TUCSON, Ariz. (March 9, 2021) – The Northern Arizona golf team concluded the Arizona Wildcat Invitational on Tuesday in 13th place after carding a final round 17-over par 305. The Lumberjacks, who started the day in 10th on the team leaderboard, finished at 41-over par 905 (295-305-305).
"It's great to play in such a competitive tournament with a lot great teams and players," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "As a team, we didn't have a bad day. We just had three bad holes and it cost us at least three places on the team leaderboard. We are looking forward to a few days off before we begin preparation for our Red Rocks Invitational."
Holes 4 (par-4), 10 (par-5) and 17 (par-4) proved to be troublesome for the Lumberjacks on Tuesday, putting a damper on an otherwise solid day to close out their third tournament of the spring. As a team, NAU was 4-over par on 4, 5-over par on 10 and 9-over par on 17.
Otherwise, NAU showed well in the competitive field exemplified by Texas, who won the team title at 28-under par 836 (275-287-274). The Longhorns won the event by 25 strokes over No. 7 Oklahoma State and also had the top two individual finishers in medalist Sara Kouskova (10-under par 206) and runner-up Agathe Laisne (7-under par 209).
The Lumberjacks were 45 strokes better than their last appearance at the Wildcat Invitational in 2019 when they finished last in the 17-team field.
Like in 2019, junior
Elle Kocourkova was the Lumberjacks' top finisher, except this week she was absolutely sensational. Kocourkova moved up seventh spots on the final day to tie for 13th overall at even-par 216 (72-74-70).
Kocourkova matched her second-lowest round of her career at 2-under par 70 – her best round since carding 70 in the first round of the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational in October 2019 – with four birdies on the day. The four birdies lifted Kocourkova's tournament total to 12, tying her for seventh in the field.
Kocourkova also registered her third-best individual finish of her career, while posting a career-low 54-hole total (216).
"I'm very proud of Ellie," Bedortha said. "I had a good conversation with her before the practice round and she really stepped up and performed incredibly well. To tie for 13th in that field of players is incredible."
Freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova was NAU's next best golfer on the day at 5-over par 77, bringing her to a final total of 16-over par 232 (77-78-77).
Junior
Ashley Croft tied for 44th overall at 11-over par 227 (74-74-79) following a final round 7-over par 79. Her 79 was matched by junior
Aleksandra Chekalina, who tied for 56th individually at 14-over par 230 (72-79-79). Chekalina led the Lumberjacks with 37 pars in the tourney.
Equaling Kocourkova's four birdies on Tuesday was graduate student
Klara Kucharova as part of a third round 9-over par 81. Kucharova tied for 70th at 22-over par 238 (77-80-81).
After competing on consecutive weeks, NAU will be back in action next Saturday, March 20 and continuing on Sunday, March 21 in its home tournament, the annual Red Rocks Invitational at Oakcreek Country Club.
The Lumberjacks' two-day home tournament was canceled last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. Texas – 275-287-274 = 836 (-28)
2. Oklahoma State – 287-286-288 = 861 (-3)
3. USC – 279-291-292 = 862 (-2)
4. Oregon – 283-295-288 = 866 (+2)
5. Arizona – 275-313-290 = 878 (+14)
6. Oregon State – 289-299-292 = 880 (+16)
7. Iowa State – 292-296-294 = 882 (+18)
8. New Mexico – 293-303-293 = 889 (+25)
9. Denver – 290-303-302 = 895 (+31)
10. Nebraska – 307-304-291 = 902 (+38)
11. UNLV – 296-309-298 = 903 (+39)
12. Colorado – 302-300-302 = 904 (+40)
13. Northern Arizona – 295-305-305 = 905 (+41)
14. New Mexico State – 305-304-298 = 907 (+43)
15. Long Beach State – 304-308-301 = 913 (+49)
16. Iowa – 313-308-306 = 927 (+63)
NAU Individual Scores
T13.
Elle Kocourkova – 72-74-70 = 216 (E)
T44.
Ashley Croft – 74-74-79 = 227 (+11)
T56.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 72-79-79 = 230 (+14)
T63.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 77-78-77 = 232 (+16)
T70.
Klara Kucharova – 77-80-81 = 238 (+22)
