MARICOPA, Ariz. (April 6, 2021) – The Northern Arizona golf team held steady on the team leaderboard, concluding the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic in 11th out of 20 teams following a third round 21-over par 309. The Lumberjacks, led by freshman
Ekaterina Malakhova individually, finished the two-day tournament at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club at 52-over par 916 (305-302-309).
New Mexico State leapt up two spots with the lowest round on Tuesday to win the team title. The Aggies finished at 5-over par 869 (285-294-290), a full seven strokes ahead of South Dakota State with Grand Canyon falling from the top spot to third. Cal State Fullerton's Brittany Shin was the individual winner in a wire-to-wire 5-under par 211 (67-71-73) performance.
The Lumberjacks' third round 309 was their highest round since the spring season's opener at the Rebel Beach Invitational.
"It was a major struggle for us," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "We did not perform up to our standards and it was frustrating to watch the quality of play. I know we are much better than we performed and I know we can compete for a conference championship, but to do so we'll have to play a lot better."
Although Malakhova finished in a tie for 31st – which led the team – junior
Ashley Croft carded the team's low round on Tuesday. For the second consecutive round, Croft registered a 2-over par 74, placing her in a tie for 39th for the tournament at 11-over par 227 (79-74-74).
Croft started and ended her day with birdies – two of the team's seven on the day – in a bounce back effort from her first round struggles.
Over 54 holes, Malakhova was one stroke better than Croft, wrapping up the Cowgirl Classic at 10-over par 226 (76-72-78). Malakhova's third round 6-over par 78 was matched by junior
Elle Kocourkova, who recorded two birdies on Tuesday.
Behind Malakhova and Croft was junior
Aleksandra Chekalina, who tied for 47th at 14-over par 230 (73-78-79). Kocourkova was next among the Lumberjacks in the lineup in a tie for 74th at 19-over par 235 (77-80-78) and sophomore
Lorel Hayward shot 26-over par 242 (79-78-85) to tie for 92nd.
Graduate student
Klara Kucharova, who shot a first round 68, tied for 65th at 17-over par 233 (68-83-82) as an individual.
Even through NAU's struggles, the Lumberjacks remained unbeaten against Big Sky schools this spring. NAU trailed Idaho by four strokes going into Tuesday, but wound up finishing two strokes ahead of the Vandals by the end of the tournament.
There were a total of seven conference schools in the tournament with the Lumberjacks' 11th-place finish the best. Idaho finished in 12th and Portland State was 14th, while Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington and Montana State concluded play in Maricopa in the 16th through 19th spots.
The Lumberjacks will have a quick turnaround before their final tournament of the regular season. NAU will travel to Albuquerque, N.M. for the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational beginning this Sunday and wrapping up on Monday.
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. New Mexico State – 285-294-290 = 869 (+5)
2. South Dakota State – 290-284-302 = 876 (+12)
3. Grand Canyon – 285-286-307 = 878 (+14)
4. Gonzaga – 294-291-296 = 881 (+17)
5. Nevada – 295-294-298 = 887 (+23)
6. Seattle – 300-293-302 = 895 (+31)
7. Hawai'i – 293-306-299 = 898 (+34)
8. Boise State – 301-299-304 = 904 (+40)
9. UTEP – 296-303-308 = 907 (+43)
10. Wyoming – 309-299-307 = 915 (+51)
11. Northern Arizona – 305-302-309 = 916 (+52)
12. Idaho – 298-305-315 = 918 (+54)
13. Cal State Fullerton – 299-309-311 = 919 (+55)
14. Portland State – 306-306-314 = 926 (+62)
15. Santa Clara – 299-318-312 = 929 (+65)
16. Southern Utah – 311-302-317 = 930 (+66)
T17. Northern Colorado – 311-313-322 = 946 (+82)
T17. Eastern Washington – 312-312-322 = 946 (+82)
19. Montana State – 320-317-318 = 955 (+91)
20. Bakersfield – 327-323-320 = 970 (+106)
NAU Individual Scores
T31.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 76-72-78 = 226 (+10)
T39.
Ashley Croft – 79-74-74 = 227 (+11)
T47.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 73-78-79 = 230 (+14)
T65.
Klara Kucharova – 68-83-82 = 233 (+17)*
T74.
Elle Kocourkova – 77-80-78 = 235 (+19)
T92.
Lorel Hayward – 79-78-85 = 242 (+26)
* Playing as individual
