ST. GEORGE, Utah (March 9, 2025) – The Northern Arizona women's golf team saved its best round for last, shooting five-under today to claim the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational title.
The Lumberjacks finished with a total of 871 strokes (+7) over three rounds, overtaking UC Riverside by two strokes.
"It's always great to win a golf tournament. It was a hard-fought victory today, and we had to go out and earn it," head coach Brad Bedortha said. "It was not given to us, and that makes it even better. I'm very proud of the team and how they handled themselves. It's our first time being at this tournament, and to get the victory is very special. Lizzie played tremendously and played her last few holes -3 to win! Ellena and Amy also stepped up huge today, and it was a real team effort from everyone. I'm so proud of everyone!"
Lizzie Neale was the individual tournament champion with a total of 213 (-3). In the third round, she opened the front nine at one-over, with birdies on the second and eighth holes. She started the back nine with four pars before birdieing three of her last six holes to card a final-round 70 (-2). Neale led the field in par-four scoring at 3.83 (-5) and ranked second in total birdies with 12.
Amy Hodgkins also fired a 70 (-2), picking up four birdies on the second, sixth, 10th, and 14th holes. Her under-par round helped her climb three spots on the leaderboard, finishing tied for fifth place. She was tied for fourth in par-four scoring with a 4.00 (E) average and tied for second on par-fives at 4.67 (-4). Her 10 birdies tied her for fourth overall.
Just one stroke behind was Ellena Slater, who posted the lowest round of the day for the Lumberjacks. Slater birdied hole seven, then made back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11, as well as on 15 and 16. Her 69 (-3) propelled her up 14 places on the leaderboard, securing a solo seventh-place finish at +2 overall. She ranked tied for seventh in par-five scoring with a 4.75 (-3) average and tied for second in total pars with 38.
Competing as an individual, Sumin Kang carded a 75 (+3), finishing her round with a birdie on her final hole (No. 14) and placing tied for 25th at +8 overall. Her 37 total pars ranked tied for fifth in the field.
Nina Lukyanenko maintained her 36th-place position with a 74 (+2), making a birdie on her first hole of the day, the par-four fourth. She finished the tournament at +11.
Frankie Dezis rounded out the lineup, finishing the day with an 80 (+8). She secured a birdie on the 316-yard, par-four eighth hole. Over the tournament, she led the field in total pars with 42.
Also competing as an individual, Ava Bates finished tied for 58th, closing with an 82 (+10). She recorded two birdies, on the seventh and 15th holes.
As a team, Northern Arizona led the field in par-four scoring with a 4.09 (+14) average.. They ranked third in both par-three scoring (3.20, +12) and par-five scoring (4.92, -5). The Lumberjacks topped the field in total pars with 183 and ranked fourth in total birdies with 38.
The Lumberjacks will return home this week to host the annual Red Rocks Invitational at Oak Creek Country Club in Sedona, Ariz., from March 14-16.
NAU Individual Scores
1 Lizzie Neale 72+71+70=213 (-3)
T5 Amy Hodgkins 74+73+70=217 (+1)
7 Ellena Slater 76+73+69=218 (+2)
T25 Sumin Kang 76+73+75=224 (+8)*
T36 Nina Lukyanenko 80+73+74=227 (+11)
T42 Frankie Dezis 77+72+80=229 (+13)
T58 Ava Bates 78+80+82=240 (+24)*
*Competing as individuals
Results
1 Northern Arizona +7
2 UC Riverside +9
3 Stetson +13
4 Montana State +14
5 Weber State +17
6 Utah Tech +25
7 CSU Bakersfield +38
T8 Wyoming +43
T8 Southern Utah +43
10 Utah Valley +53
11 Eastern Washington +74
12 Idaho State +95
