FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 17, 2026) - Head women's golf coach Brad Bedortha has announced the addition of three new Lumberjacks who will arrive in Flagstaff for the Fall 2026 season.
"I'm very excited for this recruiting class to be signing," Bedortha said. "Knowing that we are losing two key players, Lizzie and Nina, we are bringing in three new players to continue our program's success. Our program is going in a great direction, and I am confident that these players will help us continue on this path."
Sofia Blanco - Fr. | Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Sofia Blanco joins the program from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. She is currently ranked 319th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). At just 17 years old, Blanco has already built an impressive competitive record across South America.
Her career is highlighted by a first-place finish at the 2025 XXIV Enrique Santos Córdoba Cup in Ecuador and a gold medal in mixed teams at the 2024 South American Junior Golf Championship in Paraguay. A consistent presence on the international stage, she made history at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile as the event's youngest competitor, facing off against professional athletes.
Blanco's rising career includes multiple national titles, such as first-place finishes at the Argentine National Junior Championship in Córdoba and the National Pre-Junior and Junior Championship of Uruguay. Additionally, she earned a silver medal at the 2023 South American Junior Championship in Cochabamba and a bronze medal with the women's team at the 2021 South American Pre-Junior Championship in Ecuador. Her standing as one of the region's elite amateur players is further cemented by her participation in the Women's Amateur Latin American Championship in both 2023 and 2024.
Blanco chose NAU for the campus and the community, noting that Coach Bedortha is highly observant and supportive. She believes NAU is a place where she can grow as both a student and an athlete and is looking forward to finding a second home in Flagstaff.
"Sofia will be a great addition to our program, coming in with a very high WAGR," Bedortha said. "She was our first commitment for this class after visiting campus last fall. I learned about her through a recruiting agency, and we had great communication throughout the process. She has played in a ton of international events representing Bolivia and has done some wonderful things so far in her career. I can't wait to see her perform as a Lumberjack."
Martyna Muchajer - Fr. | Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland
Hailing from Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland, Martyna Muchajer comes to NAU as the 2025 Polish Champion of Professionals and Amateurs. She also earned first place in the European Team Shield.
The most memorable moment in her athletic career so far was competing in the Junior World Championship in Canada, where she gained valuable international experience. Muchajer chose NAU because of the strength of the program, the location, and her strong rapport with the coaching staff.
"Our next commitment, Martyna, also has a wealth of international competition experience as a member of the Polish National Team since 2020," said Bedortha. "I believe her personality will fit in very well with our 'JACKS' culture, and she will be a huge asset to our program."
Kristyna Malinova - Fr. | Prague, Czech Republic
Kristyna Malinova joins the Lumberjacks from Prague, Czech Republic, having reached a career-high WAGR ranking of 655th.
She was named the Czech Best Junior in 2024 after winning the Czech International Girls Championship and leading her team to a Czech National Team Girls Championship title. In 2025, she repeated as champion at the Czech International Girls Championship and won the 2025 Czech International Match Play tournament.
Malinova also competed in the Czech Extraleague, where her team finished as runners-up, and represented Team Czech Republic at the European Girls Team Championship, where they placed eighth. She chose NAU because of her love for nature, the size and location of Flagstaff, and Coach Bedortha's coaching philosophy.
"Our final recruit for the 2026 class is Kristyna, who has been a member of the Czech Republic National Team and has performed wonderfully so far," Bedortha said. "Also coming in with a high WAGR ranking, I am excited to see her compete as a Lumberjack and look forward to having her on the team."
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