SAVANNAH, Ga. - USC Aiken fired a final round four-under-par 284 keyed by Dane Burkhart's five-under-par 67 and Scott Brown's 68 en route to winning the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Men's Golf Championship by eight strokes over host Armstrong Atlantic State. The title is the program's sixth overall, the most by any PBC school, and the third in the last four years.

With the win, the top-ranked Pacers and defending NCAA Division II National Champions have won nine of 11 tournaments this year, tying the school record for wins set by the 1995-96 team. 

The 54-hole event was contested at the 7,028 yard, par 72 Southbridge Golf Course in Savannah, Ga. 

USCA opened the day with a four-shot lead, but AASU made at charge as the teams entered the midway point, pulling within one stroke at the turn. Burkhart, however, birdied the first three holes on the back nine as the Pacers widened the margin back to four once again. Columbus State (+24) finished a distance third followed by GC&SU (+26), Francis Marion (+46), UNC Pembroke (+59), and Clayton State (+84). 

Burkhart recorded all three of his rounds under par finishing at a conference record 11-under-par, two shots ahead of teammate Scott Brown for medalist honors. Burkhart, earlier named the PBC's Co-Player of the Year with Brown, becomes the sixth Pacer to win the PBC individual championship and the first to do it since Brown did in 2002. This also marks the fourth time in 14 years that Pacers golfers have gone one-two in the individual standings. 

Burkhart finished the tournament in dominating fashion leading the 35-player pack with 16 birdies. Brown also had all three rounds under par, closing with a four-under-par 68 on Tuesday to place second, six shots in front on Tripp Coggins of AASU. Brown registered his ninth top five finish this season. Both Brown and Burkhart entered the tournament with the exact same stroke average through 24 rounds and were ranked as the third best golfers in Division II. 

Clint Smith carded a three-over-par 75 to place eighth at four-over-par for the tournament. Casey Thompson finished with a two-over-par 74 and was one shot back of Smith in ninth place. Tyler Rolley fired his third consecutive 75 on Tuesday to tie for 15th at nine-over-par. 

Burkhart, Brown, Coggins, Jonathan Cox (AASU), Jason Fober (AASU), Brandon Kuban (CSU) were named to the All-Tournament team. 

USC Aiken receives the league's automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Southeast Regional to be held at the Bull Creek Golf Club in Columbus, Ga. on May 2-4. Columbus State will serve as the host institution. 

2005 PEACH BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
SOUTHBRIDGE C.C. SAVANNAH, GA.
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 7,028 DATES: APRIL 18-19

TEAM RESULTS 
1 USC Aiken.................................287 281 284 852 -12
2 Armstrong Atl. State...................283 289 288 860 -4
3 Columbus State...........................299 290 298 887 +23
4 Georgia College & State..............300 292 298 890 +26
5 Francis Marion............................307 306 297 910 +46
6 UNC Pembroke............................308 310 305 923 +59
7 Clayton State..............................323 312 313 948 +84

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (-12) (1st)
Dane Burkhart...............................68 70 67 205 -11 (1st)
Scott Brown..................................69 70 68 207 -9 (2nd)
Clint Smith......................................76 69 75 220 +4 (8th)
Casey Thompson..........................75 72 74 221 +5 (9th)
Tyler Rolley...................................75 75 75 225 +9 (T-15th)

INDIVIDUAL WINNER
Dane Burkhart, USC Aiken.............68 70 67 205 -11 (1st)