Sean Elliott
Daytona Beach, Fla. – After falling behind in the first round of the 2015 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men’s Golf Tournament, members of the Roadrunner golf team are perfectly aware that “patience is a virtue.”
The four-day, 72-hole tournament continues through Friday at the par-72, 6,947 yards Hills Course at the LPGA International Golf Club. The Southern States Athletic Conference Champion Dalton State men carded a nine over par 297 on Tuesday.
The Roadrunners are part of three-way tie for 12th with Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Cardinal Stretch University (Wi.).
They are just two strokes behind a tie for ninth between British Columbia, South Carolina Beaufort and The Master’s College (295). There is also a three-way tie for sixth at 294 between Tennessee Wesleyan, Webber International (Fla.) and Cal State San Marcos.
SSAC Tournament individual low scorer Sean Elliott fired a four-under-par 68 to lead the Roadrunners. Levi Nix and Maximillian Bruck each shot a first round 75.
Chase Jones added a 79.
Dalton State’s No. 3 player, Anthony D’Angelo, had to drop out over half way through the round. D’Angelo has been suffering from back problems.
“It’s always nice to get the first round of a national championship under our belt,” said Coach Ben Rickett. “There were a lot of positives to take from the round even though the scores aren’t reflective of that. We have to do a better job of closing out our rounds. It’s a long week and we have to just stay patient.”
Defending NAIA National Champions College of Coastal Georgia (282) are currently tied for the lead with William Woods (Mo.). Alastair Tidcombe leads the Mariners with a 65. Allen Bradford has a 70, Alan Bernhardt 73 and Hunter Cornelius 74. Trevor Smith of CGA added an 80. Matt Wells of William Woods (282) carded a 66 in the first round.
Wayland Baptist (287) finished the first 18 holes in third. Texas Wesleyan (288) is fourth. Oklahoma City (289) is fifth. Grand View University (Ia.) (299) is 15th, Marian University (In.) (300) is 16th.
Lewis-Clark St (Id.) and Northwestern College (305) are tied for 17th with a 305 each.. Embry-Riddle (Fla.), Bethany College (Ks.) and Davenport (Mi.) are tied for 20th at 306. Johnson & Wales (Fla.) followed with a 307. Belleview University (Ne.) (308) and Point Park University (Pa.) (309).
Victoria (B.C.) and Concordia (Or.) are tied for 25th with a 315 each. Culver-Stockton (318), St. Francis (Il.) (324), and Jamestown (N.D.) (326) finished off the team scoring.
Zach Day of the University of Mobile shot a 74 as an individual competitor on Monday.
Dalton State, Oklahoma City and Davenport (Mich.) are scheduled to tee-off on the tenth hole on Wednesday at 12:50 p.m.