#4 Dalton State shot out of the gate with a 298 (+10) on Monday and leads by four strokes after the first round of the Carey Collegiate Classic at Canbrake Country Club in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Tournament host #8 William Carey (Miss.) and #6 Cumberlands (Ky.) are tied for second after rounds of 302 (+14). Rounding out the top 5 and in a tie for fourth are #12 Cumberland (Tenn.) and (RV) Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at 304 (+16).
Three Lady Roadrunners are in the top 10 paced by All-American Isabel Rijos with a 72 (E).
Rijos is tied for third with Papatsara Niamrungrueang of William Carey (Miss.) and Madison Bates of Loyola (La.).
Following Rijos in a logjam for eighth is All-American Cameron Daniel and redshirt senior Haejin Choe at 3-over. Choe made the turn a (+3) then charged on the back 9 with closing birdies at Nos. 15 & 18. Daniel, meanwhile, made the most of her front 9 with an eagle on No. 5 and a birdie on No. 7.
All-American Hannah Gasaway gave the Lady Birds four golfers in the top 15 after her round of 76 (+4) placed her in a tie for 14th with Lucia Pena of Cumberlands (Ky.). Freshman Sydney Hermann, coming off a top 5 finish in her first collegiate tournament finished with a round of 81 (+9).
Playing as individuals, sophomore Katelyn Skiffen and freshman Megan Donahue had impressive showings. Skiffen carded 76 (+4), while Donahue posted 78 (+6) and sit in 14th and 22nd respectively.
Only three eagles were carded on Monday with all three being recorded by the Lady Roadrunners. Cameron Daniel and Megan Donahue made easy work of No. 5, while Hannah Gasaway closed with the only eagle at No. 18.
No. 5 played as the easiest hole on the course during Round 1 (+0.23) with Dalton State playing the hole at 4-under combined among its seven golfers in the field. On the flip side, No. 3 (+1.04) played as the hardest hole. The Lady Birds escaped major damage playing the hole at 3-over as a team.
Dalton State will look to polish off another victory in their rivals backyard when they tee it up for the final round of the Carey Collegiate Classic tomorrow, September 24.