AIKEN, SC--All four of USC Aiken's countable rounds on Tuesday were even-par or better as the 10th ranked Pacers posted the day's best total en route to an impressive runner-up finish in the Seventh Annual Palmetto Intercollegiate, part of the Cleveland Golf Collegiate Championship series. The University of South Carolina, ranked 16th in Division I, won the team title with a two-day total of five-under-par 847, six shots ahead of USCA. The Gamecocks' Eirik Johansen won the individual title. 

The 54-hole event was contested at the 6,380 yard, par 71 Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. 

USCA Sophomore James McGhee fired a final round even-par 71 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Joel Kraner and Scott Wise, both of Virginia Tech, and Allan Thomas of Memphis. McGhee, a 6-0 sophomore from Edinburgh, Scotland, signed for three straight rounds of even-par or better to finish at one-under-par for the tournament, equaling his best finish in an event this season. 

Freshman Clint Smith also came on strong over the final 18 holes, finishing with a three-under-par 68 to tie for ninth place with Kellen Altman of the College of Charleston and Matt Davidson of Furman. Smith, a native of High Point, NC, birdied the par three, 212-yard 16th hole and then recorded a birdie three on the par four, 308-yard 18th to post his fourth top 10 finish of the season. He finished at even-par for the tournament. 

Dane Burhart turned in three steady rounds of 71, 73, and another even-par 71 on Tuesday to finish tied for 15th at two-over-par. Scott Brown, who rejoined the team this January after an 18-month hiatus, entered the tournament with an 81.40 stroke average in five rounds. The North Augusta, SC product reduced that number significantly with a 71 on Tuesday and three-day total of four-over-par 217 to tie for 21st. Senior Bryan Sangid rounded out the five for USCA with a top 30 finish following a final round 72 to place him tied for 29th at eight-over-par. 

Johansen did most of his damage on the par fours at historic Palmetto Golf Course. The 6-2 sophomore from Stavanger, Norway, played the par fours at eight-under-par. His nine-under-par total of 204 ties the tournament record held by Virginia Tech's Johnson Wagner and South Florida's Tele Wightman, both set in 2002. 

Coastal Carolina's Moises Cobo and Buddy Davis of Furman tied for second in the individual standings at five-under-par. 

In the team race, Coastal Carolina (+5) placed third following by Virginia Tech (+11), Memphis (+18), Purdue (+20), Furman (+21), College of Charleston (+33), Maryland (+33), South Florida (+36), Florida State (+53), VCU (+58), Navy (+58), and Presbyterian (+69). 

Reggie Bergholtz, Ryan Burton, and Sam Mason competed as individuals for USCA. Bergholtz placed tied for 49th with a 228 while Burton tied for 65th with a 236. Mason withdrew with an injury prior to Monday's second round. 

USC Aiken led the 14-team field in par five scoring at 4.51, or 22-under-par, and was second to Virginia Tech in par three scoring at 3.22, or 13-over-par. 

The second place finish for USCA equals last year's performance, which was the best since the Pacers won the 1999 tournament. 

USC Aiken will next compete in the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Georgia College & State University on March 29-30.
SEVENTH ANNUAL PALMETTO INTERCOLLEGIATE
PALMETTO G.C. AIKEN, SC
PAR: 71 YARDAGE: 6,380 DATES: MARCH 15-16

TEAM RESULTS 
1 South Carolina....................278 281 288 847 -5
2 USC Aiken........................287 285 281 853 +1
3 Coastal Carolina.................282 289 286 857 +5
4 Virginia Tech......................289 289 285 863 +11
5 Memphis.............................292 285 293 870 +18
6 Purdue................................296 283 293 872 +20
7 Furman...............................282 302 289 873 +21
t8 College of Charleston........294 304 287 885 +33
t8 Maryland...........................292 299 294 885 +33
10 South Florida....................297 297 294 888 +36
11 Florida State.....................298 308 299 905 +53
t12 VCU................................295 305 310 910 +58
t12 Navy...............................304 298 308 910 +58
14 Presbyterian....................312 298 311 921 +69

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+1) (2nd)
James McGhee..................70 71 71 212 -1 (T-5th)
Clint Smith..........................74 71 68 213 E (T-9th)
Dane Burkhart....................71 73 71 215 +2 (T-15th)
Scott Brown......................76 70 71 217 +4 (T-21st)
Bryan Sangid.....................72 77 72 221 +8 (T-29th)

Reggie Bergholtz*..............73 76 79 228 +15 (T-49th)
Ryan Burton*.....................86 75 75 236 +23 (T-65th)
Sam Mason*......................89 WD WD WD
*Competed as an individual.

INDIVIDUAL WINNER
Eirik Johansen, USC...........67 68 69 204 -9 (1st)