Flagstaff, Arizona, August 5, 2025
News Summary
The Northern Arizona University women’s golf team has announced their comprehensive tournament schedule for the upcoming season. The Lumberjacks will participate in nine tournaments, beginning with the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque and culminating with the Big Sky Conference Championship in Arizona. Highlights include the Clash at Boulder Creek and the Red Rocks Invitational, both hosted by NAU, along with several exciting competitions throughout the fall and spring semesters. Coach Brad Bedortha expresses optimism about the team’s potential for growth and player development.
Flagstaff, Arizona – The Northern Arizona University (NAU) women’s golf team, led by head coach Brad Bedortha, has officially announced their full tournament schedule for the 2025-26 season. The Lumberjacks will compete in a total of nine regular-season tournaments throughout the fall and spring semesters, culminating in the Big Sky Conference Championship in April 2025.
The season opener is set for September 8-9 at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico at the UNM Championship Course in Albuquerque. Following this event, the Lumberjacks will head to Vail, Colorado, for the Golfweek Red Sky Classic from September 22-24, competing on the Fazio Course.
October promises to be an exciting month, with notable events including the Golf Iconic Classic hosted by New Mexico State from October 13-15 at the NMSU Golf Course in Las Cruces. Additionally, NAU will host their own tournament, the fifth annual Clash at Boulder Creek, on October 27-28 at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. Last year, the Lumberjacks set records at The Clash, achieving their best-ever scores of -21 for an 18-hole round and -27 for a 54-hole score.
The spring season will feature multiple competitive tournaments, with highlights such as the Alice and John Wallace Women’s Golf Classic hosted by Long Beach State from February 14-16 at the Monterey Country Club in Palm Desert, California. NAU will also participate in the Lady Luck Invitational hosted by UNLV on March 2-3 at Las Vegas Country Club for the first time in this event’s history. Later in March, the team will host the 20th annual Red Rocks Invitational from March 13-15 at Oakcreek Country Club in Sedona, along with competing in the PING ASU Invitational from March 23-25 at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, where the Lumberjacks placed 10th last year in a strong field of participants. The spring schedule concludes with the Chevron Silverado Showdown co-hosted by Oregon and Colorado from April 6-8 at Silverado North Course in Napa, California, marking another new addition to their itinerary.
The key highlight of the season will be the Big Sky Conference Championship, taking place from April 20-22 at the Wigwam Blue Course in Litchfield Park, Arizona. The NAU women’s golf team previously secured the team title in 2022 and saw Lizzie Neale claim the individual title in 2024 with a remarkable final-round score of 64 (-7), setting both program and Big Sky Championship records. In last year’s conference tournament, Amy Hodgkins finished third and earned All-Tournament team honors.
Coach Bedortha has voiced his excitement regarding the upcoming schedule, emphasizing the potential for player development through these competitive opportunities. Three All-Big Sky golfers return to the lineup this season: Amy Hodgkins, Lizzie Neale, and Frankie Dezis. Joining them are returning players including senior Nina Lukyanenko, Ava Bates, and Sumin Kang, as well as true freshman Galfira Pomazkova who will be making her debut with the Lumberjacks.
Key Tournaments for NAU Women’s Golf 2025-26
- Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational: September 8-9, UNM Championship Course, Albuquerque, NM
- Golfweek Red Sky Classic: September 22-24, Fazio Course, Vail, CO
- Golf Iconic Classic: October 13-15, NMSU Golf Course, Las Cruces, NM
- Clash at Boulder Creek: October 27-28, Boulder Creek Golf Club, Boulder City, NV
- Alice and John Wallace Women’s Golf Classic: February 14-16, Monterey Country Club, Palm Desert, CA
- Lady Luck Invitational: March 2-3, Las Vegas Country Club, Las Vegas, NV
- Red Rocks Invitational: March 13-15, Oakcreek Country Club, Sedona, AZ
- PING ASU Invitational: March 23-25, Papago Golf Course, Phoenix, AZ
- Cihveron Silverado Showdown: April 6-8, Silverado North Course, Napa, CA
- Big Sky Conference Championship: April 20-22, Wigwam Blue Course, Litchfield Park, AZ
Returning Players
- Amy Hodgkins
- Lizzie Neale
- Frankie Dezis
- Nina Lukyanenko
- Ava Bates
- Sumin Kang
- Galfira Pomazkova (true freshman)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does the NAU women’s golf season start and end?
The season opens on September 8-9 and concludes with the Big Sky Conference Championship, held from April 20-22.
2. Where will the home tournaments be held?
The two home tournaments are The Clash at Boulder Creek in October and the Red Rocks Invitational in March, both hosted by NAU.
3. How many tournaments will the Lumberjacks compete in this season?
The NAU women’s golf team will participate in a total of nine tournaments throughout the fall and spring semesters.
4. Who are some of the standout returning players?
Standout returning players include Amy Hodgkins, Lizzie Neale, and Frankie Dezis, alongside senior Nina Lukyanenko, Ava Bates, and Sumin Kang.
Summary of Key Features
| Feature | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational | Sept 8-9 | Albuquerque, NM |
| Golfweek Red Sky Classic | Sept 22-24 | Vail, CO |
| Golf Iconic Classic | Oct 13-15 | Las Cruces, NM |
| Clash at Boulder Creek | Oct 27-28 | Boulder City, NV |
| Alice and John Wallace Women’s Golf Classic | Feb 14-16 | Palm Desert, CA |
| Lady Luck Invitational | Mar 2-3 | Las Vegas, NV |
| Red Rocks Invitational | Mar 13-15 | Sedona, AZ |
| PING ASU Invitational | Mar 23-25 | Phoenix, AZ |
| Cihveron Silverado Showdown | Apr 6-8 | Napa, CA |
| Big Sky Conference Championship | Apr 20-22 | Litchfield Park, AZ |
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Additional Resources
- Sun Devils: Women’s Golf Opens Spring with Match in the Desert
- Epson Tour: Dana Fall Returns Home
- Elon Phoenix: Women’s Golf Moves Up the Leaderboard
- Golf.com: Inside Look at the Growth of Women’s Golf
- UTA Mavs: Women’s Golf Begins Spring Slate
- Wikipedia: Women’s Golf
- Google Search: Women’s Golf Schedule 2025
- Google Scholar: Women’s Golf
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Women’s Golf
- Google News: Women’s Golf
