The Dalton State women’s golf team closed out the NAIA Championships Fall Preview Tuesday by shooting a team total of 315 at the 6,010 yard, par 72 course at Savannah Quarters Country Club. Tuesday’s round was ten strokes better than Monday.
The Lady Roadrunners (325-315=640) finished fifth out of the 16 teams in the field. Erika Wardzinski (78-74=152) was low scorer for Dalton State. Julia McQuilken was the team’s first round leader with a 75, but she had to withdraw Tuesday due to illness.
Two freshmen had the next DS scores. Caroline Griffin (76- 77= 153) and Taylor Marie Griner (86- 88=174) were followed by sophomore Rachel Rebne (96-86=182).
Northwood University (296-309=605) of West Palm Beach, FL was the tournament winner and the Seahawk’s Elsa Westin (69-72=138) was the medalist. The hosts from SCAD Atlanta were only a stroke out of first (304-302=606). Indiana Tech (314-320=634) finished third and Embry-Riddle from Daytona Beach, FL (314-324=638) was only two strokes ahead of Dalton State.
“It has been a great fall,” said Coach Jim McGrew. “Our goal was to let people know that we had a women’s golf program at Dalton State and we have definitely been put on the map. It was a great tournament for us to finish fifth in this field. Erika and Caroline both had a great two days. We are really proud of the entire team for what we have been able to accomplish.”
Belleview University (322-319=641) and Wayland Baptist (314-327=641) tied for sixth, just one stroke back of the Lady Roadrunners. Southeastern University (FL) (322-329=651) finished eighth. William Penn University (IA) (323-337=660) was ninth. Tenth place belongs to Indiana’s Marian University (330-332=664). SCAD Savannah’s B-Team (335-334=669) finished 11th.
Kentucky’s Lindsey Wilson College (334-345=679) and Iowa’s Grand View University (344-335=679) ended up tied at 12th. College of Coastal Georgia (337-350=687) and Johnson & Wales (FL) (349-338=687) tied for 14th. Brenau University from Gainesville, GA (357-357=714) finished 16th.
The NAIA National Championship will be held next spring at Savannah Quarters. The Fall Preview ends the fall portion of the Lady Roadrunners schedule. The next competition will be on February 7th when they travel to Athens to play in the Lady Bulldogs Individual Championships at the University of Georgia course.