WOLCOTT, Colo. (September 27, 2021) – Senior
Elle Kocourkova was the driving force behind the Northern Arizona golf team's sensational first day at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic, as the Lumberjacks are tied for first atop the leaderboard at 9-under par 279. The 279 broke the program's previous record for low round in relation to par.
"We had a good practice round and the golf course is great," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "I felt confident that we could play well. Right from the start, Ashley (Croft) birdied the first hole. I actually think the back nine is harder with some trickier spots, but we handled it great. I'm ecstatic and we have five players in our lineup who can go out and play like we did today."
The 279 is the second-lowest round in program history, only behind the 278 fired by the Lumberjacks in the first round of the 2019 Red Rocks Invitational. However, Monday's first round at the Red Sky Golf Club did set a new school record for low round versus par as the 2019 team's 278 was 6-under par on the par-71 Agave Highlands Golf Course.
NAU and East Tennessee State is tied for first, two strokes ahead of BYU, who finished the day at 7-under par 281. Central Arkansas, Denver and Colorado are in a three-way tie for fourth at 5-under par 283.
Meanwhile, Kocourkova, who is tied for fifth on the individual leaderboard, became the eighth golfer in school history to shoot 4-under par or better in a round. Her 68 is tied for the fifth-best round in school history.
Kocourkova's day was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 132-yard, par-3 hole 17. Kocourkova's ace was part of a 5-under showing on the back nine to start the day, which included four consecutive birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 14. She is the first Lumberjack with a hole-in-one since Sofia Anokhina in the third round of the 2017 Red Rocks Invitational.
Kocourkova closed the day with two birdies on the front nine, including on her final hole on 9, to head into the clubhouse with her best round of her career, one stroke better than her 69 as a freshman in the final round of the Grand Canyon Spring Invitational.
She was not the only Lumberjack to record her lowest round of her career though, as sophomore
Ekaterina Malakhova turned in a 2-under par 70. Like Kocourkova, Malakhova – who is tied for 20th – was on fire on the back nine to start the morning, ripping off four of her five birdies to go into the turn at 3-under par.
Kocourkova and Malakhova, who were the first two Lumberjacks to tee off, set the tone for the rest of the team as NAU's five golfers combined for 13 birdies on the first nine holes. Each golfer went into the turn under-par, putting into motion NAU's record-breaking day.
"It was fun, no doubt about it," Bedortha said. "When everyone is playing like that, it's cool to go out and be able to compete."
Graduate student
Kimberlee Tottori matched Malakhova's 2-under par 70 with five birdies on the day. Senior
Aleksandra Chekalina is one stroke back, and in a tie for 24th, at 1-under par 71 after recording par on 15 of 18 holes.
Senior
Ashley Croft rounded out NAU at 1-over par 73 on a day in which she moved into sole possession of third all-time in school history with her fourth career eagle on the par-4 14.
Kocourkova and Croft's eagles has NAU tied with Delaware for most eagles through the first day, while NAU's 19 birdies are tied for fourth amongst the field.
Croft will tee off first for the Lumberjacks in Tuesday's second round at 10:30 a.m. MST. She will be followed by Chekalina, Malakhova, Tottori and Kocourkova as NAU will open play on hole 1. Live results can be found on
Golfstat.
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Full Team Leaderboard
T1. Northern Arizona – 279 (-9)
T1. East Tennessee State – 279 (-9)
3. BYU – 281 (-7)
T4. Central Arkansas – 283 (-5)
T4. Denver – 283 (-5)
T4. Colorado – 283 (-5)
7. Kennesaw State – 286 (-2)
T8. Washington State – 288 (E)
T8. Rutgers – 288 (E)
T8. Delaware – 288 (E)
11. Pepperdine – 289 (+1)
12. Minnesota – 290 (+2)
T13. Long Beach State – 293 (+5)
T13. Dallas Baptist – 293 (+5)
T15. Xavier – 295 (+7)
T15. South Florida – 295 (+7)
17. New Mexico State – 297 (+9)
18. Cal State Fullerton – 299 (+11)
T19. San Diego State – 300 (+12)
T19. Kansas – 300 (+12)
NAU Individual Scores
T5.
Elle Kocourkova – 68 (-4)
T20.
Kimberlee Tottori – 70 (-2)
T20.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 70 (-2)
T24.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 71 (-1)
T42.
Ashley Croft – 73 (+1)
