May 25, 2024 • by Jeff Melton
Dalton State golf claimed the program's second national championship today by the slimmest of margins at the 72nd Annual NAIA Men's Golf National Championship at Dalton Golf and Country Club. The Roadrunners bested second-place Texas Wesleyan by a single stroke in an epic back-and-forth round plagued by a two-hour and 25-minute lightning delay.
Dalton State completed the 72-hole championship with a team-total of 1,182 (295-298-297-292), a single shot better than Texas Wesleyan's 1,183 (295-294-300-294). Keiser ended the tournament in third, 10 shots behind the winners (291-306-299-296), while Columbia finished fourth.
Just as dramatic as the team championship, the individual medalist needed one additional hole to decide the champion. Texas Wesleyan's Juan Ricardo Davila Bone birdied the par-4 18th hole on the first sudden-death playoff hole to beat Ottowa Uuniversity-Arizona's Kolby Shackelford for the medalist honors.
The pair tied in regulation with even-par 288's. Shackelford carded the best round of the day with a tournament best 5-under par 67 to force the playoff. Bone shot his best round of the tournament with a 2-under 70 over the 7,043-yard, par 72 layout. Bone and Shackelford were joined on the all-tournament team by the top 15 individuals and ties.
Texas Wesleyan opened the day with a slim one-shot lead, only to have Dalton State make the turn with a five-stroke advantage. The Rams closed the gap to within two shots when play was halted at 1:55 p.m. ET due to lightning in the area.
Following the delay and a brief warm-up, the two teams returned to complete the final three holes, with the Roadrunners ultimately adding a second national championship trophy to their case, having also captured the 2021 national championship.
Texas Wesleyan finished runner-up for the 11th time in the program's history, to go along with seven national titles.
MidAmerica Nazarene posted the best team round of the day and tied Columbia with the best team round of the tournament with a 1-over par 289. The Pioneers jumped six spots today to tie for eighth overall.
Wednesday's second round yielded a pair of hole-in-ones. Benedictine-Mesa's Sebastian Carranza aced the 174-yard par-3 hole nine while St. Thomas's Tomas Borquez knocked in his tee shot on the 182-yard par-3 sixth hole. Lindsey Wilson's Callum Waugh also aced the par-3 sixth hole during Monday's official practice round.
The total scoring average for the tournament was 77.61. The first-round scoring average was 78.29, while the second-round scoring average was 78.15. The third round scoring average was 76.71 and today's round is the best of the week at 76.32.
The par-5 10th hole played the easiest through the week at 35-under par.
Nine different players recorded 10 eagles during the week. Dalton State's Trevor Bassett recorded both of his tournament-leading eagles in today's final round.
OUAZ's Kolby Shackelford finished leading the tournament field with 15 birdies.
Dalton State's Brock Hoover led the field with 52 pars.
OUAZ's Kolby Shackelford had the low round of the tournament with a 5-under par 67 during today's final round.
Columbia and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) produced the low team rounds of the tournament. They both shot 1-over par 289 during the week.