Malakhova Shoots 2-under Par 142 to Open Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 11, 2021) – A stellar day by freshman Ekaterina Malakhova was the driving force behind the Northern Arizona golf team's best 36-hole score of the season at 15-over par 591 (298-293) to open the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. Individually, Malakhova is tied for eighth after shooting consecutive 71s on her way to 2-under par 142.
 
Malakhova is the first Lumberjack in over two years to shoot under par in each of the first two rounds of a tournament since junior Aleksandra Chekalina fired 3-under par 139 (69-70) at the Red Rocks Invitational in 2019 (par-71). Malakhova's 142 is six strokes better than her previous 36-hole low score, and of course, is the lowest by an NAU golfer this season.
 
Malakhova, playing in the No. 1 spot in the lineup for the first time this season, rose to the occasion recording seven birdies on Sunday. After tallying bogeys on each of her first two holes, Malakhova played the rest of the round at 3-under without a bogey. She would post four more birdies – three on the front nine – in the second round and was one of six players to shoot under par in both rounds.
 
With junior Elle Kocourkova matching Malakhova's 1-under par 71 in the second round, the Lumberjacks recorded their second-lowest round of the season at 5-over par 293, trailing only the 292 posted at this spring's Red Rocks Invitational. At the conclusion of play at the UNM Championship Golf Course on Sunday, the Lumberjacks are 10th overall.
 
Scores were low across the board throughout the competitive field with the top five teams separated by just three strokes. Denver and Pepperdine are tied at the top of the team leaderboard at 1-over par 577, while Washington is just one stroke behind.
 
After shooting 77 in the morning, Kocourkova settled in and recorded five birdies in the second round on her way to a 71, placing her in a tie for 31st at 4-over par 148 (77-71). Kocourkova led NAU with eight birdies on the day, including twice on hole 7.
 
Junior Ashley Croft is one stroke behind Kocourkova going into Monday, playing to 5-over par 149 (73-76) good for a tie for 38th. Croft registered 25 pars, tied for eighth-most in the tournament and one more than Malakhova for the team-lead.
 
NAU's fourth counting score in both rounds came courtesy of Chekalina, who was one of three Lumberjacks to improve on their morning scores in the afternoon. Chekalina is tied for 48th at 8-over par 152 (77-75), while graduate student Klara Kucharova is tied for 62nd at 15-over par 159 (80-79). Sophomore Lorel Hayward was the final 'Jack in action competing as an individual and wrapping up the day at 19-over par 163 (79-84).
 
Hayward will tee off first for the Lumberjacks on Monday to begin round three at 6:30 a.m. MST. Malakhova and Kocourkova will follow at 6:57 a.m. MST, with Chekalina and Kucharova (7:06 a.m. MST) and Croft (7:15 a.m. MST) behind. All five golfers will begin on the back nine on hole 10. Fans can follow along with live results at Golfstat.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.