WOLCOTT, Colo. (September 29, 2021) – Over the final two days of the Golfweek Red Sky Classic, the Northern Arizona golf team battled through inclement weather resulting in a tie for seventh finish at the Red Sky Golf Club. The Lumberjacks concluded the tournament at 12-over par 588 (279-309) on Wednesday in what turned out to be an abbreviated event.
"It was a tough day again with heavy rain on majority of the holes and we didn't execute as well as we wished to," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. We lost a lot of shots on the final holes which cost us a better finish, but if you would have told me before the tournament that we would finish tied for seventh, I would be very happy with that."
The three-round, three-day tournament was shortened to just two rounds with the cancelation of Wednesday's originally scheduled third round. Tuesday's second round was interrupted by a lengthy delay, forcing the suspension of play and the conclusion of the second round on Wednesday.
East Tennessee State, who was tied with NAU for first at the end of the first round, claimed the team title at 6-under par 570 (279-291). Denver finished one stroke behind at 5-under par 571 (283-288).
After shooting a school record round of 279 to open the tournament, NAU opened Tuesday with a flurry of birdies to briefly gain sole possession of first. However, the weather delay disrupted the Lumberjacks' flow and they ultimately finished Tuesday at 1-under par overall and in fourth with their lineup yet to complete the second round.
Wednesday's conclusion only saw the Lumberjacks record a pair of birdies – senior
Ashley Croft on the par-5 15 and sophomore
Ekaterina Malakhova on the par-5 18 – as the rain continued to put a damper on what was shaping up to be a potentially huge tournament for the 'Jacks.
Still, NAU finished in a tie with the second-highest ranked team in the field (No. 41 Pepperdine) and ahead of seven top 100 teams overall.
"Overall it was a great tournament and we have a great base to build on heading into New Mexico State," Bedortha said. "I am proud of how the ladies did in the first round shooting the school record and they played well yesterday too."
Malakhova (70-76) and senior
Elle Kocourkova (68-78) were the highest-finishing Lumberjacks in a tie for 29th at 2-over par 146. Malakhova posted NAU's lowest second round of 4-over par 76, including a team-high three birdies, while Kocourkova held NAU's low round of the tournament of 4-under par 68 on Monday. Kocourkova's tournament was highlighted by her hole-in-one in the first round.
Senior
Aleksandra Chekalina (71-78) and graduate student
Kimberlee Tottori (70-79) tied for 42nd at 5-over par 149 and Croft finished one stroke back at 6-over par 150 (73-77) in a tie for 48th.
The Lumberjacks will carry the momentum into next week's Aggie Invitational hosted by New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M. The three-day tournament begins next Monday, Oct. 4.
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. East Tennessee State – 279-291 = 570 (-6)
2. Denver – 283-288 = 571 (-5)
3. BYU – 281-296 = 577 (+1)
4. Washington State – 288-290 = 578 (+2)
5. Colorado – 283-300 = 583 (+7)
6. Kennesaw State – 286-299 = 585 (+9)
T7. Northern Arizona – 279-309 = 588 (+12)
T7. Pepperdine – 289-299 = 588 (+12)
9. Minnesota – 290-300 = 590 (+14)
T10. Kansas – 300-294 = 594 (+18)
T10. Rutgers – 288-306 = 594 (+18)
T12. Xavier – 295-303 = 598 (+22)
T12. South Florida – 295-303 = 598 (+22)
T12. Delaware – 288-310 = 598 (+22)
T15. Central Arkansas – 283-318 = 601 (+25)
T15. Long Beach State – 293-308 = 601 (+25)
T15. New Mexico State – 297-304 = 601 (+25)
18. San Diego State – 300-302 = 602 (+26)
19. Dallas Baptist – 293-311 = 604 (+28)
20. Cal State Fullerton – 299-313 = 612 (+36)
NAU Individual Scores
T29.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 70-76 = 146 (+2)
T29.
Elle Kocourkova – 68-78 = 146 (+2)
T42.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 71-78 = 149 (+5)
T42.
Kimberlee Tottori – 70-79 = 149 (+5)
T48.
Ashley Croft – 73-77 = 150 (+6)
