Dalton State women's golfer Taylor Marie Griner
Kansas City, Mo. (First Round | Second Round) When the Dalton State women tee it up in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championship Tournament on Tuesday, May 12, they will have a first-hand look at two-time defending national champions Oklahoma City. The Roadrunners are the only team from the Southern States Athletic Conference competing in the four-day event, May 12-15 at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Ga.
Coach Jim McGrew is happy with the first and second round pairings. The Roadrunners will begin the tournament with early morning tee times. They are paired with the defending champion Stars and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), hitting the course Tuesday on No. 10 at 8:20 a.m. The teams will tee off on the first hole Wednesday at 1:50 p.m.
“We wanted a morning tee time on the first day, even though you never know how the weather will turn out,” said McGrew. “We like the idea of getting up early and getting the first round under your belt. We are excited to be paired with Oklahoma City. You have a tendency to play to the ability of the teams you are playing with. We are just excited to represent Dalton State and whatever times you are given you just have to show up and produce good numbers. Having our name in the hat is a tremendous honor and we look forward to a fun week.”
The Roadrunners earned the national championship spot with the 21 stroke victory in the SSAC Championship in Montgomery. Caroline Griffin (75-69 = 144), the Southern States Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, was medalist in the conference victory. Teammate Julia McQuilken (74-71 = 145) was only one stroke behind. Erika Wardzinski (73-83 = 156), Rachel Rebne (75-81 = 156) and Taylor Marie Griner (82-81 = 163) each made solid contributions in Montgomery.
Two Individuals from SSAC teams will also be playing. The 144-player field consists of 19 automatic qualifying teams, which won their respective conference, Association of Independent Institutions or unaffiliated grouping tournament titles, eight at-large selections, and 10 individual golfers. At-large teams were determined using the final regular season Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
The field includes eight teams that finished among the top 10 at last year’s national championships. In 2014, Oklahoma City needed a one-hole playoff to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since 2009. Last year’s team championship was the seventh all-time for the Stars in the 20-year history of the event.
The Sooner Athletic Conference champions are led by three All-SAC award winners in Kailey Campbell, Claudia Chemin and Katie-Lee Wilson. Chemin was the top finisher for the Stars at the SAC championships, taking third-place with a score of 78-73—151. Campbell and Wilson, who are both returning All-Americans, tied for sixth at the event.
The other returning top 10 teams are: Bellevue (Neb.), British Columbia, Cumberlands (Ky.), Indiana Tech, Northwood (Fla.), SCAD Savannah (Ga.) and William Woods (Mo.).
Two qualifying programs outside of Oklahoma City have claimed at least one national championship – British Columbia (4) and Northwood (Fla.) (1).
The Sun Conference – Embry-Riddle (Fla.), Northwood, SCAD Savannah and USC Beaufort (S.C.) – and Association of Independent Institutions – British Columbia, Cal State San Marcos, Houston-Victoria (Texas) and Victoria (B.C.) – lead all leagues with four teams each represented in the field.
The 10 individual qualifiers include six automatic berths and four at-large selections. To receive an individual automatic berth, a player must win her respective conference tournament or be an All-Tournament Team honoree from the previous year’s national championships that did not qualify otherwise.
The five automatic berths were to individual titlists Jocelyn Ojala of Bethel (Ind.), Kamie Rash of Kansas Wesleyan, Kathryn Lawler of Midway (Ky.), Kyla Clancy of Rocky Mountain (Mont.) and Krystal Garritson of St. Francis (Ill.). Sarah Gillard of Coastal Georgia, an all-tournament award winner a season ago after finishing tied for eighth-place, claimed the sixth individual automatic berth.
Heather Nail of Mobile (Ala.), Paige Hartman of St. Andrews (N.C.) Jodi Henley of Thomas (Ga.) and Cassidy Scantland of the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) were selected by the national championship tournament committee as the at-large individuals to fill out the field of 144.
The tournament field will be cut after the first 54 holes and reduced to the top 17 teams and 40 individuals including ties.