FARMINGTON, Utah (April 14, 2023) – Four Northern Arizona University golfers have been named to All-Big Sky teams, the conference office announced on Friday afternoon.
The selections were highlighted by
Ellena Slater on the first team. Both
Aleksandra Chekalina and
Lizzie Neale represented NAU on the second team, and
Lorel Hayward rounded things out with an honorable mention nod.
Chekalina, a senior, landed on an All-Big Sky team for the fifth time during her time with the 'Jacks, setting a program record for most All-Conference awards in a career. She landed on the third team three times and the second team twice.
It is the first All-Conference awards for Slater, Neale and Hayward in their respective careers.
NAU's four selections is the second-most behind Sacramento State who had five. The Hornets also boasted the Player of the Year Jennifer Koga and the Freshman of the Year, Ella Kraft. A full list of the honorees is below.
Slater heads into this week's Big Sky Championship with a scoring average of 72.90 to lead the Lumberjacks, which currently ranks second all-time in single season program history. Against par, she has an average of 1.05.
This season, Slater has had eight rounds at par or better with a career-low round of 67 (-5) at the GCU Invitational, tying an NAU program record, and becoming just the fifth Lumberjack to record a round that low. At the GCU Invitational, she finished with a 54-hole total of 211 (-5) which ranks third all-time in program history.
Slater took first at NAU's home tournament, the Red Rocks Invitational, after shooting a 212 (-4) to become just the fourth 'Jack to earn medalist honors in the history of the invite. She earned Big Sky Golfer of the Week for her efforts.
The Kent, England, native has recorded 68 birdies this season which already ranks eighth all-time at NAU for birdies in a career. She has also recorded one eagle.
This season, Chekalina has a scoring average of 74.54, which currently ranks sixth all-time in program history, with five rounds at par or better. Twice, she has recorded a low round of 68 which ties her career best. Her best finish came at the Coeur d'Alene Collegiate to start the season where she shot a season-best 213 (E). Her next best finish came at the GCU Invitational where she finished tied for 15
th with a 217 (+1).
Neale has put together a solid freshman year campaign, owning a scoring average of 74.13 and an average of 2.25 versus par. She has nine rounds at par or better, which ranks fourth in single-season history. Neale took home Big Sky Golfer of the Week honors after helping NAU finish runner-up at the Mountain Classic Match play to start the Spring season. Her best finish this season came at the Bobcat Desert Classic where she tied for sixth. Neale has recorded two career-low rounds of 69 (-3). The Nelson, New Zealand native's best 54-hole score of 213 (-3) came at the GCU Invitational where she finished tied for eighth.
Finishing four rounds at par or better, plus one in the 60's, Hayward has a scoring average of 76.17. This season, her best performance came at The Clash at Boulder Creek where she finished tied for ninth with a 214 (-2) after shooting a 71 (-1) and a 69 (-3) in the final two rounds.
The Lumberjacks look to defend their Big Sky title at this week's championships that run from April 17-19 in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Talking Stick Resort (par-72, 6,247 yards). The championships are hosted by Montana State and one round of 18 holes will be played each day. The 'Jacks begin teeing off at 9:30 a.m. on day one.
2022-23 Women's Golf All-Conference Team & Individual Award Winners
Player of the Year – Jennifer Koga, Sacramento State
Freshman of the Year – Ella Kraft, Sacramento State
First Team All-Conference
Jennifer Koga, Sacramento State
Ella Kraft, Sacramento State
Tess Blair, Sacramento State
Caitlin Maruice, Sacramento State
Ellena Slater, Northern Arizona
Second Team All-Conference
Sienna Lyford, Sacramento State
Lizzie Neale, Northern Arizona
Vicky Tsai, Idaho
Marija Jucmane, Northern Colorado
Aleksandra Chekalina, Northern Arizona
Third Team All-Conference
Scarlet Weidig-Velazquez, Montana State
Yvonne Vinceri, Idaho
Jessica Zelasko, Weber State
Aerin Song, Weber State
Tya Seth, Portland State
Honorable Mention
Timbre Shehee, Northern Colorado
Nattavadee Khunsri, Idaho
Lorel Hayward, Northern Arizona
Sofia Fuenmayor, Weber State
Kameryn Basye, Montana State
