USC Aiken continued its grip of dominance on the golf world capturing the program’s third-straight NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship on May 19, earning the title of “golf dynasty.”
The top-ranked Pacers (+28) turned in the wire-to-wire victory by holding off a final round charge by fellow Peach Belt Conference foe Columbus State. In the end, USCA saved their best for last, firing a final round of even-par 280, easily the best score of the tournament, finishing 12 strokes in front of the Cougars and 21 shots in front of second-ranked CSU-Bakersfield.
The Pacers became just the second team in the 44-year history of Division II golf to win three consecutive NCAA Championships, joining Florida Southern (1998-2000 .
The numbers over the last three years are staggering including winning 10 of 13 tournaments in 2005-06 and 23 of their last 28 dating back to 2003-04. Two PBC Championships (seven overall) and five-straight NCAA Southeast Region titles are tossed in for good measure.
Unlike the first two national championships, USC Aiken was going for the wire-to-wire win. The Pacers carried a slim three-shot edge over CSU-Bakersfield into the final round and were eight in front of Columbus State.
After expanding the lead slightly, the Pacers stumbled a bit as they approached the turn. Two bogeys and a double on 10 found USCA with just a one shot advantage over the Roadrunners and four up on the Cougars.
As CSU-Bakersfield began to waiver, Columbus State charged into second place and battled USC Aiken down the stretch. In the end, the Pacers finished three-under-par as a team on the back side.
It is the fourth-straight golf NCAA Championship for the PBC and the second-straight year the conference has gone one-two in the standings.
In 2004, USC Aiken battled the heat and wind for which Central Florida is noted. In 2005 in Savannah, it was Mother Nature’s force being felt in the form of thunderstorms. To complete the trifecta of weather obstacles, the Pacers proved they could win in any conditions including unseasonably cold temperatures in the 40’s with 20 mph winds.
Lynn (+58) finished fourth, 30 shots behind the Pacers, while CSU-Stanislaus (+59) was fifth.
Jamie Amoretti of St Mary’s (Texas) carded a final round 71 to win medalist honors at even-par 280, keeping senior Dane Burkhart from repeating as NCAA Individual Champion by one stroke.
The two entered the final round tied at one-under-par, but three-straight bogeys on seven, eight, and nine had the Aiken native making the turn at four-over-par. Still four-over after 14, Burkhart birdied the par four 15th and then sank an 18-footer on 17 for a birdie two, setting up the drama on 18.
Already having birdied the par five finishing hole once this week, Burkhart had a 15-footer, slightly uphill, to force a play-off, but the putt just rolled past the hole, leaving him with par and a final round of two-over-par 72. Burkhart finished in sole possession of second place at one-over-par 281.
In addition to Burkhart’s run, the other four Pacers posted their best rounds of the week on Friday, led by freshmen Roberto Diaz and Matt Giftos.
Diaz played the final six holes at three-under-par to shoot a final round 69 and claim sole possession of fourth place, finishing with a four-over-par 284 for the 72 holes Giftos recorded his best round of the year, a two-under-par 68.
Senior Scott Brown, the newly crowned 2006 Division II Player of the Year, just missed his 12th top 10 finish in 13 events this year, placing tied for 11th at 12-over-par.
Brown and Burkhart round out their collegiate careers as the one and two all-time leading scorers in Pacer history.
Junior Clint Smith turned in a solid round with his second-straight 74, highlighted by a birdie on 15 which helped the Pacers begin to pull away heading towards home Smith tied for 53rd, leaping 24 spots in the final two days.
