PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 1, 2021) – The Northern Arizona golf team posted two solid rounds on the opening day of the GCU Invitational in Phoenix, tying for third at the end of the day at 18-over par 594 (298-296). The two-round 594 was the team's best through 36 holes (par-72) since the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in October 2018.
Host Grand Canyon leads the field through the first two rounds at 1-over par 577 (292-285) playing on its home GCU Championship Golf Course. California Baptist, after a sensational 12-under par 276 second round, is two strokes behind at 3-over par 579 (303-276). Tied with NAU in third is Seattle (301-293).
Also of note, NAU leads the five Big Sky teams in the field with Idaho in seventh, Southern Utah and Eastern Washington tied for 11th and Montana State in 14th at the end of the day.
"We played fairly consistent today," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "It was great to see the team compete well and they showed a lot of heart and determination today. I'm looking forward to more good things to come."
From the shotgun start, the Lumberjacks were steady and they held the lead midway through the first round before settling in for third behind Grand Canyon and Utah Valley by the end of opening 18 holes. NAU was sparked by junior
Aleksandra Chekalina, who rode five first round birdies to a first round 1-under par 71, placing her in a tie for fourth going into the second round.
Chekalina recorded three more birdies in the second round, finishing Monday in a tie for seventh on the individual leaderboard at even-par 144 (71-73).
Junior
Ashley Croft also had a solid day, registering rounds of 73 and 75 to sit alone in 20th at 4-over par 148. Croft parred 24 holes – second-most on the team behind freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova's 26.
Malakhova and junior
Elle Kocourkova are tied for 30th at 7-over par 151. Malakhova tied for second on the day amongst all players with her 26 pars, while Kocourkova's six birdies are second on the team only trailing Chekalina's eight.
After shooting 78 in the morning, graduate student
Klara Kucharova bounced back in the afternoon tallying a team-high four birdies in the second round. Kucharova concluded the 36-hole day in a tie for 42nd at 10-over par 154 (78-76).
The Lumberjacks led the 15-team field with 111 pars and were tied for fourth with 25 birdies – just one fewer than they had over the course of three rounds two weeks ago at the Rebel Beach Invitational.
The Lumberjacks will conclude the GCU Invitational on Tuesday with the third round beginning with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. Grand Canyon – 292-285 = 577 (+1)
2. California Baptist – 303-276 = 579 (+3)
T3. Northern Arizona – 298-296 = 594 (+18)
T3. Seattle – 301-293 = 594 (+18)
T5. UC Riverside – 300-300 = 600 (+24)
T5. UTEP – 301-299 = 600 (+24)
7. Idaho – 305-298 = 603 (+27)
T8. Utah Valley – 297-314 = 611 (+35)
T8. South Dakota – 302-309 = 611 (+35)
10. UTRGV – 302-312 = 614 (+38)
T11. Eastern Washington – 310-311 = 621 (+45)
T11. Southern Utah – 311-310 = 621 (+45)
13. North Dakota State – 312-311 = 623 (+47)
14. Montana State – 321-307 = 628 (+52)
15. Bakersfield – 316-324 = 640 (+64)
NAU Individual Scores
T7.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 71-73 = 144 (E)
20.
Ashley Croft – 73-75 = 148 (+4)
T30.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 76-75 = 151 (+7)
T30.
Elle Kocourkova – 78-73 = 151 (+7)
T42.
Klara Kucharova – 78-76 = 154 (+10)
