAU's second-best opening round of 73 and finished the day in a tie for 45th at nine-over par 153 (73-80). In her first round, Croft recorded the tournament's only eagle of the day on the par-five ninth hole.
Senior
Emma Reyes and freshman
Alyza Flores showed massive improvements in the second round to finish the day strong. Reyes, who recorded all four of her team-high tying four birdies in the second round, carded a 10-over par 154 (83-71) and Flores is at 14-over par 158 (83-75). Reyes and Flores are tied for 47th and 64th individually.
Reyes' second round 71 is her lowest round of her senior season and tied for her third-lowest round of her career.
The Lumberjacks will look to continue to move up the leaderboard on Tuesday with the final round at Meadow Club beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start.
Full Team Leaderboard
1. Washington State – 293-289 = 582 (+6)
2. California – 294-289 = 583 (+7)
T3. Oregon State – 291-296 = 587 (+11)
T3. San Francisco – 292-295 = 587 (+11)
5. Washington – 290-299 = 589 (+13)
6. San Jose State – 298-294 = 592 (+16)
7. Pepperdine – 299-297 = 596 (+20)
8. Northern Arizona – 303-294 = 597 (+21)
9. Kansas State – 302-296 = 598 (+22)
10. Minnesota – 304-297 = 601 (+25)
11. Rutgers – 299-303 – 602 (+26)
12. Colorado State – 301-308 = 609 (+33)
13. Gonzaga – 304-308 = 612 (+36)
NAU Individual Scores
T8.
Elle Kocourkova – 71-74 = 145 (+1)
T23.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 76-74 = 150 (+6)
T45.
Ashley Croft – 73-80 = 153 (+9)
T47.
Emma Reyes – 83-71 = 154 (+10)
T64.
Alyza Flores – 83-75 = 158 (+14)
