FARMINGTON, Utah (January 26, 2021) – Armed with three returning all-conference golfers, Northern Arizona was picked third in the 2021 Big Sky Preseason Poll released on Tuesday. The poll was voted on by the Big Sky's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
NAU, led by head coach
Brad Bedortha who is entering his 13th full season, was also picked third in last season's preseason poll. The 2020 Big Sky Championship was ultimately not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sacramento State, the defending conference champions from 2019, received nine of the 11 first-place votes to finish atop the preseason poll. The Hornets garnered 92 total points, ahead of Idaho (81) and Northern Arizona (77).
Portland State and Eastern Washington both earned one first-place vote each and were fourth and fifth respectively. Northern Colorado and Southern Utah were voted sixth and seventh, with Montana State, Weber State, Montana and Idaho State rounding out the poll in the eighth through 11th spots.
The Lumberjacks' junior duo of
Aleksandra Chekalina,
Ashley Croft and
Elle Kocourkova headline NAU's spring roster as two-time all-conference selections. Chekalina and Croft repeated as All-Big Sky Third Team honorees last year, while Kocourkova received her second consecutive honorable mention nod.
The three golfers posted NAU's top three scoring averages last year with Croft leading the way at 75.43. Chekalina and Kocourkova posted round averages of 75.61 and 76.00 respectively during the shortened year due to the pandemic.
NAU also returns sophomores
Alyza Flores and
Lorel Hayward while the 'Jacks add freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova and graduate student
Klara Kucharova as newcomers.
NAU is currently scheduled to make its season debut at the Rebel Beach Intercollegiate in Las Vegas, Nev. on Feb. 15 and 16.
The 2021 Big Sky Championship will be held from April 19-21 in Molalla, Ore. at Arrowhead Golf Club. This year will mark the first time in league history that the championship will take place in the state of Oregon.
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on
Twitter and
Instagram.
2021 Big Sky Women's Golf Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
