NAU Golf Enters 2022 Season Voted Second in Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll

FARMINGTON, Utah (January 20, 2022) – The Northern Arizona golf team was selected second in the 2022 Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll coming off a runner-up finish in 2021. The league's head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
 
Sacramento State, the defending Big Sky Champions, received 10 of 11 first-place votes to top the preseason poll with 100 points. NAU was right behind at 91 points, collecting the remaining first place vote. Idaho, Weber State and Northern Colorado rounded out the top five with Southern Utah, Idaho State, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana in the sixth through 11 slots respectively.
 
The Lumberjacks, led by head coach Brad Bedortha, heads into the spring season that begins on Feb. 7 at The Valley Invitational in Bakersfield, Calif., ranked No. 98 in the Golfstat National Rankings. During the fall campaign, the 'Jacks placed in the top 10 in three of their four tournaments including a high of fourth at New Mexico State's Aggie Invitational.
 
NAU will feature a lineup with four 2021 All-Big Sky honorees in seniors Aleksandra Chekalina, Ashley Croft and Elle Kocourkova as well as sophomore Ekaterina Malakhova. Malakhova, a returning all-conference first team selection, leads the group with a scoring average of 74.55 through the four fall tournaments.
 
Kocourkova averaged 74.91 in the fall and both herself and Malakhova each carded a low round of 4-under par 68, which is tied for the team's low round of the season. Croft (76.36) and Chekalina (76.91) were both named to the All-Big Sky Second Team last season.
 
The Lumberjacks will compete in five tournaments this semester, including their annual Red Rocks Invitational at Oak Creek Country Club on March 19 and 20, prior to the Big Sky Championship in April.
 
The Big Sky Championship returns to the state of Arizona for the first time since 2015, coincidentally NAU's most recent conference title, with the tournament being held at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale from April 18-20.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.
 
2022 Big Sky Women's Golf Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

1. Sacramento State – 100 (10)
2. Northern Arizona – 91 (1)
3. Idaho – 76
4. Weber State – 70
5. Northern Colorado – 63
6. Southern Utah – 60
7. Idaho State – 36
8. Portland State – 35
9. Eastern Washington – 27
10. Montana State – 24
11. Montana – 23