Women’s Golf Wins Season Opening Tournament Hosted by Gonzaga

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Northern Arizona University women’s golf team shot a 296 in the final round to hold off Montana and host Gonzaga and claim the team title at the Bulldog and Eagle Invitational. The Lumberjacks posted a school-record score of 900 to win by six strokes over the Grizzlies at the Hangman Valley Golf Course.

“I am proud of the team,” said Head Coach Brad Bedortha. “We played very consistent today and played very well.”

The three-day total broke the school record of 901 set at the Mountain View Collegiate in 2006-07.It was also the 24th team tournament title in school history and just the third season-opening tournament win. The Lumberjacks also opened a season with a win in both 1998 and 2008.

Junior Bethany Leclair led the Lumberjacks with an even-par 72 in the third round to finish fourth overall, five strokes off the first place total and one stroke back of a tie for second. The three-day total of 222 tied her collegiate best set twice previously at the 2007 Big Sky Conference Championships and 2009 Wyoming Cowgirl Classic. The round of 72 tied for her second-best collegiate effort equaled two previous times.

Junior Alexa Kim tied for fifth place two shots back at 224 after a two-over par 74. Senior Megan Buck tied for 12th after a 75. True freshman Stephanie Kim tied for 16th overall at 229 after a tournament-best three-over par 75. Classmate Aleah Kim was one shot back at 230 in 18th-place overall with a four-over par 76.

Overall, NAU placed all five of its players among the top 20 in the field.

Gonzaga true freshman Victoria Fallgren shot a school-record 67 to claim the individual title. Montana’s Carissa Simmons and Gonzaga’s Sage Suffecool tied for second.

“The team is very excited to win,” said Bedortha. “It was great to win but it good to know the competition was good and we had to fight to win it. Going into our home tournament, they feel great.”

The Lumberjacks will play host to the NAU Mountain Shootout Sept. 21-22 at Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club next week.

Bulldog and Eagle Invitational
Hangman Valley GC
Spokane, Wash.

Team Results
1. Northern Arizona 307-297-296 900
2. Montana 310-302-294 906
3. Gonzaga 308-308-297 913
4. CSU-Northridge 313-301-307 921
5. UC-Riverside 316-319-297 932
6. Portland 321-307-307 935
7. Southern Utah 312-311-314 937
8. McNeese State 317-319-316 952
9. Montana State 326-313-314 953
10. Seattle 314-325-315 954
11. British Columbia 319-330-314 963
12. Eastern Washington 328-326-318 972
13. Utah Valley 332-325-318 975
14. Idaho State 329-347-332 1008

Individual Results (Top 20)
1. Victoria Fallgren, Gonzaga 75-75-67 217
2. Carissa Simmons, Montana 74-74-73 221
2. Sage Suffecool, Gonzaga 70-74-77 221
4. Bethany Leclair, NAU 74-76-72 222
5. Melissa Hultstrand, Montana St. 79-72-73 224
5. Alexa Kim, NAU 80-70-74 224
5. Lauren Howell, Montana 77-75-72 224
8. Vanessa Leon, Brit. Col. 76-73-77 226
9. Alexandra Erdman, UC-Riverside 77-76-74 227
9. Maurissa Medina, CSUN 78-74-75 227
9. *Genavive Dodge, Gonzaga 81-73-73 227
12. Avery Collura, Portland 77-79-72 228
12. Amelia Ek, UC-Riverside 78-77-73 228
12. Megan Buck, NAU 76-77-75 228
12. *Jacqueline Olson, Montana 76-76-76 228
16. Sadie Palmer, So. Utah 77-74-78 229
16. Stephanie Kim, NAU 77-77-75 229
18. Aleah Kim, NAU 80-74-76 230
19. McKennon O'Rourke, Portland 81-76-74 231
19. Kacy Buckner, So. Utah 79-76-76 231
19. Olivia Weber, Montana 79-74-78 231
19. Ashlee Nagamine, CSUN 79-75-77 231