Women’s Golf Preview: Lumberjacks Host Red Rocks Invite
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Defending Big
Sky Conference women’s golf champion Northern Arizona is the
coaches’ top pick in the 2010 preseason poll. They start
preparation for their defense of the conference title this weekend,
hosting the Red Rocks Invitational at Oak Creek Country Club in
Sedona.
“The expectations are definitely higher,” said Head
Coach Brad Bedortha. “I don’t think they hope to win a
conference championship. They expect to win a conference
championship”
Northern Arizona captured its sixth Big Sky championship with a
six-shot victory over Sacramento State last April in Chandler,
Ariz. The Lumberjacks enjoyed a solid 2009 spring campaign, winning
three of five tournaments, and finishing second at another.
The Lumberjacks continued to post strong play this fall, winning
three consecutive tournaments to start the season. NAU averaged
301.7 strokes per round during the fall.
“We have two things playing on our side,” said
Bedortha. “One, we have a ton of experience. With the
exception of Ali Carter, who graduated, we have four of the five
players from the conference championship last year. They got a lot
of experience in the fall and will get more this spring. And we
also have depth. We also have eight players that are very solid
that are pushing one another for starting positions.”
The loss of Carter will be felt. She was a four-time All-Big Sky
Conference selection, including first team honors in 2006, 2007 and
2009 and posted a 77.1 stroke average over 92 rounds in 36 events,
the second-best scoring average in school history. Overall, she
recorded 15 top-20 and nine top-10 finishes in her career.
Junior Alexa Kim, who tied the school single-round school record
with a 69 at the Grand Canyon Fall Invitational this fall, led the
Lumberjacks at the 2009 Big Sky Championships with her second-place
finish. She has posted a team-best 75.1 stroke average this
fall.
Seniors Megan Buck and Meghan Bremer have also been among the team
leaders. Bremer posted two top-10 finishes this fall, recording her
top two collegiate rounds in the process. Buck, who also carded a
collegiate-best at the Grand Canyon Invitational, has played in 33
career tournaments over the last four seasons. Senior Lauren
Halstead looks to cap her career with a strong final spring
season.
Juniors Dakin Banta, who is coming off shoulder surgery, and
Bethany Leclair will contend for a playing spot in the spring,
adding more experience to the lineup. Both have been All-Big Sky
performers in the past.
Freshmen Stephanie Kim and Aleah Kim have both shown the ability
to have an impact in their first collegiate semester. Stephanie Kim
was the top finisher on the team two times and won the Grand Canyon
Invitational in her third collegiate start.
“Our goal is to play well every tournament,” said
Bedortha. “We have some tournaments spread out over the
course of the spring. The biggest thing is having them playing and
competing as much as we can.”
NAU will open the spring by hosting the Red Rocks Invitational in
Sedona, Ariz.
“We will see a lot of good teams,” said Bedortha.
“I think we will be battle-tested by the time the conference
tournament comes around.”
Based on the fall results that produced five of the top 15 team
rounds in school history, the coaches pick looks like a strong
favorite.
“We have proved at times we can be very good but I am
cautiously optimistic,” said Bedortha. “When you look
at our roster from top to bottom there have been a lot of good
scores. It is going to be interesting to see who is going to step
up and take over. We are going to see who wants to play Lumberjack
golf.”
Saturday will be a shot gun start at 1 p.m., while Sunday will
start at 8 a.m. with a shot gun start with 18 holes played each
day. The field for the 2010 Red Rocks Invitational will include 18
teams – host Northern Arizona, Cal Poly, CS-Bakersfield,
Eastern Michigan, Grand Canyon, Louisiana Monroe, Montana, Montana
State, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, Portland, South
Carolina Upstate, Southern Utah, UC-Riverside, Utah Valley, Western
Michigan, Western New Mexico and Xavier.
Four teams return for a fifth consecutive season to the event,
including Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Western
Michigan.
Last year junior Megan Buck finished tied for second with a
seven-over par 151 as the top finisher for the Northern Arizona.
Buck carded a three-over par 75 in the final round to finish in a
three-way tie with a pair of Michigan teammates, Ashley Bauer and
Lydia Benitez. Montana State’s Kelly Gillum won the
individual title with a four-over par 148 helped by a one-over par
73 in the final round. NAU finished fourth overall at 629, three
strokes behind third-place finisher Winthrop. Oral Roberts was
second at 622. Michigan won the team title with a 33-over par 609.
The Lumberjacks were led by sophomore Alexa Kim, who finished sixth
overall at 153 after a seven-over par 79 in the final round. Senior
Ali Carter posted the low round for the Lumberjacks in the playing
lineup with a 77 to finish in a tie for 13th.
