Dalton State Women Win 2017 SSAC Championship

Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Erik Simpson

The #5-ranked Dalton State Women's Golf team stepped up big in the final round of the Southern States Athletic Conference Championships being held at the Par-72, 5,736-yard Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery, AL. The Roadrunners (+35, 899) shot the round of the day, (+5, 293), to win the 2017 SSAC Championship. The Lady Birds edged 2nd place William Carey (+42, 297) by seven strokes in claiming the crown.

THE FINAL ROUND
All-American Katie Dalton fired a final round (-1, 71) towards a tournament total of (+7, 223) to lead the Roadrunners.

Dalton was the only player under par on the day. She opened with birdies on 2, 6, and 8 to make the turn at 3-under. Dalton would birdie 10 to push her score to 4-under on the day, but bogeys on 11, 14, and 15 would have her finish the back 9 at (+2, 38).

Tia Teiniketo was outstanding throughout the tournament leading wire-to-wire to claim individual medalist honors. Her card of (+1, 73) towards a tournament total of (+2, 218) gave her the title by one stroke over April Leonard of William Carey. Teiniketo started strong with birdies on 3 and 5, but dropped shots at 6 and 8 causing her to make the turn at even-par. She would find trouble on the back with bogeys at 12, 13, 14, and 16, but birdies at 10 and 15 would help her balance the card. Teiniketo would birdie 18 to win the championship.

Isabel Rijos carded a solid round of (+1, 73) towards a tournament total (+14, 230) to finish in the top 10 in 7th. Rijos opened with a bogey at 1, but sank a birdie on 3 to get back to even. A bogey at 4 was followed by a birdie at 8 to go out in (E, 36) on the front. She continued to move through the back, carding a single bogey on 13 for a (+1, 37) on her final nine.

Haejin Choe provided a solid (+4, 76) towards a tournament total of (+16, 232), good for a top 10 finish. Choe opened with a bogey on 1, but got the shot back with a birdie on 3. Bogeys on 5 and 9 had her making the turn at 2-over. A birdie at 10 looked like it would kick start a tremendous back 9, but bogeys at 11, 12, and 17 brought her in at (+2, 38).

All-American Caroline Griffin finished her championship with a solid round of (+7, 79) towards a tournament total of (+20, 236) and finishes in a tie for 15th. Griffin pared 1-4, but found trouble with a double-bogey on 5. Bogeys at 8 and 9 closed out her front 9 at (+4, 40). The back 9 would be solid with bogeys at 13, 15, and 16 for a (+3, 39) close.