MARICOPA, Ariz. (April 5, 2021) – Graduate student
Klara Kucharova fired a first round 4-under par 68 on Monday to highlight the Northern Arizona golf team's first day at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic. After 36 holes at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, the Lumberjacks are 11th on the team leaderboard at 31-over par 607 (305-302).
NAU sat in 13th following a 17-over par 305 in the first round before improving by three strokes over the day's final 18 holes to move up two spots.
Kucharova, playing as the team's individual, was sensational in the morning, carding the lowest round by a Lumberjack this season. She was the first Lumberjack to shoot 4-under par since
Emma Reyes' first round 67 (par-71) during the opening round of the 2019 Red Rocks Invitational.
After two bogeys on her first three holes, Kucharova birdied four of her next eight. She closed the first round with three consecutive birdies on 12, 13 and 14 to record an NAU season-best seven birdies in a round.
Kucharova, who was second individually after the first round, concluded Monday in a tie for 44th at 7-over par 151 (68-83).
Freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova is the team's leader in a tie for 23rd overall at 4-over par 148 (76-72). Her second round 72 – with two birdies and two bogeys – was her third par or better round this season, tying her for the team-lead with junior
Aleksandra Chekalina.
Speaking of Chekalina, she is second on the team at the conclusion of two rounds at 7-over par 151 (73-78), tying her with Kucharova on the individual leaderboard. Chekalina, the Big Sky Golfer of the Week after the Red Rocks Invitational, was incredibly steady in the first round, registering par on her first 12 holes before wrapping up with a 1-over par 73.
Junior
Ashley Croft rebounded from a first round 79 by shooting a 2-over par 74 in the second. Croft, like Chekalina, birdied her first hole on 13 to open the second round and ultimately led the team with three birdies in the afternoon. Croft is tied for 60th at 9-over par 154 (79-74).
Rounding out the NAU lineup, junior
Elle Kocourkova and sophomore
Lorel Hayward are tied for 81st. Kocourkova went 77-80, while Hayward was 79-78 on their way to identical 36-hole scores of 13-over par 157.
Grand Canyon was one of two teams to shoot under par through the first two rounds, leading the 20-team field at 5-under par 571 (285-286). South Dakota State is three strokes behind at 2-under par 574 (290-284) having closed the gap on the Lopes with the lowest round of the tournament so far in the second round.
NAU is second amongst the seven Big Sky teams in the field, trailing Idaho by four strokes going into Tuesday's third round. The Lumberjacks have suffered a head-to-head defeat to a conference opponent thus far this spring.
The final 18 holes will commence with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday with live results available on
Golfstat.
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. Grand Canyon – 285-286 = 571 (-5)
2. South Dakota State – 290-284 = 574 (-2)
3. New Mexico State – 285-294 = 579 (+3)
4. Gonzaga – 294-291 = 585 (+9)
5. Nevada – 295-294 = 589 (+13)
6. Seattle – 300-293 = 593 (+17)
T7. UTEP – 296-303 = 599 (+23)
T7. Hawai'i – 293-306 = 599 (+23)
9. Boise State – 301-299 = 600 (+24)
10. Idaho – 298-305 = 603 (+27)
11. Northern Arizona – 305-302 = 607 (+31)
T12. Wyoming – 309-299 = 608 (+32)
T12. Cal State Fullerton – 299-309 = 608 (+32)
14. Portland State – 306-306 = 612 (+36)
15. Southern Utah – 311-302 = 613 (+37)
16. Santa Clara – 299-318 = 617 (+41)
T17. Northern Colorado – 311-313 = 624 (+48)
T17. Eastern Washington – 312-312 = 624 (+48)
19. Montana State – 320-317 = 637 (+61)
20. Bakersfield – 327-323 = 650 (+74)
NAU Individual Scores
T23.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 76-72 = 148 (+4)
T44.
Klara Kucharova – 68-83 = 151 (+7)*
T44.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 73-78 = 151 (+7)
T60.
Ashley Croft – 79-74 = 153 (+9)
T81.
Elle Kocourkova – 77-80 = 157 (+13)
T81.
Lorel Hayward – 79-78 = 157 (+13)
* Playing as individual
