Dalton State Golfer S.M. Lee Wins NAIA Individual National Title

May 18, 2018

Rick Nyman,

(dalton state athletics) SILVIS, Ill. – Dalton State golfer S.M. Lee won the NAIA individual title on Friday, and he helped Dalton State to a second place finish in the team competition at the NAIA National Championships played at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. The Roadrunners, (+4, 1140), finished behind #1 Oklahoma City, (-9, 1127), but stayed ahead of the rest of the pack for the runner-up spot.

Texas Wesleyan, (+5, 1141), jumped up two spots after a 3-under-par team round to claim third. Coastal Georgia, (+6, 1142), slid down two spots to take fourth, while Keiser, (+8, 1144), rounded out the Top-5.

RECAP
All-American S.M. Lee added to his stunning list of achievements, becoming the second Dalton State golfer to win individual medalist honors at the National Championship, joining Sean Elliott in 2015. Lee turned to the back 9 at even-par after carding two birdies and two bogeys on the front. Birdies at Nos. 14 & 15 pushed him to 2-under. He would finish out with a (-2, 69) to take the victory by eight strokes and finish as the only player to score in the 60’s all four days of the tournament.

Sophomore Ben Rebne came up big again, making a statement on the back 9 with three birdies and closing with a 1-under, 70. Rebne would find some trouble on the front and make the turn at 1-over. Another bogey at No. 11 would put him at 2-over, but three birdies down the stretch reversed his fortune and saw him finish in red figures.

Dalton Johnson bounced back from a bad day on Thursday to post (+1, 72) on the afternoon. Johnson would make the turn to the back 9 at (E), but picked up a quick birdie at No. 10. He would give it right back with a bogey at No. 11. Another bogey at No. 17 would dash his hopes of finishing under par.

All-American P.J. Shields finished out with a (+2, 73). He would turn four front 9 bogeys into three back 9 birdies to finish out his National Tournament strong.

Senior Chase Cole got into some early trouble with a triple-bogey at No. 2, but had a fantastic recovery to play the rest of his day at even-par and finish with a (+3, 74).