The Northern Arizona women's golf team was disqualified from the NCAA regionals due to having only three players available. Senior Lizzie Neale withdrew during the tournament, leaving the team short of the required four players.
Key points
Northern Arizona women's golf team disqualified from NCAA regionals
Team had only three players after Lizzie Neale's withdrawal
Neale withdrew due to a back injury
NAU qualified by winning the Big Sky Conference tournament
Disqualification happened on May 12
Mentioned in this story
Lizzie NealeBig Sky Conference
Northern Arizona LumberjacksNCAA Women's Regional
Northern Arizona golf team disqualified from NCAA Women's Regional
The Northern Arizona women's golf team was disqualified from the NCAA regionals on Tuesday, May 12, due to not having enough players.
Coach Brad Bedortha is taking the blame, but it’s not all his fault.
NAU earned an automatic qualifying spot after winning the Big Sky Conference tournament last month, but in its first NCAA postseason appearance in four years, the Lumberjacks are done early. Senior Lizzie Neale withdrew before the second round concluded on May 12, leaving NAU with only three players, one less than the required four. Neale has been dealing with a back injury all spring and playing through it, but she withdrew after nine holes.
She was in so much pain, she couldn’t feel one of her legs.
“She did everything she could for us,” Bedortha said.
Players are intoduced before the UCLA Bruins play the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA women's basketball national championship game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026.
The UCLA Bruins celebrate their 79-51 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks to claim the NCAA women's basketball national championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026.
Q&A
Why was the Northern Arizona women's golf team disqualified from the NCAA regionals?
The team was disqualified because they had only three players after senior Lizzie Neale withdrew during the tournament.
What caused Lizzie Neale to withdraw from the NCAA regional tournament?
Lizzie Neale withdrew due to a back injury that she had been managing throughout the spring season.
How did the Northern Arizona women's golf team qualify for the NCAA regionals?
The team earned an automatic qualifying spot by winning the Big Sky Conference tournament.
When did the disqualification of the Northern Arizona golf team occur?
The disqualification occurred on Tuesday, May 12, during the NCAA regionals.
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The program has eight players listed on its online roster, but only four of them went to Ridgewood Country Club in Waco, Texas. Several players left the team for different reasons, from dismissals to one player scheduling her wedding for Thursday, May 14, due to an issue Bedortha blames on himself. “I told the team the wrong dates and didn’t realize until too late.”
Neale, Amy Hodgkins, Frankie Dezis and Lydia Lin all traveled with the team to regionals. The four also competed in the Big Sky Championship, but senior Nina Lukyanenko, who finished T-10 at the conference tournament, was not with the team.
Lukyanenko, from Russia, scheduled her wedding this week under the assumption NCAA Regionals would be completed last week. By the time Bedortha realized his error, it was too late to change the date.
Northern Colorado, the Big Sky runner-up, would have replaced NAU in regionals if the Lumberjacks weren’t able to play, but NAU never wavered from competing with four players.
“It’s unfortunate,” Bedortha said. “Never in my wildest dreams would’ve imagined it. Been a crazy year, and this just tops it off.”
Hodgkins (T-15), Lin (T-39) and Dezis (50th) will be allowed to compete as individuals in the final round on May 13.
It's the second time a team has been DQ'd from NCAA Regionals. East Carolina was forced to DQ from the 2018 NCAA Austin Regional after three of its players were sick, leaving only two able to compete.
