FLORENCE, S.C.--The two-time defending NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Champions blistered the Country Club of South Carolina on Monday bolting to an 11-shot lead over the Division I field at the 21st Raines Development Group Intercollegiate. A 36-hole total of 18-under-par leads Francis Marion by 11 and South Carolina by 15 strokes. Senior All-American Scott Brown leads the individual race while Dane Burkhart is second, two shots back.

The two-day event is being contested at the 7,062 yard, par 72 Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, S.C. Francis Marion, now Division I in men’s golf, is serving as the host for the 14-team event. Georgia College & State University joins USCA as the only Division II teams in the field.

Following an opening round of six-under-par 282, the Pacers found themselves tied atop the leaderboard with Elon University. But after a scorching second round of 12-under-par 276, top-ranked USC Aiken created sizable distance between itself and the rest of the field. All five Pacers were under par in round two.

After USCA (-18), Francis Marion is second at seven-under-par while South Carolina, Elon, and Kennesaw State are tied for third at three-under-par. Davidson (+4), Jacksonville (+7), Charleston Southern (+9), Old Dominion (+9), and Western Carolina (+13) round out spots six through 10.

Brown carded an opening round two-under-par 70 and followed that up with a five-under-par 67. The North Augusta, S.C. native is two shots in front of Burkhart and Western Carolina’s Matt Cook. The 54-hole tournament record of nine-under-par was set by South Alabama’s Ryan Glidersleeve in 2002, thus another round in the 60’s would give that honor to Brown, who is seeking his seventh-straight top 10 finish.

Burkhart opened with a one-under-par 71 and then fired a 68 on his second time around the course. The reigning NCAA individual champion and Division II Player of the Year is fresh off his sixth career victory last weekend at the Kiawah Island Invitational and a win on Tuesday would tie Jamie Stanley’s (1993-97) school and Peach Belt Conference record for career wins.

Heralded freshman Matt Giftos carded back-to-back rounds of two-under-par 70. The Heritage Academy product is tied with Jacksonville’s Jamie Kennedy and Louis-Piere Godin of Francis Marion for fourth place.

Junior Clint Smith also turned in two-straight rounds in red figures with a pair of 71’s to sit in a seven-way tie for ninth. Sophomore Casey Thompson shot 75 and 71 and is tied for 30th in the 75-player field at two-over-par.

Winners of six-straight, the Pacers are one victory shy of their own Peach Belt Conference record set last year. It would also be the team’s 13th win in their last 15 events. The 2005 Hall of Fame Invitational in mid-March was the last time USCA entered a tournament and did not end up at the top of the leaderboard.

With Tuesday’s final round still to play, USC Aiken will be seeking to smash the 54-hole tournament record of four-under-par 860 established by Jacksonville State in 1998.

21st RAINES DEVELOPMENT GROUP INTERCOLLEGIATE
THE C.C. OF SOUTH CAROLINA FLORENCE, SC
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 7,062 DATES: SEPTEMBER 19-20

TEAM RESULTS
1 USC Aiken.....................................282 276 558 -18
2 Francis Marion................................288 281 569 -7
3 South Carolina................................290 283 573 -3
Elon....................................................282 291 573 -3
Kennesaw State................................283 290 573 -3
6 Davidson........................................290 290 580 +4
7 Jacksonville....................................292 291 583 +7
8 Charleston Southern......................296 289 585 +9
Old Dominion.....................................296 289 585 +9
10 Western Carolina.........................297 292 589 +13
11 Liberty..........................................290 301 591 +15
12 Georgia College & State...............300 298 598 +22
13 William & Mary..............................291 308 599 +23
14 Gardner-Webb.............................313 287 600 +24

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (-18) (1st)
Scott Brown............................70 67 137 -7 (1st)
Dane Burkhart.........................71 68 139 -5 (T-2nd)
Matt Giftos..............................70 70 140 -4 (T-4th)
Clint Smith................................71 71 142 -2 (T-9th)
Casey Thompson....................75 71 146 +2 (T-30th)

INDIVIDUAL LEADER
Scott Brown, USC Aiken..........70 67 137 -7 (1st)