SEDONA, Ariz. (March 19, 2022) – The Northern Arizona golf team opened the 2022 Red Rocks Invitational with a tournament record 4-under par 284 in Saturday's first round. The Lumberjacks held the lead through the first 18 holes behind their third-lowest round in relation to par in program history before the second round was suspended due to darkness.
NAU's 4-under par 284 only trails its 9-under par 279 in the first round of the Golfweek Red Sky Classic last September and the 6-under par 278 in the first round of the 2019 Red Rocks Invitational (par-71). The 284 also set the new tournament low round at Oakcreek Country Club, besting Gonzaga's 286 in last year's installment.
"We played well right from the start and I walked with different players throughout the day," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "I saw a lot of really good things from what I saw. In the afternoon, we kept playing well and I'm really happy with what we are doing. We're still in the mix and we have an opportunity to finish the tournament strong."
The afternoon's scheduled second round was suspended with each pairing needing to complete two more holes. Grand Canyon will head into Sunday with the unofficial lead with NAU within striking distance of capturing its first tournament victory in six years.
"I just want to see us play and compete well," Bedortha said. "Grand Canyon is a good team and we knew coming in they were the highest-ranked team in the tournament. Coming in we wanted to play well and if we had a chance to win, that would be great. We'll add them up when we're done. We can't influence how Grand Canyon, Illinois State or any other school plays, but we can control what we're doing."
With NAU ahead on the team leaderboard, senior
Elle Kocourkova – playing in her final career Red Rocks Invitational – sat atop the individual leaderboard at the conclusion of the first round. Behind five birdies, including three straight on holes 6, 7 and 8, Kocourkova matched a career-best score set earlier this season at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic.
Kocourkova's second round in the 60's this season was one shot off the tournament record at Oakcreek Country Club. Her five birdies in the first round was one off the lead, held by sophomore
Ekaterina Malakhova, who tied for fifth through 18 holes.
Malakhova rode the strength of six first round birdies to a 1-under par 71, giving the Lumberjacks a pair of golfers under par. A third, senior
Ashley Croft, was at even-par 72 and NAU's fourth counting golfer was junior
Lorel Hayward at 1-over par 73. Hayward's 73 was the second-best of her career, while Croft's 72 tied her second-lowest this season.
Croft finished the first round strong with birdies on three of her final four holes. Hayward, who led all golfers with 15 pars in the opening round, also closed on a high note with pars on her final five holes. Croft was tied for 13th and Hayward was tied for 18th at the end of the round.
Senior
Aleksandra Chekalina recorded a 5-over par 77 in the first round, placing her in a tie for 52nd.
NAU tied for the team-lead with 17 birdies and was fourth with 55 pars in the morning's opening round.
Sunday's final day of competition will begin with a 7:45 a.m. shotgun start. Following the conclusion of the second round, play will roll right into the third round.
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. Northern Arizona – 284 (-4)
2. Illinois State – 287 (-1)
3. Grand Canyon – 289 (+1)
4. California Baptist – 293 (+5)
5. Weber State – 294 (+6)
6. North Dakota State – 295 (+7)
7. Delaware – 296 (+8)
T8. Idaho – 300 (+12)
T8. Wichita State – 300 (+12)
10. Utah Valley – 302 (+14)
T11. Southern Utah – 305 (+17)
T11. Dixie State – 305 (+17)
T13. Stephen F. Austin – 307 (+19)
T13. Towson – 307 (+19)
T15. Portland State – 309 (+21)
T15. Montana – 309 (+21)
17. Longwood – 310 (+22)
18. Montana State – 312 (+24)
19. Northern Colorado – 315 (+27)
NAU Individual Scores
1.
Elle Kocourkova – 68 (-4)
T5.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 71 (-1)
T13.
Ashley Croft – 72 (E)
T18.
Lorel Hayward – 73 (+1)
T52.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 77 (+5)
Gallery: (3-19-2022) Red Rocks Invitational Day 1
