NASHVILLE, TN--Following a final round 302, the USC Aiken golf team slipped from second into a tie for seventh in the final standings of the prestigious Mason Rudolph Collegiate Championship hosted by Vanderbilt University. The young Pacers showed well in the impressive 18-team field that featured top teams from the Southeastern (SEC), Atlantic Coast (ACC), and Big Ten conferences.
Originally scheduled for 54-holes, Monday's first round was washed out by steady rains, reducing the tournament to just 18 holes per day. The event was contested at the 6,844 yard, par 71 Golf Club of Tennessee.
Freshman Clint Smith carded a five-over-par 76 today to finish at three-over-par for the tournament and record his second-straight top 20 finish placing tied for 12th. Senior Bryan Sangid, who also shot a 69 yesterday, finished with a 77 on Tuesday to place 21st at four-over-par. Sangid will be spotlighted on the Golf Channel's "College Central" this Wednesday at 7:00 PM EDT.
Dane Burkhart stayed consistent with rounds of 74 and 75 to finish tied for 33rd at seven-over-par. James McGhee posted an 80 to slip to 70th at 14-over-par while Reggie Bergholtz battled back from an opening round 83 to register the Pacers' low round of the day at 74 and place tied for 72nd.
UAB's Chris Cousins, the co-leader after day one with teammate Garrett Osborn, finished tied with Stephen Reed of Texas A&M at six-under-par. Cousins shot a 69 while Reed had fired a 65. Osborn was third following a 72.
As a team, UAB (-5) ran away from the field, winning by 14 strokes over second-place Texas A&M (+9). SEC teams captured places three through six with South Carolina (+12), Vanderbilt (+16), Mississippi (+18), and Kentucky (+21). USCA finished in a three-way tie for seventh at +22 with Baylor and LSU.
Eighth-ranked USC Aiken will next compete on October 6-7 at the Presbyterian Invitational in Clinton, SC.
MASON RUDOLPH COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
GOLF CLUB OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TN
PAR: 71 YARDAGE: 6,844 DATES: SEPTEMBER 22-23
TEAM RESULTS
1 UAB.....................................273 290 563 -5
2 Texas A&M..........................293 284 577 +9
3 South Carolina.....................290 290 580 +12
4 Vanderbilt............................295 289 584 +16
5 Mississippi...........................290 296 586 +18
6 Kentucky.............................292 297 589 +21
T7 USC Aiken......................288 302 590 +22
T7 LSU...................................291 299 590 +22
T7 Baylor...............................291 299 590 +22
10 Georgia State...................291 304 595 +27
T11 College of Charleston.....295 303 598 +30
T11 Florida State...................293 305 598 +30
T13 Furman...........................297 303 600 +32
T13 Rhode Island..................298 302 600 +32
15 Alabama...........................296 309 605 +37
16 Virginia.............................299 307 606 +38
17 North Florida.....................299 319 618 +50
18 Navy.................................311 311 622 +54
USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+22) (T-7th)
Clint Smith.........................69 76 145 +3 (T-12th)
Bryan Sangid....................69 77 146 +4 (T-21st)
Dane Burkhart..................74 75 149 +7 (T-33rd)
James McGhee.................76 80 156 +14 (T-70th)
Reggie Bergholtz..............83 74 157 +15 (T-72nd)
INDIVIDUAL WINNER
Chris Cousins, UAB...........67 69 136 -6 (1st)
