MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Dalton State junior Jia Kataria has been named the 2026 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league announced, recognizing a season in which she combined academic excellence with championship-level performance.

Kataria, a Finance and Applied Economics major, earned the conference's top academic honor with a 3.74 GPA while also capturing the individual title at the 2026 SSAC Women's Golf Championship and adding to her résumé as a two-time SSAC Player of the Year.

Kataria led Dalton State's run to the conference championship at the RTJ Golf Trail at Cambrian Ridge, where the Lady Roadrunners secured the team title with a three-round total of 882 (+18). Dalton State posted rounds of 297, 293 and 292, finishing 53 strokes clear of the field.

Individually, Kataria pulled away from the field with a three-round score of 209 (-7) to claim medalist honors, anchoring Dalton State's dominant performance and helping the program secure one of the largest margins of victory at the event.

The Roadrunners' success extended beyond the conference championship, as Kataria earned First-Team All-Conference honors and was among multiple Dalton State student-athletes recognized on the Athletic Solutions All-Academic Team. She also gained experience on an international stage, competing in the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in New Zealand.

Dalton State's depth was also reflected in Tara Phipps, who joined Kataria on the SSAC women's golf scholar-athlete team, underscoring the program's balance of academic and athletic excellence.

Phipps, a BBA Management major from England contributing to the Lady Roadrunners' success throughout the season while maintaining strong performance in the classroom, further highlighting Dalton State's presence among the league's top student-athletes. She carries a GPA near 4.0 and solidified the 5^th spot in the lineup late in the season.

Carrying a 76.1 scoring average, and a #43 national ranking, Phipps turned it on late with two top-5 finishes that included a 5^th at the SSAC Championship.

ABOUT THE SSAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE HONOR
The SSAC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete recognition is reserved for student-athletes who are at least sophomores academically and athletically, have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA, and compete in at least 50% of competitions, among other criteria.
 
2026 SSAC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete Team

• Catherine Singletary, Loyola (La.)
• Jia Kataria, Dalton State (Ga.) (Scholar-Athlete of the Year)
• Tara Phipps, Dalton State (Ga.)
• Gracie Bloom, William Carey (Miss.)
• Iona Pollitt, UT Southern (Tenn.)
• Sarah Meral, Loyola (La.)
• Aiden Haithcock, William Carey (Miss.)

DONATE TO THE ROADRUNNER CLUB TODAY! Dalton State student-athletes are successful in the classroom and on the field of play because of their support system. Become part of that support system and make an impact that affects a student-athletes life. Click here to make your impact!  
 
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!
 
#BeepBeep