photo by Justin Jarrett, USC Beaufort Sports Information Director
Okatie, SC – The beautiful Greg Norman designed Oldfield Golf Club course between Hilton Head and Beaufort proved to be a possible coming of age location for the young Dalton State men’s golf team.
Playing against a field that included four NAIA Top 25 teams, the Roadrunners blistered the 7,135 yards, par 72, course with a 290 on Tuesday. That was good for the second best round of the day behind tournament winner College of Coastal Georgia.
“I am extremely pleased with today’s round,” said Dalton State coach Ben Rickett. “It was a good team performance. We’re a young team and it was definitely a confidence builder.”
Roadrunner freshman Tobi Ebner recorded the tourney’s low single round score with a 68 on Tuesday. The native of Austria became a Dalton State student this semester and is wasting no time in making an impression.
Ebner ‘s Tuesday score and his two 75’s on Monday were good enough to earn him the number seven individual spot with a 218. He was only one stroke back of sixth place Hunter Cornelius (70, 78, 69 = 217) of the Mariners, two strokes away from a tie for fourth, and only five strokes from medalist contention.
“Tobi’s round was great,” said Rickett. “He was great all week, but he was more patient today than in the first two rounds.”
Number six College of Coastal Georgia captured the event with an 863. The Mariners’ Chase Miller (Sr., Dalton High) was tied for low score individually with teammate Dylan Freeman and with Matt Morin of first round leaders Johnson & Wales. A play-off earned Freeman medalist honors.
Number 16 University of South Carolina Beaufort finished the event 21 strokes back, but in second place. Number 14 Johnson & Wales was next, followed by number 22 Southeastern University of Lakeland, Fl.
Although they gained nine strokes on Southeastern, Dalton State stayed at number five.
1. College of Coastal Georgia 289 292 282 863
2. South Carolina Beaufort 296 297 291 884 (21)
3. Johnson & Wales (FL) 288 298 300 886 (23)
4. Southeastern University 293 296 299 888 (25)
5. Dalton State 305 302 290 897 (34)
6. South Carolina Beaufort - B 296 317 308 921 (58)
7. Spalding 312 311 302 925 (62)
8. St. Andrews Presbyterian 307 311 311 929 (66)
Dalton State players and scores are:
Tournament
Position Player Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Total
5 Tobi Ebner 75 75 68 218 (5)
T19 Chase Jones 77 75 71 225 (12)
T22 Levi Nix 77 75 75 227 (14)
26 Tyler Mitchell 78 75 76 229 (16)
31 Anthony D’Angelo 76 77 78 231 (18)