Final round rained out; NIC's Dalton ties for 8th at nationals

OWENS CROSSROADS, Ala. - Branden Dalton of North Idaho College was hoping to atone for a disappointing back nine in the third round, and make a run at winning the NJCAA men's golf championship on Friday.

But Mother Nature wouldn't let him.

Rain and thunderstorms forced tournament officials to cancel the final round of the scheduled 72-hole tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail River Course, making the results after 54 holes the final results.

Dalton, a transfer from New Mexico who has signed with Washington State for next season, finished in a tie for eighth place with a 217, shooting rounds of 70-71-76. His result earned him second-team All-American honors. The top five players made the first team, the next five made the second team and finishers 11-15 earned honorable mention.

Brandt Garon of Meridian (Miss.) Community College won the tournament with a 211 (71-72-68).

NIC finished in 17th place with a 921. Defending champion McLennan Community College of Waco, Texas, won by nine shots with an 860.

NIC's other golfers were Jeremy Jensen (77-84-76-237), Ben Johnson (76-84-78-238), Dillon Williams (77-79-85-246) and Kris Brett (84-77-80-241).