Subscribe to RSSNAU golf struggles in Tucson, finishes last
By Shakina Washington
Some days are better the others, and the NAU women’s golf team had to learn the hard way at the UA hosted Wildcat Invitational. Despite a strong showing during the fall season, which included two top-ten finishes, the Jacks returned to the links for the first time this spring, shooting 975 over three days to fall to a last place finish in Tucson.
“It was probably the best tournament we played in,” said Brad Bedortha, head women’s golf coach. “There are some really good teams there; ASU, UA, UCLA and it was a good to see how those teams play and compete.”
Junior Stephanie Kim ended the contest 25 over par after shooting four, eight and 13 strokes over each day.
“It was a different course,” said junior Stephanie Kim. “I was having trouble with the captive and everything.”
Prior to the invitational, the Lumberjacks managed to finish 5th at the Cal Poly Lamkin Grip Women’s Invitational and 6th at the Cowgirl Desert Collegiate, with both tournaments being held in the Golden State.
“It was definitely a higher level of competition than we’re used to,” said freshman Laura Jabczenski, who was 32 over par at the conclusion of the contest.
NAU kicked off the tournament with sophomore Kaitlen Parsons, the 13th competitor to tee off. Parsons shot a 74 and two 79′s through the three day tournament, coming in 16 over par and finishing tied for 36th place.
The first day of the competition ended with UA taking first with a score of 285 and ASU not far behind in third, scoring 291 points. The Jacks settled into the 12th spot with a score of 318.
“We had a way to get the season rolling,” Bedortha said. “Unfortunately it didn’t roll the way we wanted to but it was definitely good to get back into.”
The Jacks were not able to keep their position in the rankings and slipped back to 14th place where they remained until the conclusion of the event.
NAU went on to gain nine more points in the second round giving them a score of 327 and by the third round they ended with 330. Their accumulative score for all three rounds was 975 points and they were 111 to par.
“I think we all struggled a little bit,” Kim said. “We have a lot to work and we look forward to our home tournament in a couple of weeks.”
