MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Roadrunners are once again the team to beat. Dalton State has been selected as the favorite in the 2025–26 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Men's Golf Coaches' Preseason Poll, earning 99 points and nine first-place votes.
 
The recognition comes as no surprise—Dalton State enters the season riding a wave of dominance, having captured three consecutive SSAC titles and nine overall. Even more impressively, a Roadrunner has claimed the individual championship in eight of the past nine seasons, underscoring the program's depth and consistency.
 
Head Coach Ben Rickett, who has guided the program through its championship run, remains focused on the journey ahead.
 
"We appreciate the coaches believing in the program," Rickett said. "It's another new year for us with new players, so it's hard to put any expectations on the program with a new group of players! All I know is that I am excited to get to work with this new group and the journey in front of us."
 
The Roadrunners will begin their title defense on Monday, Sept. 8, in the Coastal Georgia Fall Invite, with the regular-season culminating at the SSAC Men's Golf Championship, scheduled for April 13–15 at RTJ Cambrian Ridge in Greenville, Ala.
 
2025-26 Men's Golf Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Dalton State – 99 (9)
2. William Carey – 89 (1)
3. Point – 78
4. Faulkner – 60
5. Blue Mountain Christian – 59
5. UT Southern – 59
7. Loyola – 39
8. Abraham Baldwin – 32
9. Mobile – 25
10. Brewton-Parker Christian - 10
 
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FIND NEWS AND FOLLOW THE BIRDS: News and updates from Dalton State's men's golf team is posted on dsroadrunners.com and on X (@DaltonStateGolf), Facebook (@DaltonStateGolf) and Instagram (daltonstategolf). Be sure to follow to keep pace with the Birds!
 
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