FARMINGTON, Utah (January 19, 2023) – The Northern Arizona University golf team was selected to finish second in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Poll as announced Thursday morning by the league office.
The poll is voted on by the conference's head coaches and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. The Lumberjacks, who are the defending Big Sky Champions, were picked to finish second for the second-straight season and received one first-place vote with 71 points total.
Sacramento State was picked first with eight of the nine available first place votes, finishing with 81 points total. NAU edged Weber State who was picked third with 66 points. Idaho and Northern Colorado round out the top-five, while Montana State, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Montana and Idaho State are in the six through 10 spots, respectively.
The Lumberjacks are led by the reigning unanimous Big Sky Coach of the Year,
Brad Bedortha who is in his 15th season at the helm of NAU golf. The honor was the fourth of his career (2009, 2013, 2015). Northern Arizona's 2022 title was the ninth in program history and the fourth under Bedortha.
Four golfers from last year's championship run return in fifth-years
Aleksandra Chekalina and
Ashley Croft, senior
Lorel Hayward and junior
Ekaterina Malakhova. Malakhova returns to defend her Big Sky individual title. NAU also welcomes three freshmen in
Nina Lukyanenko,
Lizzie Neale and
Ellena Slater.
Malakhova earned a spot on the All-Big Sky first team for the second consecutive year, while Chekalina was a third-team selection and Croft earned an honorable mention nod. All four of NAU's returners finished in the top-25 at last year's Big Sky Championships.
After a successful Fall season that saw the Lumberjacks notch two top-ten finishes, the Spring portion of the season begins on Feb. 13-14 at the Mountain Classic Match Play in Palm Desert, Calif., hosted by Wyoming and Boise State.
Northern Arizona will play in five tournaments leading up the Big Sky Championships on April 17-19 at the Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the second-straight year.
The 2023 season is highlighted by the 18
th annual Red Rocks Invitational, hosted by Northern Arizona on March 18-19 at the Oakcreek Country Club in Sedona, Ariz.
After posting a school record 299.31 scoring average as a team, Northern Arizona finished the 2021-22 season ranked No. 114 in the nation and enter the Spring ranked No. 123, trailing only two Big Sky schools in Sacramento State (No. 63) and Weber State (No. 115).
The Lumberjacks competed in four tournaments in the Fall, ending on a high note at the Clash of Boulder Creek where they finished sixth for the highest finish of the Fall. They also posted the lowest round of the season at three-under par and tied the best finish of the season at 15-over par after shooting an 879 (302-296-285).
Chekalina currently leads the 'Jacks with a scoring average of 73.58 through 12 rounds, followed closely by Hayward and Slater who are averaging 74.00 through 12 rounds as well.
2022-23 Big Sky Conference Golf Coaches' Poll
- Sacramento State – 81 (9)
- Northern Arizona – 71 (1)
- Weber State – 66
- Idaho – 58
- Northern Colorado – 48
- Montana State – 40
- Portland State – 35
- Eastern Washington – 22
- Montana – 18
- Idaho State – 11
