DALTON, Ga. – Mother nature played a role in the Roadrunner Invitational as the morning round on Day 1 was canceled, shortening the tournament to 36 holes from the original 54-hole format. The #4-ranked Lady Roadrunners showed why they are one of the top teams in the country as they went head-on with #3 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) and came out with a 2^nd-place finish.
 
#3 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) took the team victory at 596 (+20), with #4 Dalton State (Ga.) finishing as the runner-up at 613 (+37). #15 Truett-McConnell (Ga.) (623, +47) was third, while #20 Coastal Georgia (625, +49) was fourth. #9 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) and #18 Loyola (La.) tied for fifth at 631 (+55) to round out the top-5.

RECAP
ROUND 1
Jia Kataria led the round with a score of 74 (+2). Her consistent play across both halves (OUT: 37, IN: 37) helped secure the top position. Ella Ahlqvist and Hanna Bullard both finished the round with 76 (+4). Ella improved her game on the IN half (36 compared to 40 OUT), while Hanna displayed balanced scoring (OUT: 38, IN: 38). Tylah James followed closely with a score of 77 (+5). A strong OUT half (37) set the tone, though her IN score (40) added to the overall tally.
 
Tara Phipps finished at 81 (+9). Despite challenges, Tara maintained composure throughout the round. Ella Cress posted 78 (+6), showcasing steady performance as an individual. DS shot 303 (+15) overall to finish the round in second.
 
ROUND 2
As a team, the Lady Roadrunners shot 310 (+22) while the golfers showcased varied performances, with Jia Kataria leading the round by posting an impressive even-par 72. Her consistent play across both the front nine (OUT) and back nine (IN), scoring 36 each, highlighted her steadiness.
 
Ella Ahlqvist and Tylah James both carded rounds of 78 (+6). Despite a challenging front nine for Ella (42), she bounced back with a solid 36 on the back nine. Tylah managed balanced scoring across both halves, achieving 39 on each.
 
Hanna Bullard and Ella Cress had identical totals of 82 (+10), but their routes differed. Hanna faced difficulty early on, going 44 on the front, but recovered nicely with 38 on the back. In contrast, Ella started strong with a front nine of 38 but encountered obstacles on the back nine, finishing with 44.
 
Tara Phipps completed her round with an 83 (+11). Her scorecard showed consistency, earning a 41 on the front and 42 on the back nine.
 
UP NEXT
The #4 Lady Roadrunners begin postseason play with their next tournament as they travel to Greenville, Ala., for the SSAC Women's Golf Championship at RTJ Cambrian Ridge April 14-16.
 
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