Julia McQuilken
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Julia McQuilken of Dalton State has been selected as the SSAC Women's Golfer of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday. The senior from Tampa, Fla., was chosen for her performance during the week of March 28-April 3.
McQuilken finished as the runner-up at the highly competitive Golfweek NAIA Spring Invite, carding a three-over par 147 (71-76) over the 36-hole event.
The invite was contested at the par-72, 5,980-yard Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., on April 2 and 3.
McQuilken opened with a tournament-low one-under par 71—the only under-par round of the invite—to lead following day one action. She then settled for a four-over par 76 in the final round to finish as the runner-up, one stroke behind Katie Warren of No. 3-ranked William Woods (Mo.) (146).
“It is that time of year again when Julia starts to peak,” said DS Coach Jim McGrew. “The field had all the top players in the country in it and she proved once again that she belongs in that group. Julia knows what is a stake this time of year and finds a way to elevate her game to championship form.”
McQuilken was low medalist at last May’s NAIA National Championships.
The Roadrunners, who shot 47-over par 623 (307-316) as a team, finished as the runner-up—10 strokes back of No. 3 William Woods. Dalton State bested 10 other teams in the 12-team field, most notably No. 1-ranked Keiser (Fla.) and No. 2-ranked SCAD Savannah (Ga.).
McQuilken owns a 77.74 scoring average through 19 rounds on the season, which ranks 30th in the NAIA and sixth in the SSAC.
With McQuilken's nod this week, Dalton State becomes the first program to produce multiple SSAC Women's Golfers of the Week this season. McQuilken joins two-time award winner Katie Dalton (March 1, March 22) in representing the Roadrunners.