Northern Arizona Finishes Three-Under Par, Earns a Second-Place Finish at the Big Sky 54 for IX Invitational

FINAL RESULTS

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah – The Northern Arizona University golf team had a dominate performance in its second event of the Fall, finishing second at the Big Sky 54 for IX Tournament.
 
Four of the five golfers in the lineup finished the third round at par or better this afternoon and NAU had two golfers in Amy Hodgkins and Ellena Slater earn a top-five finish for All-Tournament honors. As a team, Northern Arizona shot an 861 (-3) to finish in second place out of the 14-team field behind the defending Big Sky Conference champions, Sacramento State.
 
The three-round total ranks second all-time in program history. It is just the second time that a Lumberjack team has finished three rounds under par, behind the 2022-23 squad that shot an 858 (-6) at the GCU Invitational last season.
 
Northern Arizona steadily improved, shooting a 289 (+1) and a 288 (-1) in rounds one and two before finishing strong with a 284 (-4) in round three. Yesterday's two round total ranks fifth all-time in program history, while today's third round total is tied for fourth.
 
In all, the Lumberjacks leave the tournament with eight new top-ten marks, five of which were individual, and seven individual rounds at par or better.
 
"We're really proud of how the team performed today. It was a good tournament, and we did some great things, and this will help us continue to improve," said head coach Brad Bedortha. "We can be a very competitive team, and I am excited for our future events. I'm very excited for both Amy and Ellena, they performed very well with their top-five finishes."
 
Hodgkins is a true freshman competing in her second collegiate event and she earned a third-place finish after shooting all three rounds at par or better. The Queensland, Australia native shot a 209 (-7) which is second all-time in program history. Hodgkins shot a 72 (E) today, and her two-round total from yesterday of 137 (-7) tied a program record. She shot a 69 (-3) in round one and a 68 (-4) in round two, and her second-round total is tied for sixth all-time.
 
Hodgkins competed in a close field, finishing just two strokes out of first place and two out of third. She earned two birdies and her first career eagle in today's round. After shooting a 71 (-1) in the third round of the Leadership and Golf Invitational last week, Hodgkins has now recorded four-straight rounds under par.
 
Slater competed as an individual, so her score did not count towards the team standings, but she still earned a new career low of 210 (-6) which is fourth all-time in program history. The sophomore tied for fourth overall after shooting a 70 (-2) with three birdies. Slater shot a 140 (-4) yesterday with a 71 (-1) and a 69 (-3) and now has 12 career rounds at par or better. Her two-round total is tied for sixth-best all-time.
 
Frankie Dezis, who is also a true freshman, ended the tournament tied for 12^th. Dezis shot a 70 (-2) today for a new 18-hole career low, besting the 71 (-1) she shot in yesterday's first round. She ended the tournament with a new 54-hole career low of 215 (-1) and now has two career rounds at par or better.
 
Lizzie Neale tied for 14^th after shooting a 216 (E). After shooting consecutive 73's (+1) yesterday, the sophomore finished strong with her 12^th career round under par with a 70 (-2) today.
 
Fifth-year Lorel Hayward also saved her best round for last. Hayward shot a 76 (+4) and a 73 (+1) yesterday and finished with a 72 (E) today to tie for 25^th with a 221 (+5) which is a season best. Her round today marked her best round of the season and her sixth career round at par or better.
 
Sophomore Nina Lukyanenko, who is also competing as an individual, tied for 42^nd with a 224 (+8) in her season debut. Senior Ekaterina Malakhova shot a 79 (+7) in both rounds yesterday and improved with a 77 (+5) today, tying for 73^rd after shooting a 235 (+19).
 
The Lumberjacks finished 14 strokes behind Sacramento State, but eight strokes ahead of third-place Montana State who they trailed after yesterday's action. Montana State's Scarlet Weidig-Velazquez won the individual title after shooting a 207 (-9).
 
Northern Arizona has a few weeks off before hitting the course again. The Lumberjacks will be back in action on Oct. 9-11 at the Golf Iconic Classic hosted by New Mexico State University at the NMSU Golf Club in Las Cruces, N.M.
 
Individual Results
3. Amy Hodgkins (69-68-72= 209 -7)
*T4. Ellena Slater (71-69-70= 210 -6)
T12. Frankie Dezis (71-74-70= 215 -1)
T14. Lizzie Neale (73-73-70= 216 E)
T25. Lorel Hayward (76-73-72= 221 +5)
*T42. Nina Lukyanenko (77-73-74= 224 +8)
T75. Ekaterina Malakhova (79-79-77= 235 +19)