Lumberjacks Crowned Red Rocks Invitational Co-Champions

FINAL RESULTS

SEDONA, Ariz. (March 17, 2024) – Saving its best round for last, the Northern Arizona University golf team played host to the Red Rocks Invitational at the Oak Creek Country Club (par-72, 6,200 yards for rounds one and two, 6,065 yards for round three) in Sedona, Ariz., where it was crowned co-champions along with Seattle U.
 
The Lumberjacks tied for first after shooting an 881 (+17) through 54 holes. NAU shot a 295 (+7) in round one and a 296 (+8) in round two before shooting a 290 (+2) for its best round of the weekend today. Northern Arizona's round this afternoon was the best round out of all 20 teams in the field.
 
This marks the second victory of the Spring for the 'Jacks, who also won the Mountain Classic Match Play back in mid-February. It is the fifth time NAU has won its home tournament and the first time since 2015.
 
NAU played host to six other Big Sky Conference schools, placing ahead of Weber State, Idaho, Northern Colorado, Montana, Montana State and Eastern Washington. Northern Illinois' Emily Romancew won the tournament after shooting a 213 (-3).
 
The day began with the conclusion of the second round, which was suspended yesterday due to darkness.
 
"It was emotional day. With the weather we had on Friday and not knowing what was going to happen with the practice round and our College AM, my stress level was high just trying to be the tournament host," said head coach Brad Bedortha. "We came out yesterday and the weather was fine, we just played okay, but we didn't putt great. I thought if we just cleaned up a few things, we're not that far away. Today, I knew that Lizzie and Ellena had started off well and I thought Ekaterina was playing well. I knew that Lorel and Amy were struggling a little bit, but all of a sudden, those two started playing better. It all fell together. In the live scoring, a few of Lizzie's scores were wrong, which ultimately changed the outcome. All our players worked incredibly hard and I'm super proud of them. We played really bad at Grand Canyon, but to come back and play for the win was very rewarding."
 
Lizzie Neale led the Lumberjacks with a third-place finish after shooting a 215 (-1). The sophomore shot a 71 (-1) in the first two rounds before concluding with a 73 (+1) in the third round. It marked the second top-five finish of Neale's career and she now has shot par or better in 11 rounds this season and 22 times in her career. She had 12 birdies on the weekend, including four in the last round.
 
Fellow sophomore Ellena Slater also brought home a top-ten finish, finishing tied for eighth after shooting a 217 (+1). Slater shot a 72 (E) in round two and a 73 (+1) in the second before concluding with a 72 (E) in the third and final round after earning four birdies. She now has 10 rounds at par or better this season.
 
After shooting a 75 (+3) and a 79 (+7) in the first two rounds, Ekaterina Malakhova finished strong today with a 71 (-1) in the third and final round. The senior finished tied for 38^th with 225 (+9) strokes with her fourth round at par or better this season. Additionally, Malakhova finished each hole of the final round at par or better except for one.
 
Both Lorel Hayward and Amy Hodgkins finished strong in their final rounds, making it around the course in 74 (+2) strokes. The two had identical scores in both the first and second rounds, shooting a 77 (+5) in round one and a 76 (+4) in round two. The pair finished tied for 51^st with 227 (+11) strokes.
 
Competing as individuals, Nina Lukyanenko finished tied for 74^th after shooting a 232 (+16) while Frankie Dezis was close behind with an 85^th place finish after shooting a 234 (+18).
 
Northern Arizona returns to action at the Fresno State Classic in Fresno, Calif., from March 25-26.
 
Individual Results
3. Lizzie Neale 71-71-73 = 215 (-1)
T8. Ellena Slater 72-73-72 = 217 (+1)
T38. Ekaterina Malakhova 75-79-71 = 225 (+9)
T51. Amy Hodgkins 77-76-74 = 227 (+11)
T51. Lorel Hayward 77-76-74 = 227 (+11)
T74. Nina Lukyanenko 77-76-79 = (+16) *
T85. Frankie Dezis 80-74-80 = 234 (+18) *
 
*Competing as an Individual