Lumberjacks Post Lowest 36-Hole Score in More than Two Decades at GCU Invitational

PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 28, 2022) – Putting together a consistent first day of the GCU Invitational, the Northern Arizona golf team tied the fourth-lowest 36-hole score (on a par-72 course) in program history on Monday. Tied for fourth on the team leaderboard with UC Riverside, the Lumberjacks opened their second spring tournament with an 8-over par 584 (290-294).
 
"It was a fun day for the 'Jacks," said head coach Brad Bedortha. "We did a lot of really good things today and I am proud of how they competed. Aleks (Chekalina) played well all day and Lorel (Hayward) shooting -2 (in the second round) was huge for her and the team."
 
The host, Grand Canyon, leads the field at 6-under par 570, followed by SMU at 1-under par 575. Santa Clara sits in third at 1-over par 577, seven strokes ahead of both NAU and UC Riverside.
 
NAU's score of 584 tied the 1998-99 team's 584 set at the Lumberjack Women's Golf Invitational. The Lumberjacks rode the strength of 33 birdies on the day, tied for the most in the field with Grand Canyon, to their best two-round score in over two decades.
 
Senior Aleksandra Chekalina led the charge with 10 birdies, also tied for the most amongst the field. Senior Ashley Croft, junior Lorel Hayward and sophomore Ekaterina Malakhova each tallied six birdies and senior Elle Kocourkova finished the day with five.
 
Chekalina closed the day in a tie for 12th individually at even-par 144 (71-73), setting a new season-low through 36 holes. After bogeys on her first two holes of the day, Chekalina recorded three straight birdies to right the ship. She finished the first round with six of her 10 birdies on the day overall, including her final two holes, to match her season-best round of 71.
 
While Chekalina shot a 1-over par 73 in the second round – tied for second-best on the team with Kocourkova – it was Hayward who stole the show. Firing a career-best round of 2-under par 70, Hayward posted the Lumberjacks' lowest score in the afternoon.
 
Behind four birdies, Hayward posted a big bounce back effort after starting the tournament with an 8-over par 80. The 70 marks Hayward's first career par or better round as she finished the day in a tie for 39th at 6-over par 150 (80-70).
 
The Lumberjacks were tied for fifth at the end of the first round before moving up a spot by the end of the day. Backing Chekalina's first round 71, Malakhova played a really clean round, with the exception of a triple bogey on 5, on her way to an even-par 72. Malakhova recorded three first round birdies and 14 pars – part of a larger team-leading 25-par day.
 
Malakhova is tied for 20th individually at 2-over par 146 (72-74), which matches her season-low 36-hole score, while Croft (75-74) and Kocourkova (76-73) are tied for 32nd at 5-over par 149.
 
The Lumberjacks will wrap up the GCU Invitational on Tuesday with the third round beginning an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
 
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Full Team Leaderboard
1. Grand Canyon – 279-291 = 570 (-6)
2. SMU – 277-298 = 575 (-1)
3. Santa Clara – 287-290 = 577 (+1)
T4. Northern Arizona – 294-290 = 584 (+8)
T4. UC Riverside – 290-294 = 584 (+8)
6. Seattle – 300-288 = 588 (+12)
7. Idaho – 294-296 = 590 (+14)
8. Gonzaga – 295-296 = 591 (+15)
9. North Dakota State – 303-297 = 600 (+24)
10. Boise State – 295-307 = 602 (+26)
T11. Southern Utah – 304-299 = 603 (+27)
T11. Cal State Fullerton – 298-305 = 603 (+27)
T13. UTEP – 310-303 = 613 (+37)
T13. Portland State – 300-313 (+37)
15. UTRGV – 304-312 = 616 (+40)
16. Montana State – 313-312 = 625 (+49)
17. Eastern Washington – 319-312 = 631 (+55)
18. CSU Bakersfield – 318-320 = 638 (+62)
19. Dixie State – 324-315 = 639 (+63)
 
NAU Individual Scores
T12. Aleksandra Chekalina – 71-73 = 144 (E)
T20. Ekaterina Malakhova – 72-74 = 146 (+2)
T32. Elle Kocourkova – 76-73 = 149 (+5)
T32. Ashley Croft – 75-74 = 149 (+5)
T39. Lorel Hayward – 80-70 = 150 (+6)