MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Propelled by a tournament-low 1-under par 68 by Levi Nix, No. 11-ranked Dalton State (Ga.) holds the 18-hole lead at the SSAC Men's Golf Championship, presented by Newk's Eatery.
The 54-hole championship is being contested at the par-70, 6,439 yard Montgomery Country Club in Montgomery, Ala.
Teammate Sean Elliott joined Nix in the red with a 1-under par 69, while Chase Jones (+2, 72) and Anthony D'Angelo (+2, 72) rounded out the Dalton State scoring four for a first round total of 1-over par 281.
“We got off to the start we needed,” said Roadrunner Coach Ben Rickett. “All five guys did what I know they are capable of doing. It’s only the first round and I know we need to keep our foot on the gas. The two teams chasing us are good and we can’t take the lead for granted. I was most proud of the focus the guys came in with. They know the task ahead and what is at stake and they responded.”
Defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Coastal Georgia trails the Roadrunners by one stroke at two-over par 282.
Alastair Tidcombe carded the third and final under-par round of the opening 18 at 1-under par 69 to lead the Mariners, while teammate Trevor Smith was one-of-four golfers to shoot even par 70. Allen Bradford, who shot 1-over 71, and Hunter Cornelius, who carded a 2-over 72, rounded out the scoring four for Coastal Georgia.
Led by a trio of even-par 70's from Zach Day, Josh Moss & Josh Ball, No. 15-ranked Mobile (Ala.) sits three shots back of the Roadrunners at 4-over par 284.
Defending SSAC champion and No. 19-ranked Faulkner (Ala.) rounds out the top foursome—and will continue to play with the leaders in the second round—after carding a 19-over par 299 as a team. Ray Gordon, who shot 2-over 72, recorded the low round for the Eagles on Monday.
Belhaven (Miss.) (+22, 302), William Carey (Miss.) (+24, 304), Bethel (Tenn.) (+29, 309), Brewton-Parker (Ga.) (+31, 311), Loyola (La.) (+35, 315), Martin Methodist (Tenn.) (+37, 317) and Blue Mountain (Miss.) (+44, 324) round out the 11-team field.