DALTON, Ga. – #3 Dalton State came from off the lead, getting the lead short of the back 9 turn and holding on to protect home turf in the Roadrunner Classic at The Farm in Dalton on Monday and Tuesday.
 
#3 Dalton State (Ga.) (880, +16) earns their third straight team victory and fifth of the year. #1 Keiser (Fla.) (884, +20) finished second, with #2 Oklahoma City (885, +21) in third. #13 Coastal Georgia was fourth at 891 (+27) as #9 OUAZ (Ariz.) (892, +28) rounded out the top-5.

RECAP
ROUND 1
The players competed in Round 1 on a difficult course in difficult conditions early due to weekend storms. Jack Whaley set the pace with an impressive round, finishing with a score of 70 (-2), putting him at the top of the leaderboard. Whaley displayed consistent play across both the front nine and back nine, demonstrating why he's in pole position.
 
Ben McFadden also delivered a steady performance, shooting an even-par round of 72. His solid play positions him well to contend in upcoming rounds.
 
Meanwhile, Barrett Loftis finished with a 75 (+3), showcasing moments of brilliance but falling short in a few areas. Tyler Latimer and Joe Getley faced tougher challenges on the course. Latimer carded a 78 (+6), while Getley finished with an 83 (+11). Both will look to regroup and improve their scores in the next round.
 
As a team, the Birds fell into 3^rd place overall with a 295 (+7) as play continued into Round 2 on the 36-hole day.
 
ROUND 2
DS jumped into 2^nd place after the afternoon round with a 1-over 289 as Jack Whaley turned in an impressive performance to lead the round individually with a 5-under-par 67. Displaying remarkable consistency, Whaley carded multiple birdies across both the front and back nine, taking full advantage of The Farm's challenging layout.
 
Trailing behind, Ben McFadden posted a 73 (+1), while Joe Getley and Barrett Loftis followed closely at 74 (+2) and 75 (+3), respectively. Tyler Latimer rounded out the group with a 79 (+7), battling through a tough afternoon on the course.
 
Key highlights include Whaley's stellar play on the front nine, where his precision on the par-3 and par-5 holes gave him a strong edge. Birdies were notably earned on some of the course's trickiest holes, reflecting strategic shot-making and putting finesse.
 
ROUND 3
Whaley and McFadden both finished the round with impressive even-par scores of 72. Whaley demonstrated consistent performance, scoring 37 on the front nine and 35 on the back nine. McFadden mirrored Whaley's steadiness, scoring 38 on the front and a stellar 34 on the back with birdies at 10, 11, and 12.
 
Barrett Loftis followed with a solid round of 75 (+3), delivering commendable efforts on both nines. Tyler Latimer finished the round at 77 (+5), showcasing resilience in his game. Meanwhile, Joe Getley faced a tougher outing, closing the round at 85 (+13).
 
As a squad, the Roadrunners carded 296 (+8) to take the top spot overall and close out the victory.
 
UP NEXT
#3-ranked Dalton State heads to Greenville, Ala., on April 22-24 for the SSAC Men's Golf Championship at RTJ at Cambrian Ridge.
 
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