Men's Golf | September 17, 2003

BADIN, NC--USC Aiken entered the final round of the Johnny Palmer Invitational on Wednesday with a seven-stroke lead but could not hold off a surge by Guilford College. The eighth-ranked Pacers finished second with a two-day total of 17-over-par 593, four strokes back of Guilford. Sophomores James McGhee and Dane Burkhart and freshman Clint Smith all placed tied for 10th in the individual standings. 

The 36-hole event was contested at the 7,102 yard, par 72 Old North State Golf Course in Badin, NC. USCA won the 2002 edition of the Johnny Palmer Invitational with a record score of 20-under-par, 11 shots ahead of Barton College. 

McGhee and Burkhart opened play on Tuesday with even-par 72's and again duplicated each other's score with 76's on Wednesday to finish at four-over-par and tied for 10th. Smith, after serving as the first round co-leader with Barton's Courtney Faircloth at three-under-par, carded a 79 to also tie for 10th at four-over-par. 

Sophomore Reggie Bergholtz recorded rounds of 73 and 77 to finish tied for 17th at six-over-par while newcomer Ryan Burton improved on Tuesday's 84 to fire a 78 and place 86th in the 110-player field at 18-over-par. 

Blaine Rogers of Coker and Faircloth shared individual medalist honors at one-under-par. 

In the team standings, Coker (+23) was third behind USCA (+17), six shots back, while Berry College (+24) was fourth and Queens University of Charlotte (+27) and Barton (+27) tied for fifth. 

USCA will travel to Nashville, TN on September 22-23 to compete in the Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt University. The 18-team field includes: Alabama, UAB, Baylor, College of Charleston, Florida State, Furman, Georgia State, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, North Florida, Rhode Island, South Carolina, USC Aiken, Texas A&M, Navy, Virginia, and the host Commodores. 

JOHNNY PALMER INVITATIONAL
OLD NORTH STATE G.C. BADIN, NC
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 7,102 DATES: SEPTEMBER 16-17

TEAM RESULTS 
1 Guilford..............................293 296 589 +13
2 USC Aiken.......................286 307 593 +17
3 Coker.................................296 303 599 +23
4 Berry.................................301 299 600 +24
T5 Queens (NC)...................300 303 603 +27
T5 Barton.............................300 303 603 +27
7 Pfeiffer "B"........................297 307 604 +28
8 Carson-Newman..............295 311 606 +30
T9 Pfeiffer............................309 304 613 +37
T9 Anderson........................306 307 613 +37
11 St. Andrews...................298 316 614 +38
12 Belmont Abbey...............304 312 616 +40
T13 Presbyterian.................304 314 618 +42
T13 UNC Pembroke..............314 304 618 +42
15 Catawba.........................308 315 623 +47
16 North Greenville..............316 311 627 +51
17 Wingate...........................314 316 630 +54
18 Lee University.................311 321 632 +56
19 Lenoir-Rhyne..................312 321 633 +57
20 Clayton State..................313 328 641 +65
21 Mount Olive.....................320 323 643 +67
22 Mars Hill..........................332 333 665 +89

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+17) (2nd)
James McGhee......................72 76 148 +4 (T-10th)
Dane Burkhart........................72 76 148 +4 (T-10th)
Clint Smith...............................69 79 148 +4 (T-10th)
Reggie Bergholtz...................73 77 150 +6 (T-17th)
Ryan Burton...........................84 78 162 +18 (86th)

INDIVIDUAL WINNER
Blaine Rogers, Coker..............73 70 143 -1 (1st)