NAU Golf Heads into Final Round of Big Sky Championship in Contention for Title

MOLALLA, Ore. (April 20, 2021) – The Northern Arizona golf team will head into the final day of the Big Sky Championship in second, three strokes behind Sacramento State, following a 21-over par 309 on Tuesday at Arrowhead Golf Club. The defending champions reside in first at 16-over par 602 (298-304) with the Lumberjacks right behind at 29-over par 605 (296-309) with 18 holes to play.
 
"I told the team before we left the golf course, if you would've told me after 36 holes we'd be three strokes behind, I'd say let's take it and go," said head coach Brad Bedortha. "We did what we needed to do to stay in contention and if we go out and play one good round, we've got a chance to win."
 
Playing just their second round on the course, Tuesday's conditions, including pin position, lent to a completely different 18 holes than the Lumberjacks opened with in the first round. Still, NAU hung tough and ultimately made up eight strokes on Sacramento State on the back nine to keep pace with the Hornets.
 
After a tough front nine that saw the 'Jacks shoot 13-over amongst their top four, NAU sat 11 strokes back of Sacramento State at the turn. However, NAU stuck with it and was rewarded by a big shift over the final three holes to close the gap on the Hornets.
 
Freshman Ekaterina Malakhova, who is alone in second individually at 2-over par 146 (74-72), birdied two of her last three holes and graduate student Klara Kucharova came into the clubhouse at even par on 16, 17 and 18 to push the Lumberjacks toward a strong finish. Meanwhile, Sacramento State's Corinne Viden double bogeyed 17 and 18 to wrap up play, resulting in a huge swing on the scoreboard in the Lumberjacks' favor.
 
"The whole course played a lot harder today with the wind blowing and the pin positions were harder, so I knew that it was going to be difficult to shoot a good score," Bedortha said. "We struggled at times, but I'm proud that we hung in there and competed. Kate played great all day and to birdie 16 and 18 was outstanding. Klara continues to step up and play phenomenal. There were a lot of turn of events in a short amount of time, especially on this golf course."
 
Malakhova's strong finish propelled her to a second round even-par 72, putting her three strokes behind Tess Blair of Sacramento State for the individual title. She totaled four of NAU's eight birdies on the day and is tied with Kucharova for the team-lead for the tournament at six.
 
Speaking of Kucharova, she continued her exceptional play following up her first round 73 with a 6-over par 78. After bogeys on six of seven holes coming out of 10, Kucharova played even-par with two birdies, two bogeys and four pars over her final eight holes.
 
Playing in the No. 4 spot in the lineup, Kucharova's 7-over par 151 (73-78) not only places her in a tie for eighth individually, but also matches her season-best 36-hole score in the most important tournament of the season.
 
A huge reason for NAU's score on the back nine was junior Elle Kocourkova, who shot 2-over in the final nine holes to finish the day at 7-over par 79. Kocourkova's back nine included a crucial par save on 16, which saved NAU a few team strokes.
 
Kocourkova is tied for 14^th at 10-over par 154 (75-79), as is junior Aleksandra Chekalina (74-80) after two rounds.
 
Sacramento State, NAU and Portland State – in third at 33-over par 609 (302-307) – will tee off in the final group on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sophomore Lorel Hayward, who is tied for 35th at 18-over par 162 (80-82) will be the first Lumberjack off the first tee.
 
Kocourkova will follow at 10:40 a.m. with Chekalina behind at 10:50 a.m. Kucharova (11 a.m.) and Malakhova (11:10 a.m.) will be in the final two pairings as the Lumberjacks look to make up the difference on the team leaderboard and clinch their Big Sky record ninth conference championship.
 
Live results for Wednesday's final round will be available on Golfstat.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Full Team Leaderboard
1. Sacramento State – 298-304 = 602 (+26)
2. Northern Arizona – 296-309 = 605 (+29)
3. Portland State – 302-307 = 609 (+33)
4. Northern Colorado – 310-307 = 617 (+41)
5. Idaho – 308-311 = 619 (+43)
6. Weber State – 305-318 = 623 (+47)
7. Southern Utah – 316-311 = 627 (+51)
8. Eastern Washington – 320-314 = 634 (+58)
T9. Montana – 320-325 = 645 (+69)
T9. Idaho State – 322-323 = 645 (+69)
11. Montana State – 320-337 = 657 (+81)
 
NAU Individual Scores
2. Ekaterina Malakhova – 74-72 = 146 (+2)
T8. Klara Kucharova – 73-78 = 151 (+7)
T14. Aleksandra Chekalina – 74-80 = 154 (+10)
T14. Elle Kocourkova – 75-79 = 154 (+10)
T35. Lorel Hayward – 80-82 = 162 (+18)