KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C.--One familiar face to Pacer fans and another soon to be familiar one led the USC Aiken golf team to a commanding 20-stroke victory over the rest of the field in the inaugural Kiawah Island Invitational. Junior Scott Brown and freshman James Browning shared individual medalist honors with 36-hole totals of three-over-par 147. 

This inaugural two-day event, hosted by USCA, was contested at the 6,887 yard, par 72 Cougar Point Golf Course. Designed by Gary Player, the course was rated "4.5 stars" by Golf Digest in 2004. 

"I cannot say enough about the job the staff here at Cougar Point did in order for us to get this tournament in," said USCA head coach Michael Carlisle. "We played in the midst of hurricane conditions this week but the course held up magnificently." 

As Hurricane Frances came ashore in Florida over the Labor Day weekend, the outer bands of the massive system reached into coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina, creating heavy rainstorms, driving winds, and spawning tornadic activity. 

Browning carded a final round three-under-par 69 to charge from 11th place into a tie for first. The 6-1 freshman from Edinburgh, Scotland was the only golfer in the 55-player field to post a sub-70 round on either day. Brown, a junior from North Augusta, S.C., had the only other sub-par round on Tuesday with a two-under-par 70 to move from eighth into a tie for first. 

It was the first career title for Browning and the second career one for Brown who also captured the 2001 Peach Belt Conference Tournament individual championship as a freshman. 

Junior Dane Burkhart followed up Monday's opening round 79 with a six-over-par 78 to finish in a tie for 13th registering his 14th career top 20 finish. 

Newcomer Tyler Rolley struggled with the conditions carding an 84 on Tuesday after serving as the Pacers' first round leader with a 75. Rolley tied for 18th in his first event as a Pacer. Freshman Chris McAlister recorded a final round 82 to finish at 16-over-par for the tournament and tie for 23rd. 

First round leader Rex Willoughby of UNC Pembroke followed up yesterday's two-under-par 70 with a seven-over-par 79 to finish in third. 

USC Aiken (+31) easily outdistanced first round co-leader UNC Pembroke (+51) on Tuesday with the lone sub-300 team total of the tournament, an 11-over-par 299. Georgia College & State University (+52) made a strong day two surge to climb into third place. Francis Marion (+54) finished fourth while Carson-Newman (+64) and Pfeiffer (+64) were another 10 shots back in a tie for fifth. Catawba (+68), Presbyterian (+71), Lenoir-Rhyne (+79), Belmont-Abbey (+82), and Clayton State (+122) round out positions seven through 11. 

USC Aiken will next compete in the Johnny Palmer/Old North State Intercollegiate hosted by Pfeiffer University in Uwarrie Point, N.C. on September 20-21.
KIAWAH ISLAND INVITATIONAL
COUGAR POINT G.C. KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 6,887 DATES: SEPTEMBER 6-7

TEAM RESULTS 
1 USC Aiken......................308 299 607 +31
2 UNC Pembroke.................308 319 627 +51
3 Georgia Coll. & State.......316 312 628 +52
4 Francis Marion.................311 319 630 +54
5 Carson-Newman.............314 326 640 +64
Pfeiffer...............................316 324 640 +64
7 Catawba..........................327 317 644 +68
8 Presbyterian....................323 324 647 +71
9 Lenoir-Rhyne...................329 326 655 +79
10 Belmont Abbey..............332 326 658 +82
11 Clayton State.................343 355 698 +122

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+31) (1st)
James Browning..................78 69 147 +3 (T-1st)
Scott Brown.........................77 70 147 +3 (T-1st)
Dane Burkhart......................79 78 157 +13 (T-13th)
Tyler Rolley..........................75 84 159 +15 (T-18th)
Chris McAlister....................78 82 160 +16 (T-23rd)
INDIVIDUAL WINNER
James Browning, USCA.......78 69 147 +3 (T-1st)
Scott Brown, USCA..............77 70 147 +3 (T-1st)