Diaz and Solis Named to PBC All-Conference Team

CARTHAGE, N.C. – USC Aiken’s Roberto Diaz and J.P. Solis were both named to the 2008-09 Peach Belt All-Conference Men’s Golf Team at a banquet at the Little River Golf Resort on Sunday evening.

Diaz will end his Pacer career as a four-time All-PBC selection. The senior was also named All-PBC in 2006, 2007 and 2008. He is the program’s first ever four-time All-PBC selection.

The double honorees mark the eighth time in the last nine seasons that USC Aiken has had multiple All-PBC honorees. 

The nation’s fourth-ranked team has had at least one All-Conference performer in all 18 years of the Peach Belt Conference.

Diaz has been named the Peach Belt Conference Golfer of the Week three times during the 2008-09 season. Diaz has four top five finishes and seven top 20 finishes in the 2008-09 season and he is currently second in the PBC in stroke average (71.60).

A three-time All-America selection, Diaz (Veracruz, Mexico) picked up his fourth career individual title at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate on Feb. 24. 

The title was the fourth of Diaz’s illustrious career with the Pacers.

Only a sophomore, Solis (Morelia, Mexico) picked up his first ever All-PBC honor on Sunday evening. 

Solis, who has six top 10 finishes in the 2008-09 season, has a stroke average of 72.43.

Solis had his best finish of the year at the Kiawah Island Invitational on Sept. 9. Solis finished tied for first at the event with a two-round score of 133 (64-69). 

Solis shot an opening round 64 at the tournament. The 64 leaves him tied with Diaz for low round of the year. Diaz carded an opening round 64 at the Administaff/ASU Invitational. 

The Pacer golf team will next play in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament hosted by UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C. on Monday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 21. 

USC Aiken is the defending Peach Belt Conference champions and they will be aiming for their ninth PBC Tournament title in the event.

Ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, USC Aiken has claimed four regular season tournaments in the 2008-09 season.

The Pacers have won two tournaments each during the fall and spring. USC Aiken opened the 2008-09 year by taking team honors at the Kiawah Island Invitational in Kiawah Island, S.C. The Pacers also won the highly competitive NCAA Division II Aflac/Cougar Invitational hosted by Columbus State in Oct. of 2008. 

USC Aiken has acquired two NCAA Division I tournament wins in the spring of 2009. The Pacers opened their spring campaign by taking top honors as a team at both the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate hosted by Francis Marion and the 12th Annual Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate at the Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C.

Fans will be able to follow all the action of the PBC Tournament courtesy of live stats through www.golfstat.com. 

The first golfer(s) in the PBC Tournament will go off at 7:48 a.m. on Monday. The tournament will consist of 36 holes on Monday and another 18 on Tuesday.

The 2008-09 All-Conference team was selected by the league’s head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players. 

2008-09 Peach Belt Conference
Golf All-Conference Team
Roberto Diaz, USC Aiken
Andrew Georgiou, Columbus State
Charlie Hoyle, Lander
Niclas Johansson, GCSU
J.P. Solis, USC Aiken
Will Wilcox, Clayton State
Chris Wolfe, Armstrong Atlantic State
Joe Young, GCSU

Player of the Year: Will Wilcox, Clayton State
Freshman of the Year: Jordan Walor, UNC Pembroke
Coach of the Year: Chipper Bagwell, Lander