Golf Concludes Day One of GCU Invitational in 12th Place

Results

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 27, 2024) – Returning to the course for its first stroke play event of the year, the Northern Arizona University golf team ended the first day of the GCU Invitational in 12th place out of 21 teams. The Lumberjacks shot a 294 (+6) in the first round and a 297 (+9) in the second to end the day with 591 (+15) strokes through 36 holes as a team.
 
NAU is competing at the GCU Golf Course (par-72, 1,155 yards) and enter tomorrow just five strokes out of 11^th place behind Houston Christian. Among Big Sky Conference schools, the Lumberjacks trail third-place Montana State but are ahead of Idaho, Northern Colorado, and Eastern Washington.
 
Three Lumberjacks turned in rounds at par or better in the opening round, including two in the lineup. Lizzie Neale is tied for 19^th after shooting a 144 (E). The sophomore shot a 72 (E) in both rounds, turning in her ninth rounds at par or better this season and the 13^th of her career. True freshman Amy Hodgkins shot a 71 (-1) for her seventh round at par or better this season, collecting four birdies. After shooting a 74 (+2) in the second round to total 145 (E) strokes on the day, Hodgkins sits tied for 24th heading into tomorrow's third and final round.
 
Ekaterina Malakhova is competing as an individual. After shooting a 76 (+4) in the first round, she improved and shot a 69 (-3) for a 36-hole total of 145 (+1) strokes. Her second-round total and her 36-hole total are both season lows and her best scores since the 2021-22 season. The second round marked the senior's fourth career round in the sixties, and her first of the season, and her 19^th career round at par or better. She will enter the third round tied for 24^th.
 
Sophomore Ellena Slater is tied for 60th after shooting a 150 (+6) through two rounds. After recording a 76 (+4) in round one, she improved with a 74 (+2) in the second round. Also competing as an individual, true freshman Frankie Dezis shot a 71 (-1) in the first round for her seventh round at par or better this season. In round two, Dezis shot a 79 (+7) and tied for 60th place with a total of 150 (+6) strokes.  
 
Lorel Hayward shot a 75 (+3) in the opening round and a 77 (+5) in round two, totaling 152 (+8) strokes to place tied for 74th. Nina Lukyanenko shot an 80 (+8) in both rounds to end the day tied for 114^th with 160 (+16) strokes.
 
Northern Arizona will look to move up the leaderboard during the third and final round tomorrow (Feb. 28). A shotgun start is set for 8 a.m. Mountain Standard time with live scoring available on Golf Genius.
 
Individual Results
T19. Lizzie Neale 72-72= 144 (E)
T24 Amy Hodgkins 71-74=145 (+1)
*T24. Ekaterina Malakhova 76-69= 145 (+1)
*T60. Frankie Dezis 71-79= 150 (+6)
T60. Ellena Slater 76-74=150 (+6)
T74. Lorel Hayward 75-77=152 (+8)
T114. Nina Lukyanenko 80-80=160 (+16)
 
*Competing as an Individual