FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 13, 2026) - The Northern Arizona women's golf team will open the spring season this week, competing in the Alice and John Wallace Women's Classic, hosted by Long Beach State from Feb. 14-16.
The tournament will be held at Monterey Country Club in Palm Desert, Calif. The event will consist of three days of 18 holes, with each round beginning with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. MST.
Monterey Country Club is a private 27-hole facility designed by Ted Robinson, set on approximately 375 acres of rolling hills with views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The course features narrow, palm tree-lined fairways, well-bunkered greens, and several holes where water comes into play. The tournament will be played on the West/East combination.
The West course plays to a par of 36 at approximately 3,144 yards from the back tees and is the longest of the three nines. It stretches the scorecard with added yardage and incorporates elevation changes as holes move through natural washes, with water features coming into play more frequently. The layout rewards length and thoughtful tee placement, presenting compelling risk-reward scenarios, particularly on the par 5s and holes that climb or descend across varied terrain. Overall, it places a premium on power off the tee to stay competitive.
The East nine plays to a par of 35 at approximately 2,964 yards from the back tees and is the shortest of the three nines, featuring just one par 5. The layout shifts the emphasis from power to precision, with tighter fairways, challenging tee angles, and water hazards and bunkers frequently influencing strategy. It rewards a target-oriented approach, where accuracy and finesse take precedence over sheer distance.
The Lumberjacks found success in the fall, competing in four tournaments. In October, NAU surged to a second-place finish at the NMSU Golf Iconic Classic, shooting a team total of 7-under (857). The 'Jacks were the only team to shoot under par in the third and final round, despite tough weather conditions in Albuquerque, N.M. The tournament was highlighted by senior Nina Lukyanenko's career-best 67 (-5) in the opening round. She followed with consecutive even-par 72s to close out the event, finishing tied for fourth overall.
At the end of October, NAU hosted The Clash at Boulder Creek in Boulder City, Nev., and went on to claim the team title. The Lumberjacks shot a final round of 8-under-par, finishing at 24-under overall to win by four strokes. Senior Lizzie Neale led NAU with a solo third-place finish at 9-under, carding three consecutive rounds of 69 (-3). Amy Hodgkins followed closely with a 54-hole score of 8-under to tie for fourth. Lukyanenko posted the team's lowest round of the final day, firing a 4-under 68, just one stroke shy of her career low set at the previous tournament. Frankie Dezis also recorded a top-10 finish at 1-under. The 'Jacks look to carry that momentum into the spring as the Big Sky Conference Championship approaches in April.
Other teams competing include #2 USC, #10 Washington, #11 UCLA, #33 Eastern Michigan, #57 San Jose State, #58 California, #62 New Mexico, #63 NAU, #92 Boise State, #96 UC Riverside, #98 Denver, #101 Long Beach State, #127 GCU, #130 Hawaii, #165 Fresno State and #180 Vanderbilt.
At No. 63 in the Clippd National Rankings, it marks the highest ranking in program history for Northern Arizona.
The starting lineup consists of Neale, Dezis, Hodgkins, newcomer Lydia Lin, and Lukyanenko. Sumin Kang will compete as an individual.
Live scoring of the tournament will be available via Scoreboard powered by Clippd.
Stay up to date with the Northern Arizona women's golf team by following the 'Jacks on Instagram and X.
