AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken athletic department announced the addition of former golf standouts Scott Brown and Dane Burkhart into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
Brown and Burkhart were both members of three national championship teams (2004, 2005 and 2006) during their time at USC Aiken. They were also both named to the 2000-10 Pacer Golf All-Decade Team in early July of 2011.
“Scott and Dane were two of the best golfers to ever come through our golf program, and obviously, I think, winning three national championships proves this,” noted USC Aiken Athletic Director Randy Warrick. “They are also both quality individuals that have gone on and been successful. I am excited to have them become members of our already top-notch Hall of Fame.”
The USC Aiken Hall of Fame committee selected the duo on Monday, May 21, 2012.
The USC Aiken Hall of Fame committee votes on new membership each year, but an induction ceremony is held every two years. The third USC Aiken Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in February of 2012 so Brown and Burkhart will be officially inducted into the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame in February of 2014.
Brown and Burkhart give the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame 27 members.
The initial class included (Nov. 30, 2007): Lew Perkins (former Athletic Director and men's basketball coach), Johanna Gibbs (former volleyball and women's basketball coach), Roberto Hernandez (baseball), Bill Weeks (men's basketball), Faye Ryans Norris (women's basketball), Charlie Colclough (baseball), Greg Gibson (men's basketball), Tisha England (women's basketball), Kim Merrill Brooks (volleyball), Roxanna Rivera Tirado (volleyball), Brian Kassel (golf), Brooks Blackburn (golf) and Jamie Stanley (golf).
Inducted into the second USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame class (Feb. 19, 2010) were Dr. James Barham (former team doctor), Jami Cornwell (softball and women's basketball), Derek Moore (men's basketball) and Dru McPherson Nix (women's basketball and volleyball).
Inducted into the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 17, 2012 were Richard Abney (baseball), Ashley Farr (baseball), Mike Green (men’s soccer), Kendrick Smith (men’s basketball), Sean Gunn (men’s basketball), Meredith Legg (women’s basketball), Ed Reevey (golf) and Adam Riggs (baseball).
A three-time All-America selection, Brown (2002-06) was a two-time Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year choice.
Brown is currently second all-time in career scoring in Pacer history with a 73.06 scoring average in 113 rounds played. Brown owns two of the top five single season scoring averages in school history, including a school-record 71.68 stroke average during his senior year in the 2005-06 season.
Brown was given the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top golfer in NCAA Division II in 2006. He ended his career with nine wins as an individual, which is a Peach Belt Conference record.
In October of 2011, Brown became the first Pacer to earn a PGA Tour card.
The Peach Belt Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2005, Burkhart (2002-06) is third all-time in USC Aiken career scoring with a stroke average of 73.31 in 130 rounds played. Burkhart owns the second-best single season scoring average in school history with his 71.74 stroke average in the 2004-05 season.
Burkhart won individual medalist honors during USC Aiken’s 2005 national championship. He also claimed the Jack Nicklaus award as the top player in NCAA Division II in 2005. Burkhart, who won six times as an individual in his career, was a three-time All-America selection.
