Just one unexpected instance, and Northern Arizona’s postseason was effectively over before it began. The issue showed a case of insufficient team planning that arose when the roster was stretched to its limit.

Northern Arizona’s women’s golf team was disqualified from the 2026 NCAA Waco Regional for not having enough players to continue the team competition. As per the NCAA’s Player Substitution Policy for Division I golf, each team is allowed to bring an additional player to the regionals and finals. At any point before 10 minutes before a player’s starting time, a coach may substitute the additional player for any team member. Thus, even if someone withdraws due to injury, illness, or another reason, the team can continue.

The NAU team, however, failed to comply with the policy. Originally, the team started the regional with four golfers, including:

• Lizzie Neale (Senior; No. 170 nationally)
• Amy Hodgkins (Junior; No. 311)
• Frankie Dezis (Junior; No. 394)
• Lydia Lin (Freshman; No. 627)

During the second round, however, Neale withdrew. As per an exclusive from Golf Channel, Neale shot 77 in the opening round and was clearly struggling physically. Mid-round on the turn on Tuesday, however, she informed her coach that she couldn’t continue with the game any longer. With Neale out, the team needed a substitute, which it failed to provide, hence the disqualification.

The university head coach, Brad Bedortha, blamed himself for the oversight, as he mistakenly gave the wrong dates (May 1-6) for the regionals to the team. This is, of course, relevant because if not for the mistake, the team would have a substitute player. Missing the trip altogether was the star performer, Nina Lukyanenko. She couldn’t attend due to her own wedding, which is scheduled for Thursday in Arizona.

“It’s just been a comedy of errors that were extremely unfortunate,” Bedortha told Golf Channel via phone on Tuesday evening.  “This has just been a year that I could’ve never have imagined in my wildest dreams, and we’ve had the best team we’ve ever had. … Somehow it just hasn’t worked out. Thankfully, they can’t take the conference championship trophy away.”

There were other options as well. They carry an eight-player roster, but several players left the program for various reasons in the months leading up to the regional. One of them got married, and another was persuaded to return to keep the team viable. Of the three others missing, two were freshmen. This tightened the travel roster and left the team with no bench at the regional.

If Northern Arizona had not been able to field four players at the Big Sky Championship or had informed the league about the same, the automatic qualifier would have passed to Northern Colorado as runner‑up. They would have had a chance to compete as a team.

Bedrotha, however, considers himself to be at a mistake. He was, after all, voted Big Sky coach of the year. About the same, he says, “I got voted coach of the year, and I’m like, This just does not feel right. I should not be awarded this for what’s happened. I take full responsibility. I should’ve been a better leader in a lot of ways.”

But if it makes Bedrotha feel any better, the NCAA has seen a similar incident in 2018. Previously, East Carolina was knocked out of the 2018 NCAA Austin Regional for the same reason. Only two healthy golfers remained for the second round, as a virus‑like illness from contaminated course water coolers made them ill.

However, despite the grave mistake, Bedortha hasn’t lost hope for his team.

Brad Bedortha shares his vision for the team

“This has been easily the hardest year of my life coaching,” Brad Bedortha told Golf Channel. “If you would’ve told me 100 scenarios on what would’ve happened this year, not one of them would be this, ever, not in my wildest imagination.” Though he did count the mistakes, especially the disqualification, he also sounded hopeful. “I still believe that we can bounce back and have another great year.”

And the team, as they say, is promising enough. Northern Arizona notched three wins this season — including its 10th Big Sky crown — and climbed to No. 77 nationally, the highest mark in Bedortha’s 18 years with the Lumberjacks.

On the other hand, despite the qualification, the remaining three members still competed as individuals.

But in case the remaining members do not climb to the top of the leaderboard, and Northern Arizona’s season does wrap up on Wednesday, Bedortha says he’ll take a breather before wiping the proverbial dry‑erase board clean. He’s already inked three incoming freshmen to join three returners, and he plans to dip into the transfer portal once it opens later this month.

Here’s us wishing the team good luck.