YPSILANTI, Mich. — The #1-ranked Dalton State women's golf team closed the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship with a strong runner-up finish on Friday at Eagle Crest Golf Club, posting a 24-over-par team score in the final round to end the tournament at 56-over-par, just one shot behind champion SCAD Savannah (Ga.).
 
TOP 5 LEADERBOARD
1. SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) — +55 (919)
2. Dalton State — +56 (920)
3. Keiser (Fla.) — +58 (922)
4. Indiana Wesleyan — +62 (926)
5. Cumberlands (Ky.) — +63 (927)
 
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)
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.
 
ROUND 3 RECAP (312, +24)
Jia Kataria — 71 (-1)
Kataria delivered Dalton State's low round of the day, firing a 1-under 71 in the championship's final round. Kataria opened with a 34 on the front nine and added a 37 on the back to anchor the Roadrunners' push to the finish.
 
Reese Day — 79 (+7)
Day carded a 79 in the final round. Day went 38 on the front nine and 41 on the inward side as Dalton State battled down the stretch in the title race.
 
Tylah James — 80 (+8)
James posted an 80 on Thursday. After a 41 on the front nine, James steadied with a 39 on the back to wrap up the final round.
 
Sara Burger — 82 (+10)
Burger finished the championship with an 82. Burger recorded a 43 on the opening nine before responding with a 39 on the back nine to close the tournament.
 
Ella Ahlqvist — 87 (+15)
Ahlqvist signed for an 87 in the final round, turning in 43 on the front and 44 on the back as Dalton State completed its national-championship week.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Roadrunners will look to build momentum off the runner-up finish as they turn their focus to the 2026-27 season in search for the programs first national championship.
 
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