YPSILANTI, Mich. — The No. 1-ranked Dalton State women's golf team sits atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the NAIA Women's National Championship at Eagle Crest Golf Club, posting a Round 2 team score of 307 (+19) to stand +32 overall through 36 holes.
 
They have company though, as No. 6 British Columbia joined them at the top with a round of 303 (+15). Both teams will be paired together in tomorrow's final round with No. 5 SCAD-Atlanta (Ga.), who shot the only sub-300 round of the day to move within two shots of the team lead.
 
TOP 5 LEADERBOARD
1. #1 Dalton State — +32 (608)
1. #6 British Columbia — +32 (608)
3. #5 SCAD-Atlanta (Ga.) — +34 (310)
4. #3 SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) — +35 (611)
5. #12 Southeastern (FL) — +36 (612)
 
ROUND 1 RECAP (301, +13)
Jia Kataria — T-2, 74 (+2)

• Front nine (OUT): 35 — Kataria went out in one-under, highlighted by three birdies on the front (birdies at holes 5, 7, and 9) to create early separation.
• Back nine (IN): 39 — Kataria kept attacking with a birdie on 10 and another on 15, but a pair of costly double bogeys (13 and 18) kept the round from dipping under par.

Sara Burger — T-7, 75 (+3)

• Front nine (OUT): 37 — Burger turned in a controlled outward nine, limiting mistakes and staying near even.
• Back nine (IN): 38 — Burger's back side was similarly steady, with a few blemishes but mostly clean holes to keep the scorecard manageable.

Reese Day — T-22, 76 (+4)

• Front nine (OUT): 40 — The front nine included a bright early moment (birdie at hole 2) but was offset by a tough swing hole where Day made a double bogey at 5.
• Back nine (IN): 36 — Day responded with an excellent inward nine at even-par 36, highlighted by two birdies (holes 12 and 17) and steady play the rest of the way.

Tylah James — T-22, 76 (+4)

• Front nine (OUT): 40 — James battled through early adversity, including a double bogey at 2, but answered with a key birdie at 5 to steady the card.
• Back nine (IN): 36 — James closed with a calm even-par 36, using a birdie at 13 to erase a bogey and keep the momentum moving forward.

Tara Phipps — T-46, 78 (+6)

• Front nine (OUT): 39 — Phipps found a spark with a birdie at 7, helping hold the outward nine to a manageable number.
• Back nine (IN): 39 — The back nine featured solid stretches, but a double bogey at 15 proved costly in an otherwise competitive effort.

ROUND 2 RECAP (307, +19)
Sara Burger — 73 (+1)
Burger delivered Dalton State's low round and one of the best of the day with a 1-over 73, highlighted by a strong 34 on the back nine that included three birdies at Nos. 10, 11, and 15 to begin the round. She steadied the day after beginning the front turn with back-to-back bogey's on 1 and 2.
 
Jia Kataria — 76 (+4)
Kataria carded a steady 76 (+4), opening with 39 on the back and adding 37 coming home on the front. Kataria kept Dalton State in position with consistent pars throughout the round and limited damage on a day when scores were at a premium.
 
Tylah James — 78 (+6)
James produced one of the most eventful cards in the lineup, firing three birdies on the front nine to post a closing 34, after a difficult inward nine of 44 after starting on the back 9. Despite the back-nine challenges, James' late momentum played a key role in keeping Dalton State's team total in check.
 
Reese Day — 80 (+8)
Day posted an 80 (+8) with identical splits of 40–40. Day battled throughout the round, stringing together multiple pars and staying resilient after a few bogeys on both nines.
 
Tara Phipps — 88 (+16) (Non-Counting Score)
Phipps recorded an 88 (+16), highlighted by a birdie on No. 4. Dalton State's counting four scores (73, 76, 78, 80) carried the day's team total.

UP NEXT
Top-ranked Dalton State will play the final round of the season tomorrow, May 22 in search of the programs first national championship. The Lady Roadrunners till tee off beginning at 9:10 a.m. off hole No. 1.
 
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