PALM DESERT, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2025) – Despite battling high winds and gusts up to 30 mph, the Northern Arizona women's golf team emerged victorious against St. Thomas, winning 3-0-2.
Leading the Lumberjacks was Lizzie Neale, who faced Isabelle Lynch. The Kiwi remained unfazed by the challenging conditions, carding 11 pars. She went 3-up through three holes before her only bogey on the fourth reduced her lead to 2-up. Neale then extended her advantage to 6-up through 12 holes and sealed the match with a birdie on the par-four 13th, winning 7&5.
Sumin Kang teed off second against Kathryn VanArragon, falling 7&6.
Amy Hodgkins played third against Emma Davies. Birdies on holes two and four put Hodgkins 1-up, but two holes later, she found herself 1-down. Four consecutive pars gave her a 2-up lead by the 10th hole. She then made back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 to go 4-up. Her opponent fought back, cutting the deficit to one by the 16th hole. Hodgkins held her ground with two closing pars, securing a 2-up victory on 18.
In the fourth match, Ava Bates faced Amelia Morton, with St. Thomas taking the point 4&3.
Ellena Slater took on Nicole Reineke in the fifth pairing. After an early birdie from her opponent, Slater found herself 2-down through three holes. By the fifth, she had leveled the match thanks to a birdie on the par-five fourth. A few dropped shots left Slater 3-down at the turn, but she battled back to even the score by the 15th. The next two holes were halved before a steady par on 18 secured a 1-up win for Slater.
Playing as an individual, Nina Lukyanenko faced Boise State's Macee Greenwood in a closely contested match. Lukyanenko kept it all-square through 12 holes before winning the 12th and 13th to take her first lead at 2-up. She dropped back to 1-up on 16 but maintained her lead through the final two holes to clinch a 1-up victory.
Also competing as an individual, Frankie Dezis played against Boise State's Emily Cadwell. The first three holes were halved before Dezis briefly went 1-up on the fourth. The match remained tight, with Cadwell going 1-up on the eighth before Dezis responded with a birdie on nine to even the score. They halved the next three holes before Dezis dropped a shot on the 13th, staying 1-down through 17. She fought to the end, making a clutch birdie on the par-five 18th to halve the match.
Tomorrow, the Lumberjacks will take on tournament hosts Boise State in the final. The first pairing will tee off at 11:18 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
