EATONTON, GA--The USC Aiken Pacers fired a final round total of 11-over-par 291 to leapfrog the host Georgia College & State University Bobcats to finish fourth at the annual Bobcat Invitational on Tuesday. Three USCA golfers placed in the top 20 led by sophomore Scott Brown who tied for fourth, just one shot back of the leaders.
The 54-hole event was contested as the 6,847 yard, par 70 Golf Club at Cuscowilla in Eatonton, Ga.
Armstrong Atlantic State, the leader after day one's 36 holes, finished up with a 284 on Tuesday to capture its fourth-straight tournament title at 15-over-par, 12 shots ahead of Carson-Newman College (+27). West Florida (+28) was one stroke back of the Eagles in third, followed by USCA (+34), GC&SU (+36), and Kennesaw State (+45).
USCA led the 15-team field of Division II's elite golf programs with 169 pars, six more than AASU. The Pacers were third in par four scoring (4.16), sixth in par three scoring (3.32), and 13th in par five scoring (5.30).
Brown followed up yesterday's rounds of 72 and 69 with a two-over-par 72 on Tuesday to finish with a three-over-par, 54-hole total of 213. It marks Brown's first top 20 finish of the season after the 2002 Peach Belt Conference Tournament medalist took an 18-month hiatus and rejoined the Pacer program in January.
AASU's Thomas Whittaker, Josh Coley of Carson-Newman, and Carter Collins of GC&SU tied for first after regulation play with two-over-par 212's. Collins won the title in a playoff.
Senior Bryan Sangid picked up his third top 20 finish of the year, tying for 12th at nine-over-par after a final round 75. Sophomore
Dane Burkhart signed for a 76 on Tuesday to finish at 12-over-par for the tournament and tie for 20th. Freshman
Clint Smith carded his best round of the tournament with a 72 to tie for 29th with a 224. Sophomore
James McGhee also fired a 72 to place tied for 46th at 19-over-par.
In last year's Bobcat Invitational, USCA placed tied for third with AASU and behind West Florida and Rollins College.
USC Aiken will travel to White Lake, North Carolina on April 3-4 to compete in the Carolina Sands Intercollegiate hosted by UNC Pembroke. The Pacers won that tournament last season by 31 strokes over second-place Pfeiffer. Burkhart captured his first collegiate crown with a five-under-par 139.
BOBCAT INVITATIONAL
CUSCOWILLA G.C. EATONTON, GA
PAR: 70 YARDAGE: 6,847 DATES: MARCH 29-30
TEAM RESULTS
1 Armstrong Atl. State................294 277 284 855 +15
2 Carson-Newman.....................290 289 288 867 +27
3 West Florida.............................291 281 296 868 +28
4 USC Aiken.............................295 288 291 874 +34
5 Georgia Coll. & State...............295 285 296 876 +36
6 Kennesaw State.....................299 294 292 885 +45
7 Presbyterian............................293 301 296 890 +50
8 Florida Southern......................303 288 301 892 +52
9 Valdosta State........................298 296 301 895 +55
10 Columbus State.....................301 291 310 902 +62
11 Francis Marion......................298 298 310 906 +66
12 UNC Pembroke......................308 299 300 907 +67
13 Pfeiffer..................................313 298 303 914 +74
14 Catawba...............................295 307 315 917 +77
15 Clayton State.........................330 307 323 960 +120
USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+34) (4th)
Scott Brown..............................72 69 72 213 +3 (T-4th)
Bryan Sangid............................74 70 75 219 +9 (T-12th)
Dane Burkhart...........................70 76 76 222 +12 (T-20th)
Clint Smith..................................79 73 72 224 +14 (T-29th)
James McGhee.........................80 77 72 229 +19 (T-46th)
INDIVIDUAL WINNER
Carter Collins, GC&SU..............70 69 73 212 +2 (1st)
