GREENVILLE, Ala. — The No. 3-ranked Dalton State men's golf team secured the 2026 SSAC Men's Golf Championship at RTJ Golf Trail at Cambrian Ridge on Wednesday, finishing 19-over par for the three-round event (+6, +8, +5) and holding off the chase pack for the conference title. Dalton State's steady scoring across all three rounds proved decisive, as the Roadrunners closed the tournament five shots clear of the nearest competitors (Point (Ga.) and UT Southern (Tenn.), both +24).
 
TEAM TOP 5:
1. #3 Dalton State (Ga.) (+19, 883)
2. #20 Point (Ga.) (+24, 888)
2. UT Southern (Tenn.) (+24, 888)
4. #11 Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) (+27, 891)
5. (RV) William Carey (Miss.) (+37, 901)
 
ROUND 1 RECAP (Team: 294, +6)
Dalton State opened championship week with a composed 294 (+6), using balanced scoring in the counting four to establish early momentum on the demanding Cambrian Ridge layout.
 
Ben McFadden set the tone with a 2-under 70, giving Dalton State an early individual spark and anchoring the lineup with the team's low round of the day. Behind McFadden, the Roadrunners stacked steady rounds from Joe Getley (74, +2), Scott Frisby (75, +3), and John Brady Knight (75, +3), a grouping that kept Dalton State's first-round total firmly in a winning position.
 
With the opening round in the books, Dalton State had exactly what championship golf requires: one round under par in the lineup, paired with three more reliable counting scores to keep mistakes from compounding.
 
Dalton State Round 1 Scores: McFadden 70, Getley 74, Frisby 75, Knight 75, Latimer 81 (Team Total: 294, +6)

ROUND 2 RECAP (Team: 296, +8)
The Roadrunners stayed patient in Round 2, posting a 296 (+8) and continuing to build a tournament résumé based on consistency rather than volatility.
 
McFadden again led the way, firing a 1-under 71 to remain the steadiest figure in Dalton State's five-player rotation through two rounds. Knight (74, +2) provided another counting score, while Tyler Latimer (75, +3) delivered an important response after a tougher opener. Frisby (76, +4) rounded out the team's four counting totals as Dalton State positioned itself for a final-round push.
 
By the end of Round 2, Dalton State's formula was clear: limit big numbers, keep multiple players in the mid-70s or better, and head into Wednesday with a chance to finish the job.
 
Dalton State Round 1 Scores: McFadden 71, Knight 74, Latimer 75, Frisby 76, Getley 79 (Team Total: 296, +8)

ROUND 3 RECAP (Team: 293, +5)
Dalton State saved its best team round for the finale, closing with a 293 (+5) to slam the door and clinch the SSAC Championship.
 
Scott Frisby delivered the defining performance of the final round with a brilliant 3-under 69, the Roadrunners' low score of the tournament and a round that provided separation when it mattered most. Latimer continued his upward trend with a 1-over 73, while Knight (75, +3) and McFadden (76, +4) completed the counting four that carried Dalton State across the finish line.
 
The closing +5 not only secured the title, but also underscored how well Dalton State handled championship pressure—finishing the tournament at +19 overall (294-296-293—883 total strokes) and winning by five over the teams tied for second.
 
Dalton State Round 3 Scores: Latimer 69, McFadden 73, Knight 73, Frisby 75, Getley 81 (Team Total: 293, +5)
 
TOURNAMENT NOTES

• Dalton State Team Total: 883 (+19) (Rounds: 284 / 296 / 293)
• Dalton State Individual 54-hole totals:
  • Ben McFadden: 217 (+1)
  • Scott Frisby: 220 (+4)
  • John Brady Knight: 224 (+8)
  • Tyler Latimer: 229 (+13)
  • Joe Getley: 229 (+13)

QUOTES FROM COACH
Thoughts From Coach Ben Rickett
"I'm really proud of how steady we were for three days. We didn't have to be perfect, we just had to stay committed to our plan, avoid big numbers, and keep putting four solid scores together. To finish it off with our best team round of the week says a lot about this group."
 
UP NEXT
#3 Dalton State will turn their efforts to a national championship when they compete in the NAIA Men's Golf Championship at TPC Deere Run in Moline, Ill.
 
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