Paced by a tournament-low one-under par 69 from reigning SSAC and NAIA individual medalist Sean Elliot, No. 15-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 Dalton Johnson (E, 70) joined Elliott as one of just three players to shoot even-par-or-better on the day in wet and windy conditions, while Chase Jones (+1, 71) and Levi Nix (+5, 75) completed the Roadrunner scoring four for a first round total of five-over par 285.
"Today was a good start" said Men's Golf Coach Ben Rickett.
"We have not achieved anything yet. We got off to the start that we needed but have to keep the pedal down. There are too many talented teams behind us. I was very proud of the whole team today. It wasn't very easy with the wind but the guys hung in there all day. Only 1/3 of the job is done. The conditions are looking like they will be similar the rest of the weekend so we need to stay focused on the goal ahead"
Two-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Coastal Georgia and William Carey (Miss.) trail Dalton State by 11 strokes at 16-over par 296.
Each of the Mariners shot 75-or-better during opening round play, led by a two-over par 73 from Trevor Smith. SSAC Player of the Year Dillon Board and SSAC Freshman of the Year Eamon Owen carded a pair of 74s, while SSAC Newcomer of the Year Seth Sanders and Harrison Stafford put up a pair of 75s.
The Crusaders got an even-par 70 from Ty Medling and a four-over par 74 from Bryce Jackson, both All-Conference performers, before Conner Entriken and Adam Ham rounded out the team's scoring four with dual six-over par 76s.
The Roadrunners, Mariners and Crusaders will play together in the top threesome during Saturday's second round.
No. 20-ranked Faulkner (Ala.) (+17, 297) and receiving votes Mobile (Ala.) (+17, 297) remain in the hunt, sitting just one stroke behind the Coastal Georgia and William Carey.
Blue Mountain (Miss.) (+28, 308), Bethel (Tenn.) (+28, 308), Loyola (La.) (+29, 309), Martin Methodist (Tenn.) (+32, 312) and Brewton-Parker (+37, 317) round out the 10-team field.
Elliott (-1), Johnson (E), Medling (E), Jones (+1), Smith (+3), Keith Brooks of Mobile (+3), Connor Hogan of Mobile (+3) and Ray Gordon of Faulkner (+3) are the top five individuals thus far, including ties.