 AIKEN,
S.C.--The rest of the nation is starting to find out what those
close to the USC Aiken golf program have known for over a decade, that
the Pacers are among the elite teams in the all of collegiate golf--regardless
of division. USC Aiken came in at #21 in Golf Digest’s first-ever
ranking of the nation’s best golf colleges. The only other program
in South Carolina on the list was Clemson at number five. Local rival
Augusta State, which competes at Division I in golf, was four spots
beneath the Pacers at number 25 while the University of South Carolina
did not make the list. September’s issue containing the 18-page
special is on newsstands now.
“When you look at the criteria used of academics, climate,
coach/golf facilities,
and golf performance, Golf Digest’s rankings only confirmed what we already
knew about our golf program and USC Aiken,” said Randy Warrick, USCA Athletic
Director. “This is yet another tribute to the on-going success Coach Carlisle
has perpetuated and to the student-athletes in the program.”
According to Golf Digest, the “Golf First” category is for “the
best junior players, the kind of who hope to play professionally after college.” There
is also weight given to facilities and competition as schools seen in this grouping
are “training grounds for future tour pros.” Golf performance was
60 percent of the final index, coach/facilities was 20 percent, and academics
and climate were each another 10 percent.
“We are real happy that the University and our program has received this
type of recognition,” said USCA head coach Michael Carlisle. “It
is a testament to our student-athletes as well as our athletic department’s
commitment to success.”
Carlisle, entering his 16th season at the helm, is a five-time conference coach
of the year, seven-time region coach of the year, and the 2004 National Coach
of the Year.
Georgia Tech was ranked as the nation’s top school. Texas came in second
followed by Florida, UCLA, and Clemson rounding out the top five.
USC Aiken finished up the most dominating season in the history of
Division II men’s golf in 2004-05 winning 11 of 13 tournaments
including the program’s second consecutive NCAA Championship. Along
the way, the Pacers notched their sixth Peach Belt Conference crown and
their fourth-straight NCAA Southeast Region title, not to mention winning
the 36th Annual Furman Intercollegiate and the Palmetto Intercollegiate
while placing tied for eighth at the prestigious Hall of Fame Invitational.
With the return of the 2005 NCAA individual champion and reigning Division
II Player of the Year Dane Burkhart alongside fellow PING First-Team All-American
Scott Brown, the Pacers will be the odds on favorite to three-peat which has
been done just once before in the 43-year history of the championship.
Golf Digest’s “Best Golf Colleges”
September 2005
Team......................................Final Index
1. Georgia Tech.......................88.15
2. Texas...................................87.79
3. Florida..................................87.43
4. UCLA...................................87.32
5. Clemson...............................87.44
6. Oklahoma State....................85.66
7. Georgia................................85.18
8. Arizona................................84.94
9. UNLV...................................84.73
10. New Mexico......................84.28
11. Arizona State....................84.19
12. Southern Cal.....................84.08
13. Wake Forest.....................83.40
14. Duke..................................83.24
15. Pepperdine........................82.68
16. Texas Christian.................82.62
17. Washington.......................82.61
18. North Carolina...................82.45
19. California...........................82.09
20. BYU..................................81.74
21. USC Aiken......................81.67
22. Auburn.............................81.51
23. Stanford...........................81.47
24. Tulsa................................81.44
25. Augusta State..................81.39
|
