Howey-In-The Hills, Fl. – The Dalton State men’s golf team got off to a slow start again this week, but rebounded in round two to finish the first day of the 54-hole NAIA/Golfweek Spring Invitational tied for fifth place.
The tournament, with many of the best teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, is being played at the par 72, 6,762 yards El Campeon Course at Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort near Orlando.
“We got off to a very slow start and again managed to put ourselves behind the eight ball after round one,” said Dalton State Coach Ben Rickett. “We put together a good afternoon round. That has put us in a nicer position for Monday. It’s very important that we finish off this tournament the right way before we head to conference next week.”
The Roadrunners (307-293 = 600) are 18 strokes in back of defending NAIA national champions Coastal Georgia (291-291 = 582). No. 1 ranked Oklahoma City (286-302 = 588) is currently in second place.
No. 11 ranked Grand View (IA) (303-293 = 596) is currently in third place. There is a bottleneck in the middle of the field. No. 14 Webber International (FL) (295-304 = 599) is one stroke ahead of Dalton State and Southeastern University (FL) (304-296 = 600).
No. 9 USC Beaufort (308-293 = 601) is seventh. No, 7 Johnson and Wales (FL) (295-307 = 602) is currently 8th. SCAD-Savannah (293-311 = 604) is in ninth after the first 36 holes.
No. 13 Northwood University (FL) (303-308 = 611) is tenth followed by St. Ambrose (312-303 = 615), Mount Mercy University (308-308 = 616), Johnson & Wales (FL) – B (311-310 = 621) and Warner University (FL) 304-319 = 623).
There are 72 golfers participating in the event. Dalton State’s Levi Nix (72-74 = 146) is tied for fifth as an individual. Sean Elliott (75-73 = 148) is tied for 18th. Chase Jones (80-72 = 152) is tied for 33rd). Maximillian Bruck (80-74 = 154) is tied for 42nd. Anthony D’Angelo (82-77 = 159) is tied for 59th.
The tournament concludes with 18 holes on Monday. Dalton State and Coastal Georgia will see each other in the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament at Montgomery Golf and Country Club.