LAS VEGAS, Nev. (February 15, 2021) – The Northern Arizona golf team opened the 2021 season on Monday with a mixed bag of results in an abbreviated first day of the Rebel Beach Invitational at Spanish Trail Country Club.
With play suspended near the conclusion of the second round, the Lumberjacks resided in 13th on the team leaderboard through round one. Led by freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova's first round 2-over par 74, the 'Jacks shot 23-over par 311. Fresno State was the lone team to go under par in the first round, leading the field at 1-under par 287 with Gonzaga in second at 4-over par 292.
Malakhova was solid throughout the first round, finishing her first 18 holes as a collegiate golfer tied for 19th on the individual leaderboard. Malakhova was steady throughout, recording par on 12 holes and tallying two of NAU's 10 birdies in the first round.
Junior
Ashley Croft was tied for 46th at the end of the first round at 5-over par 77. Croft started strong with pars on her first four holes and sitting at 1-over through six holes before concluding with the Lumberjacks' second-best score.
Junior
Elle Kocourkova and sophomore
Lorel Hayward logged NAU's third and fourth counting scores at 7-over par 79 and 9-over par 81 respectively. Hayward totaled a team-best three birdies in the opening round, while Kocourkova rebounded from a slow start to finish strong.
After shooting 6-over through her first nine holes, Kocourkova was just 1-over par in her final nine holes. Likewise, junior
Aleksandra Chekalina posted an exceptional finish, matching Kocourkova's 1-over par in her final nine holes and wrapping up the first round at 10-over par 82.
Before the second round was suspended, the Lumberjacks were carding an improved score with Croft, Chekalina and Malakhova posting strong efforts at the end of the day. With three holes remaining, Croft sits at even-par while Chekalina is at 1-over with one hole left and Malakahova at 3-over with two to play.
Graduate student
Klara Kucharova, playing as an individual in her NAU debut, is sitting at 6-over par with three holes left in the second round. Kucharova recorded a 10-over par 82 in the first round.
The second round will resume on Tuesday with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. MST with the third and final round to start immediately after. Live results can be followed throughout the day at this
link.
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on
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Instagram.
Full Team Leaderboard
1. Fresno State – 287 (+1)
2. Gonzaga – 292 (+4)
T3. New Mexico – 295 (+7)
T3. BYU – 295 (+7)
T3. Grand Canyon – 295 (+7)
T3. Tulsa – 295 (+7)
7. UTSA – 300 (+12)
T8. Colorado State – 301 (+13)
T8. Nevada – 301 (+13)
10. UNLV – 303 (+15)
11. Iowa – 304 (+16)
12. SMU – 306 (+18)
13. Northern Arizona – 311 (+23)
NAU Individual Scores
T19.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 74 (+2)
T46.
Ashley Croft – 77 (+5)
T57.
Elle Kocourkova – 79 (+7)
66.
Lorel Hayward – 81 (+9)
T67.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 82 (+10)
T67.
Klara Kucharova* – 82 (+10)
* Playing as individual
