CLINTON, S.C. -
Scott Brown,
Dane Burkhart, and
Chris McAlister all posted top five finishes for the Pacers as top-ranked USC Aiken rolled to a 14-stroke win over #13 Georgia College & State in the 12th Annual Presbyterian College Intercollegiate. The defending NCAA Division II champions carded the best round of the 15-team field for the second straight day with a 294 en route to their school and Peach Belt Conference record-tying sixth-consecutive victory.
Finishing the fall portion of their season a perfect four-for-four, the Pacers led after each round of all four tournaments. The sixth straight wins, dating back to the NCAA Regional and Championship tournaments of 2003-04, matches the mark set by the 1994-95 team. USCA is now a four-time champion of the Presbyterian Intercollegiate having previously won the event in 1993-94, 1999-2000, and 2001-02.
The 36-hole event was contested at the 6,806 yard, par 72 Musgrove Mill Golf Course in Clinton, S.C.
Brown equaled the day's best round with a three-under-par 69 after a sizzling 33 on the back nine. Three birdies and three bogeys left the junior from North Augusta, S.C. at even par on his round at the turn. Following a bogey six on the par five 13th and a par three on 14, Brown proceeded to birdie the final four holes. Combined with yesterday's one-under-par 71, Brown finished in second place at four-under-par, one back of medalist John Tillery of Georgia College & State. In four tournaments this fall, Brown has one first place finish, one second, one third, and one fourth.
As a team, the Pacers were dominant on the par fours playing them at two-under-par. Columbus State was second in scoring on par four's at +29, a full 31 shots back.
Burkhart was also even at the turn, but following bogeys on 11 and 13 and birdies on 14 and 16, the junior from Aiken, S.C. bogeyed his final two holes to finish with a one-over-par 73. For the 36 holes, Burkhart was even-par with a 144 to tie him for fourth place with teammate
Chris McAlister.
McAlister led the 75-player field after round one, but a four-over-par 76 dropped him to fourth. He too finished with an even-par 144.
Newcomers
Casey Thompson and
James Browning tied with four other golfers in 22nd at eight-over-par after carding rounds of 77 and 76 respectively.
Following USCA (+3) and GC&SU (+17), Coker made a strong day two surge to grab third place (+28) followed by Armstrong Atlantic State (+30), Pfeiffer (+32), and Francis Marion (+33) rounding out the top six.
With their fall season concluded, USC Aiken will put their six-tournament winning streak on the line in 2005 when they compete in the Outback Steakhouse Intercollegiate on February 7-8 in Panama City, Fla.
12TH ANNUAL PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE INTERCOLLEGIATE
MUSGROVE MILL G.C. CLINTON, S.C.
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 6,806 DATES: OCTOBER 11-12
TEAM RESULTS
1 USC Aiken.........................285 294 579 +3
2 GC&SU................................297 296 593 +17
3 Coker...................................307 297 604 +28
4 Armstrong Atl. State...........293 313 606 +30
5 Pfeiffer...............................310 298 608 +32
6 Francis Marion....................309 300 609 +33
7 Valdosta State....................309 305 614 +38
Clayton State.........................307 307 614 +38
Presbyterian..........................313 301 614 +38
Catawba...............................310 304 614 +38
11 Columbus State................309 307 616 +40
12 West Georgia...................321 297 618 +42
13 Carson-Newman.............308 311 619 +43
Belmont Abbey.....................308 311 619 +43
15 Tusculum..........................311 312 623 +47
USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+3) (1st)
Scott Brown....................71 69 140 -4 (2nd)
Dane Burkhart.................71 73 144 E (T-4th)
Chris McAlister...............68 76 144 E (T-4th)
Casey Thompson...........75 77 152 +8 (T-22nd)
James Browning.............76 76 152 +8 (T-22nd)
INDIVIDUAL WINNER
John Tillery, GC&SU.........70 69 139 -5 (1st)
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