PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The #6-ranked Dalton State women's golf team showcased resilience and consistency at the Seahawk Shootout, finishing third in a competitive field at PGA National on Monday and Tuesday. Over three grueling rounds, the Lady Roadrunners posted a team total of +62, 926 highlighted by steady play across the lineup against some of the NAIA's top programs.
 
OPPONENT OVERVIEW
The Seahawk Shootout featured a deep and competitive field, testing every team across three challenging rounds at PGA National Resort. #1 Keiser (Fla.), the host and NAIA powerhouse, captured the title with a +45, 909, fueled by a strong closing round of +11. #4 Marian (Ind.) followed closely at +60, edging #6 Dalton State (Ga.) by just two strokes for second place. The Roadrunners finished third at +62, ahead of several strong programs.
 
#7 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) and #3 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) rounded out the top five with totals of +73 and +75, respectively, while Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) posted +76. Beyond the top tier, the leaderboard showcased a wide range of programs:

• #8 William Carey (Miss.) finished at +78 (Rounds: +28 / +19 / +31), showing consistency in the middle rounds.
• #19 Loyola (La.) carded +87, highlighted by a solid opening round of +15 before slipping in rounds two and three.
• New Mexico JC posted +86, staying competitive with rounds of +34, +33, and +29.
• #14 Southeastern (Fla.) and Palm Beach State (Fla.) battled through tough conditions, finishing at +108 and +112, respectively.
• Ave Maria (Fla.) and Wayland Baptist (Texas) tied at +137, while New College of Florida (+147), UT Southern (Tenn.) (+152), and (RV) Doane (Neb.) (+159) rounded out the standings.
• (RV) Lawrence Tech (Mich.) competed but did not post a complete team score.

ROUND 1
The Roadrunners opened the Seahawk Shootout with a team score of +19, positioning themselves in third place after the first 18 holes at PGA National. The squad showed grit on a demanding layout, with several players delivering key performances to keep Dalton State within striking distance of the leaders.
 
Sara Burger led the way for Dalton State with a steady 1-over 73, highlighted by a strong front nine of 35 that featured consistent pars and smart course management. Her round placed her inside the top 15 individually and set the tone for the team.
 
Jia Kataria and Tylah James both carded 78 (+6), battling through challenging pin positions and windy conditions. Kataria's round included a mix of birdies and bogeys, while James displayed resilience after a tough start to finish strong on the back nine.
 
Tara Phipps and Ella Ahlqvist rounded out the scoring with matching 80s (+8), each contributing crucial shots to keep the Roadrunners in contention. Despite some struggles on the inward nine, both players showed flashes of brilliance that could pay dividends in later rounds.
 
INDIVIDUALS

• Reese Day – 81 (+9) 
• Elin Gulbrandsson – 81 (+9) 
• Delaney Ratchford – 90 (+18) 
• Susana Calvar – 90 (+18)

ROUND 2
Dalton State continued to fight in Round 2, posting a team score of +23 to remain in the top three. The highlight of the day came from Jia Kataria, who fired a stellar 1-under 71, the lowest round of the tournament for the Roadrunners. Kataria's round featured precision iron play and a composed finish, moving her up the individual leaderboard.
 
Ella Ahlqvist contributed a 79 (+7), bouncing back from early struggles with a solid back nine of 38. Tylah James added an 80 (+8), grinding through a challenging front nine before settling in on the inward stretch. Their efforts kept Dalton State within striking distance heading into the final round.
 
INDIVIDUALS

• Reese Day – 89 (+17)
• Elin Gulbrandsson – 87 (+15)
• Delaney Ratchford – 78 (+6)
• Susana Calvar – 84 (+12)

ROUND 3
The Roadrunners closed out the tournament with a team score of +20, securing third place overall. Jia Kataria once again led the way, carding a 74 (+2) to finish the event at +7, the best individual performance for Dalton State. Her consistency across all three rounds earned her individual medalist honors for the tournament.
 
Sara Burger and Ella Ahlqvist each posted 77 (+5), delivering steady play under pressure to keep Dalton State in podium position. Tylah James added an 80 (+8), while Tara Phipps rounded out the scoring with an 81 (+9). Despite challenging conditions and a demanding course setup, the Roadrunners showed depth and determination to finish strong against elite competition.
 
INDIVIDUALS

• Reese Day – 71 (-1)
• Elin Gulbrandsson – 78 (+6) 
• Delaney Ratchford – 84 (+12) 
• Susana Calvar – 84 (+12) 

UP NEXT
#6 Dalton State will co-host the Invite at Innisbrook with the #4-ranked men's golf team at Innisbrook Resort on September 29-30 in Palm Harbor, Fla.
 
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