KIAWAH ISLAND,
S.C.--The top-ranked USC Aiken golf team opened up its 2005-06
season and defense of its back-to-back NCAA Division II Championships
by grabbing the first round lead at the Kiawah Island Invitational.
The Pacers are hosting the 36-hole tournament. USCA shot an opening
round four-over-par 292, five shots ahead of Coker and Pfeiffer. Individually,
Dane Burkhart leads the medalist race after opening with a six-under-par
66.
This second annual two-day event is being 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.
Windy conditions created by Hurricane Ophelia made the difficult course play
even harder, making Burkhart’s 66 look like a masterpiece. Fresh off an
impressive summer of amateur play that saw the Aiken native advance to the match
play round of 16 at the 106th United States Amateur in late August, the reigning
NCAA individual champion and Division II Player of the Year leads Pfeiffer’s
Dave Harris by two shots.
Armstrong Atlantic State recorded a 12-over-par 300 to sit in fourth while Presbyterian
College round out the top five at 13-over-par.
Senior First-Team All-American Scott Brown and redshirt sophomore Casey Thompson
carded opening rounds of three-over-par 75 to sit in a tie for 19th with seven
other golfers. Heralded freshman Matt Giftos fired a four-over-par 76 and is
tied for 28th while junior Clint Smith is tied for 48th after opening with a
seven-over-par 79.
Tuesday’s final 18 holes will decide the 2005 champion. USC Aiken won the
inaugural event last year.
KIAWAH ISLAND INVITATIONAL
COUGAR POINT G.C. KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 6,887 DATES: SEPTEMBER 12-13
TEAM RESULTS
1 USC Aiken...................................292 +4
2 Pfeiffer..........................................297 +9
Coker................................................297 +9
4 Armstrong Atl. State......................300 +12
5 Presbyterian..................................301 +13
6 Newberry......................................303 +15
7 Carson-Newman...........................305 +17
8 Tusculum.......................................306 +18
9 Lenoir-Rhyne.................................307 +19
Clayton State....................................307 +19
11 Lander.........................................310 +22
12 USC Upstate................................311 +23
13 Georgia College & State..............313 +25
North Greenville...............................313 +25
15 Catawba.....................................314 +26
16 UNC Pembroke............................318 +30
17 Barton.........................................319 +31
USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+4) (1st)
Dane Burkhart...........................66 -6 (1st)
Scott Brown..............................75 +3 (T-19th)
Casey Thompson......................75 +3 (T-19th)
Matt Giftos................................76 +4 (T-28th)
Clint Smith.................................79 +7 (T-48th)
INDIVIDUAL LEADER
Dane Burkhart, USC Aiken..........66 -6 (1st)
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