SEDONA, Ariz. (March 21, 2021) – Shooting 4-over par 292 in Sunday's final round, the Northern Arizona golf team set a new Red Rocks Invitational program record to wind up fifth in their home tournament. The Lumberjacks' 292 was three shots better than their previous best round of 295 in 2017, and is tied for the fourth-lowest round in tournament history at Oakcreek Country Club.
"Yesterday, obviously in the afternoon we struggled," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "But we played steady all day today and shot 292. We played really well and it's nice to finish on a positive note and in the top five. It's good to get back in the right direction for sure."
In addition to being one of the best rounds in Red Rocks history, the 292 was also the second-lowest round of the weekend only trailing Gonzaga's tournament record third round 2-under par 286. The new tournament record propelled the Bulldogs into a tie with Grand Canyon at the top of the leaderboard at 20-over par 884, but the Lopes left Sedona with the team title via tiebreaker.
NAU moved up two spots in the third round and closed at 44-over par 908 (303-313-292), just seven shots out of third-place.
Sunday began with the conclusion of the second round, which was suspended on Saturday with players needing to complete either one or two holes. Even though juniors
Aleksandra Chekalina and
Elle Kocourkova recorded birdies to end the round on a high note, the 'Jacks still dropped three spots to seventh heading to the third round.
However, the birdies were a sign of things to come in the third round as the Lumberjacks posted their lowest round score in over a year since a 288 at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in October 2019.
In fact, Chekalina would go on to fire a 3-under par 69 in the third round, matching her second-lowest round of her career along with being the first round in the 60s by a Lumberjack this season. Chekalina was stellar down the stretch, recording five birdies in her final seven holes to ultimately tie the Red Rocks Invitational's sixth-lowest round ever.
Chekalina finished fourth overall at 2-over par 218 (74-75-69) for the weekend, leading all Big Sky players. Grand Canyon's Payton Fehringer was the individual medalist at 8-under par 208.
Kocourkova and freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova followed Chekalina with identical rounds of 2-over par 74 with score being the former's best of the weekend. Malakhova recorded four birdies on the day, while Kocourkova posted two.
The third round capped a solid weekend for Malakhova, who notched her first career top 10 finish. Shooting 6-over par 222 (72-76-74), Malakhova claimed 10th overall giving the Lumberjacks two golfers in the top 10.
Kocourkova's strong final 18 holes elevated her to a tie for 47th at 18-over par 234 (80-80-74), which was equaled by junior
Ashley Croft. Croft (77-82-75) was NAU's final counting score on Sunday at 3-over par 75, which like Kocourkova was her best round of the weekend.
Sophomore
Lorel Hayward, playing as an individual, tied for 87th at 31-over par 247 (81-87-79) and graduate student
Klara Kucharova tied for 91st at 32-over par 248 (82-84-82).
With a month until the Big Sky Championship in Molalla, Ore., this weekend's Red Rocks Invitational was a preview of sorts with seven Big Sky teams, including NAU, in action. The Lumberjacks finished ahead of all six conference squads, including the preseason favorite Sacramento State, who was three strokes back at 47-over par 911.
"We ended up beating all the Big Sky schools," Bedortha said. "We played with Sac State for three rounds and I know we can compete with them. They're the favorite going into the season and to see them and what they play like, we match up very well. I definitely have some confidence and I feel comfortable about that."
NAU's victory over Sacramento State marked the first time since 2018 that the Hornets fell to a Big Sky Conference team in a tournament.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action on April 5-6 at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz.
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on
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Full Team Leaderboard
T1. Grand Canyon – 294-295-295 = 884 (+20)*
T1. Gonzaga – 297-301-286 = 884 (+20)
3. California Baptist – 304-301-296 = 901 (+37)
4. Seattle – 303-304-298 = 905 (+41)
5. Northern Arizona – 303-313-292 = 908 (+44)
6. Sacramento State – 300-310-301 = 911 (+47)
7. Southern Utah – 305-305-305 = 915 (+51)
8. Illinois State – 310-310-299 = 919 (+55)
T9. Idaho – 312-307-307 = 926 (+62)
T9. Georgia Southern – 314-310-302 = 926 (+62)
11. Weber State – 307-314-307 = 928 (+64)
12. Cal State Fullerton – 307-312-311 = 930 (+66)
13. UC Riverside – 309-319-308 = 936 (+72)
14. Stephen F. Austin – 315-311-315 = 941 (+77)
15. Dixie State – 319-319-309 = 947 (+83)
16. Wichita State – 317-324-311 = 952 (+88)
17. Montana – 312-325-316 = 953 (+89)
18. Northern Colorado – 322-318-317 = 957 (+93)
19. Utah Valley – 317-324-328 = 969 (+105)
* Won team title via tiebreaker
NAU Individual Scores
4.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 74-75-69 = 218 (+2)
10.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 72-76-74 = 222 (+6)
T47.
Ashley Croft – 77-82-75 = 234 (+18)
T47.
Elle Kocourkova – 80-80-74 = 234 (+18)
T87.
Lorel Hayward – 81-87-79 = 247 (+31)*
T91.
Klara Kucharova – 82-84-82 = 248 (+32)
* Playing as individual
Gallery: (3-21-2021) Red Rocks Invitational Day 2
