HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (October 8, 2022) – A day after opening the Ron Moore Intercollegiate with a solid 18 holes, the Northern Arizona golf team dropped their score even lower on Saturday to move up a spot to seventh on the team leaderboard through two rounds. The Lumberjacks fired a 2-over 290 and is just a stroke behind fourth-place at 6-over par 582 (292-290) at the end of 36 holes.
NAU's current score of 6-over par 582 is the sixth-lowest 36-hole score in relation to par in program history and the third-lowest through two rounds in the last four seasons. Xavier, Tulane and Incarnate Word is in a three-way tie for fourth at 5-over par 581 just ahead of NAU. Vanderbilt, who tied for 22nd at last season's NCAA Championships, holds a 15-stroke lead in first at 21-under par 555.
For the second consecutive day, senior
Lorel Hayward fired even-par 72 as she leads the Lumberjacks individually in a tie for 16th. Hayward's even-par 144 (72-72) is a new low 36-hole score for the fourth-year Lumberjack surpassing her 1-over par 145 through two rounds at last spring's Big Sky Championship.
Hayward started Saturday's second round with consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2 before bogeys on three of her next four holes pushed her back to 1-over. She then birdied 8 and went into the turn at even-par. On the back nine, Hayward birdied 15 and bogeyed 17 in addition to seven pars to complete her second straight even-par 72.
Freshman
Ellena Slater is one stroke behind Hayward at 1-over par 145 (72-73) after her second round 1-over par 73. Slater played the back nine to 1-under par with birdies on 11 and 17 and finished the day tied for 19th.
Fifth-year
Aleksandra Chekalina and freshman
Lizzie Neale rounded out the Lumberjacks' scorers at 1-over par 73 and even-par 72. For Neale, it was her third career par or better round – all of which have come in her last five rounds.
Chekalina is tied for 26th at 2-over par 146 (73-73) and Neale is tied for 28th at 3-over par 147 (75-72) giving the 'Jacks four golfers in the top 30 individually. Neale pulled even on the day with a birdie on 18 before heading into the clubhouse.
Junior
Ekaterina Malakhova is tied for 87th at 17-over par 161 (82-79).
NAU still leads all teams in par-3 scoring at 3-under par and is tied for fifth with 27 birdies. Hayward paced the Lumberjacks with four birdies in the second round with Slater, Chekalina and Neale all recording three each.
Sunday's third round, to close the tournament, will feature an 8 a.m. MST shotgun start with NAU opening on holes 7, 8, and 9.
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. Vanderbilt – 280-275 = 555 (-21)
2. New Mexico – 284-286 = 570 (-6)
3. Denver – 288-289 = 577 (+1)
T4. Xavier – 290-291 = 581 (+5)
T4. Tulane – 291-290 = 581 (+5)
T4. Incarnate Word – 291-290 = 581 (+5)
7. Northern Arizona – 292-290 = 582 (+6)
8. Colorado State – 290-295 = 585 (+9)
T9. Iowa – 302-286 = 588 (+12)
T9. San Diego State – 296-292 = 588 (+12)
11. Chattanooga – 293-300 = 593 (+17)
T12. Fresno State – 302-296 = 598 (+22)
T12. Delaware – 299-299 = 598 (+22)
14. Grand Canyon – 303-300 = 603 (+27)
15. Hawai'i – 299-305 = 604 (+28)
16. Wyoming – 311-301 = 612 (+36)
NAU Individual Scores
T16.
Lorel Hayward – 72-72 = 144 (E)
T19.
Ellena Slater – 72-73 = 145 (+1)
T26.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 73-73 = 146 (+2)
T28.
Lizzie Neale – 75-72 = 147 (+3)
T87.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 82-79 = 161 (+17)
