GOODYEAR, Ariz. (April 12, 2022) – The Northern Arizona golf team held steady throughout Tuesday's third round of the Bobcat Desert Classic, finishing their final regular season tournament in second after carding 15-over par 303. The 'Jacks concluded the tournament at 38-over par 902 (293-306-303) to earn their second runner-up finish in the last month.
"It was nice finishing second and being in contention," said head coach
Brad Bedortha. "Between our home tournament (last month) and the last two days, it was great experience for our golfers to feel the pressure of knowing that we have an opportunity to win if we perform well enough. We got off to a great start, but just couldn't keep the momentum going. We're excited for the conference championship coming up."
NAU, who led all teams with 31 birdies, finished the Bobcat Desert Classic 10 strokes behind the team champion, Santa Clara. The Broncos won the tournament at 28-over par 892 (294-298-300).
Entering the day seven strokes back of the Broncos, the Lumberjacks forged together an early charge with exceptional play on the front nine. Senior
Elle Kocourkova birdied three of her first six holes, while senior
Aleksandra Chekalina went into the turn at 1-under par and sophomore
Ekaterina Malakhova at even-par.
Along with junior
Lorel Hayward's 1-over par through eight holes, NAU eventually made up the seven strokes and pulled even with Santa Clara midway through the round. However, a challenging back nine upended NAU's efforts of claiming its first tournament title in six years.
Kocourkova, Malakhova and Chekalina each shot identical rounds of 3-over par 75 on Tuesday with Kocourkova totaling four birdies as part of her final round. Hayward was the fourth counting score at 6-over par 78.
Malakhova was the Lumberjacks' top finisher, placing fifth at 6-over par 222 (71-76-75). She recorded 10 birdies in the tournament, which tied for most in the field. It was Malakhova's highest individual finish of the season and second career top five finish.
Riding a team-high 38 pars, including 11 in the third round, Chekalina also registered her best finish of the season in a tie for 10th at 11-over par 227 (76-76-75). It was Chekalina's seventh top 10 individual finish of her career.
Kocourkova logged her third top 20 finish in the last four tournaments, tying for 13th with a three-round score of 12-over par 228 (72-81-75). Kocourkova was second on the team with eight birdies to Malakhova's 10. Meanwhile, Hayward recorded her highest career individual finish in a tie for 16th at 13-over par 229 (74-77-78).
Finally, senior
Ashley Croft tied for 33rd at 22-over par 238 (81-77-80).
After a highly successful fall and spring season that featured three top five team finishes in nine tournaments and seven top 10 finishes, the Lumberjacks will now take aim at the Big Sky Championship, which begins next Monday in Scottsdale at Talking Stick Golf Club.
NAU was the highest placing Big Sky team in the Bobcat Desert Classic amongst eight league teams, as was the case last week at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic. Over the last two weeks, the 'Jacks have bested nine of their 10 Big Sky opponents with the exception being Sacramento State, the defending conference champion. The Lumberjacks and Hornets have only played in one tournament together this season back in October at The Clash at Boulder Creek.
The Big Sky Championship will run from April 18-20 in Scottsdale with 18 holes of competition on each of the three days.
To stay up to date with the NAU golf team, follow the Lumberjacks on
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Full Team Leaderboard
1. Santa Clara – 294-298-300 = 892 (+28)
2. Northern Arizona – 293-306-303 = 902 (+38)
3. Southern Utah – 301-299-309 = 909 (+45)
4. Montana – 311-303-303 = 917 (+53)
5. Weber State – 297-317-308 = 922 (+58)
6. Utah Valley – 301-315-311 = 927 (+63)
T7. Montana State – 315-320-311 = 946 (+82)
T7. Dixie State – 307-317-322 = 946 (+82)
T7. Eastern Washington – 304-325-317 = 946 (+82)
10. Idaho State – 310-316-323 = 949 (+85)
11. Northern Colorado – 316-323-311 = 950 (+86)
NAU Individual Scores
5.
Ekaterina Malakhova – 71-76-75 = 222 (+6)
T10.
Aleksandra Chekalina – 76-76-75 = 227 (+11)
T13.
Elle Kocourkova – 72-81-75 = 228 (+12)
T16.
Lorel Hayward – 74-77-78 = 229 (+13)
T33.
Ashley Croft – 81-77-80 = 238 (+22)
