COLUMBUS, Ga.--USC Aiken fired rounds of six-under-par 278 and even-par 284 on day one of the AFLAC/Cougar Invitational to take a commanding 12-stroke lead over Armstrong Atlantic State and the rest of the 18-team field on Monday. The two-time defending NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Champions have three golfers in the top six individually led by senior All-American Scott Brown at seven-under-par.

The 54-hole event is being contested at the 6,515 yard, par 71 Country Club of Columbus in Columbus, Ga. The elite Division II field features 10 of the nation’s top 25 teams.

Following USC Aiken (-6) and Armstrong Atlantic State (+6), Pfeiffer (+12) and West Florida (+12) are a distance third while Georgia College & State University (+13) rounds out the top five.

In his opening round, Brown sat even after five holes with one birdie and one bogey, but with birdies on seven, eight, and 10, the North Augusta native added a birdie four on 17 to finish with a four-under-par 67. His second trip around the course was equally impressive. Three birdies and two bogeys had Brown at one-under-par on his round heading into 17 again, but this time he carded an eagle three to finish up with a three-under-par 68.

The round of the day belonged to Armstrong Atlantic State’s Andrew Workman. Behind a six-under-par 65, Workman vaulted to the top of the individual standings after 36 holes, one shot in front of Brown at eight-under-par.

Heralded freshman Matt Giftos posted rounds of one-over-par 72 and two-under-par 69 to sit in a three-way tie for third with Delta State’s Kevin Jones and Brandon Bennett of West Georgia at one-under-par.

Junior Clint Smith continues to regain his form that made him the 2004 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. The Asheboro, N.C. native carded a one-under-par 70 and a one-over-par 72 and is tied for sixth at even-par.

Dane Burkhart, the reigning NCAA individual champion and Division II Player of the Year, followed up his opening round 71 with a four-over-par 75. The senior All-American never got in a groove in round two recording six bogeys against a pair of birdies and is tied for 23rd.

Sophomore Casey Thompson tied the low round of his collegiate career with a one-under-par 70, but registered a 78 in the evening session. He is tied for 33rd in the 92-player field at six-over-par.

Tuesday’s final round is set to begin at 8:00 AM. Live scoring of the final round is available at www.golfstatresults.com.

AFLAC/COUGAR INVITATIONAL
THE C.C. OF COLUMBUS COLUMBUS, GA
PAR: 71 YARDAGE: 6,515 DATES: OCTOBER 3-4

TEAM RESULTS
1 USC Aiken..................................278 284 562 -6
2 Armstrong Atl. State....................290 284 574 +6
3 Pfeiffer.........................................296 284 580 +12
West Florida....................................293 287 580 +12
5 Georgia Coll. & State....................301 280 581 +13
6 West Georgia...............................297 285 582 +14
7 North Alabama.............................288 295 583 +15
Columbus State...............................293 290 583 +15
9 Valdosta State.............................298 293 591 +23
10 Delta State.................................300 293 593 +25
11 Florida Gulf Coast......................297 297 594 +26
12 Presbyterian..............................295 300 595 +27
13 Barry.........................................298 302 600 +32
14 UNC Pembroke..........................300 301 601 +33
15 Clayton State............................305 303 608 +40
Catawba........................................304 304 608 +40
Lander...........................................300 308 608 +40
18 North Greenville........................305 312 617 +49

USCA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (-6) (1st)
Scott Brown.........................67 68 135 -7 (2nd)
Matt Giftos............................72 69 141 -1 (T-3rd)
Clint Smith.............................70 72 142 E (T-6th)
Dane Burkhart......................71 75 146 +4 (T-23rd)
Casey Thompson.................70 78 148 +6 (T-33rd)

INDIVIDUAL LEADER
Andrew Workman, AASU........69 65 134 -8 (1st)