WILSON, NC--USC Aiken fired their second consecutive one-over-par 289 to capture the program's third-straight NCAA Division II Southeast Region title on Wednesday. The fourth-ranked Pacers (+2) finished eight strokes ahead of second place Kennesaw State (+10) and 12 shots in front of pre-tournament favorite Armstrong Atlantic State (+14). Sophomore Scott Brown finished regulation play tied atop the individual leaderboard but lost a playoff duel with KSU's Kris Shepherd on the third sudden death hole. 

The event, originally scheduled for 54 holes, was shortened to 36 holes when Monday's first round was washed out due to heavy rains in the area. The Atlantic/Southeast Super-Regional was contested at the 6,774 yard, par 72 Wilson Country Club in Wilson, N.C. Barton College (+16) served as the host institution and won the Atlantic Region. 

Columbus State (+25) was the biggest mover of the day rising from eighth into a tie for fourth with Georgia College & State University (+25). Carson-Newman (+26) placed sixth followed by Presbyterian (+33) in seventh and defending Division II national champion Francis Marion (+36) was eighth. 

All five Pacer golfers finished in a tie for 11th or better, led by Brown's second place finish. The sophomore from North Augusta, S.C. recorded three birdies and one bogey on his final round scorecard to shoot a tournament-tying low round of two-under-par 70. After a bogey on four, Brown birdied eight to make the turn at 36. Birdies on 14 and then a dramatic three on the par four 18th sent Brown into the sudden death playoff with Shepherd. 

The win would have been the first for Brown since capturing the 2002 Peach Belt Conference individual championship. USCA's Scott Usher won last year's Southeast Region individual title before going on to finish as the national runner-up at the NCAA Championship Tournament.
James McGhee and Clint Smith both carded even-par rounds of 72 for the second straight day to finish in a tie for fourth. McGhee, a sophomore from Edinburgh, Scotland, posted birdies on seven, nine, and 12 to move to three-under-par and lead the 45-player field with six holes to play. But a double bogey six on the 13th and a bogey five on 18 push him back to even par. 

Smith, the 2004 PBC Freshman of the Year, had two bogeys on the front nine, but a pair of birdies on the two par fives on the back nine pulled the High Point, N.C. native back to even-par 72. 

Sophomore Dane Burkhart had a rough go of it on number four with a triple bogey, but last year's PBC Freshman of the Year fought back. At five-over-par with eight holes to play, the Aiken, S.C. native birdied 11, 12, and 13. A bogey on 15 closed out his round of three-over-par 75. 

Senior Bryan Sangid also signed for a three-over-par 75. After a birdie on 11 evened him back up at level par, Sangid bogeyed 12, 15, and 16 to finish up his round. 

USC Aiken earns the region's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament held May 12-15 at the Victoria Hills Country Club in Deland, Fla. as part of the NCAA's Spring Sports Festival. The 10 regional winners will be joined by eight at-large teams and 12 individuals in competing in the 42nd Division II Men's Golf National Championship. 

The Pacers, under five-time PBC Coach of the Year Michael Carlisle, will be making their 11th trip in their 13 years as a member of the NCAA. USCA has finished as the national runner-up three times (1995, 96, 99). USCA is also the only PBC school to win multiple NCAA golf regional titles (2002, 03, 04).
2004 NCAA DIVISION II SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
WILSON C.C. WILSON, N.C.
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 6,774 DATES: MAY 3-5

TEAM RESULTS 
1 USC Aiken.........................289 289 578 +2
2 Kennesaw State.................292 294 586 +10
3 Armstrong Atl. State...........295 295 590 +14
T4 Columbus State.................309 293 601 +25
T4 Georgia Coll. & State.........300 301 601 +25
6 Carson-Newman.................302 300 602 +26
7 Presbyterian........................304 305 609 +33
8 Francis Marion.....................307 305 612 +36

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+2) (1st)
Scott Brown.........................72 70 142 -2 (2nd)*
James McGhee.....................72 72 144 E (T-4th)
Clint Smith.............................72 72 144 E (T-4th)
Dane Burkhart......................73 75 148 +4 (T-11th)
Bryan Sangid.......................73 75 148 +4 (T-11th)
*Lost on third sudden death playoff hole.

INDIVIDUAL WINNER
Kris Shepherd, KSU............70 72 142 -2 (1st)*
*Won on third sudden death playoff hole.