PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 26, 2025) – The Northern Arizona women's golf team concluded the final round of the Grand Canyon Invitational today, shooting 296 (+8) for a total score of 886 (+22). The performance moved them up one spot on the leaderboard to finish in fifth place.
"As the head coach, it's my responsibility to have our players ready to compete, and unfortunately, I did not have that right," head coach Brad Bedortha said. "We missed a lot of very short putts, made too many bogeys from the middle of the fairway with short irons in hand, and our course management was not very good - all of which are my responsibility to prepare them for. Although it was a tough event, we have a short week ahead and look forward to preparing for the Southern Utah tournament next week."
Junior Lizzie Neale started on hole four and put together a steady round, making 15 pars and picking up a birdie on the par-three eighth to finish at 73 (+1). Her total score of +4 placed her in a tie for 15th individually.
Fellow junior Ellena Slater teed off on hole five and chipped in for an eagle on the par-five seventh. She also recorded birdies on holes three, 10, 12, and 17, finishing with a 74 (+2). Slater's total of +5 put her in a tie for 20th.
Freshman Sumin Kang opened her round with back-to-back birdies on holes six and seven, adding additional birdies on hole 10 and her final hole, number five. She finished with a 75 (+3), tying for 25th at +7 overall.
Sophomore Frankie Dezis began on hole six and closed out her round with two birdies, shooting a 76 (+4). Her tournament total of +8 placed her in a tie for 28th.
Sophomore Amy Hodgkins, who started on hole seven, made seven consecutive pars. She carded birdies on holes 16, three, and her final hole, number six. Posting her lowest round of the tournament with a 74 (+2), Hodgkins finished tied for 33rd at +10 overall.
Competing as an individual, Nina Lukyanenko teed off on hole 15. She made 13 pars and picked up birdies on holes two and 13, finishing the tournament with rounds of 72, 73, and 73 for a total of +2. Her tie for 10th marked her best collegiate finish and first top-10 placement.
Also competing individually, freshman Ava Bates started on hole 16. She recorded 11 pars and a birdie on hole 10, finishing with a round of 77 (+5). Her total score of +11 placed her in a tie for 38th.
Tournament hosts Grand Canyon claimed the team title with a total score of 857 (-7), winning by 12 strokes. Individually, GCU's Calynne Rosholt and Montana State's Lauren Greeny tied at -6, with Greeny securing the trophy after a three-hole playoff.
Next, Northern Arizona will travel to Cedar City, Utah, for the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational, hosted by Southern Utah from March 7-9.
NAU Individual Scores
T10 Nina Lukyanenko 72+73+73=218 (+2)*
T15 Lizzie Neale 72+75+73=220 (+4)
T20 Ellena Slater 75+72+74=221 (+5)
T25 Sumin Kang 75+73+75=223 (+7)
T28 Frankie Dezis 74+74+76=224 (+8)
T33 Amy Hodgkins 77+75+74=226 (+10)
T38 Ava Bates 71+79+77=227 (+11)*
*competing as individuals
Full Results
1Â Grand Canyon -7
2 UC Irvine +5
3 Montana State +13
4 Findlay +18
5 Northern Arizona +22
6 UTEP +24
7 UC Riverside +36
8 Northern Colorado +40
9 Idaho +43
T10 Northern Illinois +46
T10 Houston Christian +46
12 Murray State +47
13 Bakersfield +57
