Golf Finishes Second at Big Sky Championship, Places Two ‘Jacks on All-Tournament Team

MOLALLA, Ore. (April 21, 2021) – The Northern Arizona golf team shot a final round 16-over 304 on Wednesday to earn a runner-up finish at the Big Sky Championship, concluding the tournament at 45-over par 909 (296-309-304). The second-place finish was the Lumberjacks' best at the conference tournament in six years, and was a significant improvement from their seventh-place finish in 2019.
 
"It's bittersweet because we were close and we had our opportunities, but at the end of the day it's been quite a few years since we've been in this position as a program," said head coach Brad Bedortha. "It was nice to be in the hunt again. It was nice to feel the pressure and the nerves because this is what we play for. It was a blast and I loved every minute of it."
 
NAU went into Wednesday's third round three strokes behind Sacramento State, who wound up defending its conference title in 2019 – last year's tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 – with a score of 37-over par 901 (298-304-299). The Hornets have won three of the last five championships, and placed second in the other two, since the Lumberjacks won the title in 2015.
 
Portland State finished in third at 54-over par 918 (302-307-309) and Idaho placed fourth at 58-over par 922 (308-311-303).
 
The Hornets' Tess Blair, the only golfer to shoot under par, was the individual champion at 1-under 215 (74-69-72). Freshman Ekaterina Malakhova was the Lumberjacks' top finisher in a four-way tie for second at 7-over par 223 (74-72-77).
 
Malakhova, a First Team All-Conference honoree, closed her first conference championship with a third round 5-over par 77. She finished with a flurry, recording birdies on 17 and 18 to finish the tournament with a team-best nine – tied for fourth-most amongst all players.
 
Sacramento State gained four strokes on NAU through Wednesday's first six holes, before the 'Jacks eventually went into the turn down six strokes. NAU continued to gain on Sacramento State on holes 10, 11 and 12, by shaving two strokes off the Hornets' lead before making a huge run on 13, 14 and 15.
 
NAU went into the final three holes trailing by just one stroke, but Sacramento State held off the late charge with four birdies and an eagle among its four counting golfers on 16, 17 and 18.
 
"Two years ago we came into the conference tournament and finished seventh," Bedortha said. "To bounce back two years later, we know we can be very competitive for years to come and that's really exciting."
 
Malakhova and graduate student Klara Kucharova, also playing in her first Big Sky Championship, garnered All-Tournament Team honors by virtue of their top five individual finishes. It marked the first time the Lumberjacks placed two golfers in the top five of the conference championship since 2011 and the first time with two in the top 10 since 2013.
 
Kucharova shot NAU's low round on Wednesday, recording her second 1-over par 73 of the tournament. Her final score of 8-over par 224 (73-78-73) not only tied her for fifth individually, but was also six strokes better than her previous season-low. She played the back nine to 1-under par with a birdie on 16 to go along with eight of her 14 pars in the final round.
 
Junior Aleksandra Chekalina also closed the tournament strong, shooting even par on the back nine to finish the day at 3-over par 75. She finished the tournament in sole possession of 16th at 13-over par 229 (74-80-75).
 
NAU's final counting score came courtesy of sophomore Lorel Hayward, who shot her best round of the tournament at 7-over par 79 – just one stroke off her season-best. Junior Elle Kocourkova rounded out the Lumberjacks' lineup with an 8-over par 80.
 
Kocourkova finished in a tie for 21st at 18-over par 234 (75-79-80), while Hayward tied for 32nd at 25-over par 241 (80-82-79), which marked a season-best.
 
"We've come a long way as a group," Bedortha said. "There were some tournaments where we didn't play well and it was frustrating. But at the end of the day, I love this team and I wouldn't want to travel and compete with anyone else."
 
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Full Team Leaderboard
1. Sacramento State – 298-304-299 = 901 (+37)
2. Northern Arizona – 296-309-304 = 909 (+45)
3. Portland State – 302-307-309 = 918 (+54)
4. Idaho – 308-311-303 = 922 (+58)
5. Northern Colorado – 310-307-313 = 930 (+66)
6. Weber State – 305-318-310 = 933 (+69)
7. Southern Utah – 316-311-312 = 939 (+75)
8. Eastern Washington – 320-314-313 = 947 (+83)
9. Montana – 320-325-313 = 958 (+94)
10. Montana State – 320-337-316 = 973 (+109)
11. Idaho State – 322-323-338 = 983 (+119)
 
NAU Individual Scores
T2. Ekaterina Malakhova – 74-72-77 = 223 (+7)
T5. Klara Kucharova – 73-78-73 = 224 (+8)
16. Aleksandra Chekalina – 74-80-75 = 229 (+13)
T21. Elle Kocourkova – 75-79-80 = 234 (+18)
T32. Lorel Hayward – 80-82-79 = 241 (+25)