Barton, usc aiken win Atlantic, Southeast golf titles!

Barton, USC Aiken win Atlantic, Southeast golf titles!

WILSON, NC – Host Barton College and the University of South Carolina-Aiken defended their regional championships Wednesday at the Wilson Country Club in the NCAA D-II Atlantic/Southeast Regional Golf Tournament.

Barton, ranked 14 th nationally, shot 293-299-592 to finish six shots clear of 21st -ranked Pfeiffer University (299-299-598) and 12 shots up on 19 th -ranked Coker (300-304-604).

The Bulldogs were paced by junior Josh Talton (69-75-144) and senior Courtney Faircloth (72-72-144), who finished in a tie for first individually with Lees-McRae’s Dion Sirriani (72-72-144). Talton emerged the medalist when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. Sirriani, by virtue of being the highest finishing individual not on the winning team, will get a trip to next week’s National Championships, scheduled for Wednesday-Saturday at the Victoria Hills Country Club in Deland, Fla.

Coker’s Chad Parramore and Queens University of Charlotte’s Chris White tied for fourth, just one shot back at 72-73-145.

USC Aiken, ranked 4th nationally, cruised to the Southeast title by firing a collegiate course record of 289-289-578 (2-over par). The previous two-day tournament record was 291-291-582 by Barton in 2002.

The Pacers had three players at even par or better. Scott Brown shot 72-70-142 and teammates James McGhee and Clint Smith recorded identical 72-72-144 scores.

Brown lost in a playoff for medalist to Kennesaw State’s Kris Shepherd, who carded a 70-72-142 (2-under par) to earn the individual spot in Nationals. Kennesaw’s Scott Campbell also shot even par at 74-70-144.

Finishing second in the Southeast team race was Kennesaw State at 292-294-586, followed by 3 rd -ranked Armstrong Atlantic University at 295-295-590.

Francis Marion, ranked 7th , and 13th -ranked Carson-Newman were eliminated from eligibility for the NCAA Championships because they did not finish in the top five of their regional. Columbus State and Georgia College & State University finished tied for fourth at 601.

5-4-04

Barton, USC Aiken lead NCAA D-II Super Regional

The scheduled 54-hole event was shortened because nearly four inches of rain on Sunday and Monday made the course unplayable. None of the teams was able to get in a practice round on the par 72, 6,774-yard layout.

Nationally 4 th -ranked USC Aiken had the low round of the day, a 1-over 289 for its low four individuals, three shots better than Kennesaw State (292) and six better than 3 rd -ranked Armstrong Atlantic University (295).

Rounding out the Southeast field was Georgia College & State University (300), Carson-Newman College (302), Presbyterian (304), defending National Champion Francis Marion (307) and Columbus State (308).

Individual leaders for the Southeast Region are Kris Shepherd of Kennesaw (70) and Wes Ker-Fox of Columbus State (71). USC Aiken’s Scott Brown, James McGhee and Clint Smith all fired even-par 72s to deadlock for third place with Armstrong’s Chris Epperson.

Barton, ranked 14 th , fired a 5-over 293 to take a two-shot lead over Belmont Abbey. Pfeiffer, ranked 21 st , is third at 299, followed by 19 th -ranked Coker at 300. Rounding out the Atlantic Region standings are St. Andrews (302), Queens University of Charlotte (308), Anderson (310) and Fayetteville State (340).

Barton and USC Aiken are the defending champs of their respective regionals.

The winning team and low individual not on a winning team in each regional earns an automatic berth to next week’s NCAA D-II National Championships at the Victoria Hills Country Club in Deland, Fla.

5-4-04

NCAA D-II Atlantic/Southeast Super Regional delayed by rain

More than 3.5 inches of rain has fallen in Wilson over the last few days, prompting tournament officials to push back the start of Tuesday's opening round in the 54-hole event to 10 a.m. The original starting tee times were set for 8 a.m.

The event can be followed live on www.golfstat. com.

Rain was still falling as of 6 a.m. this morning, so further delays, or maybe a cancellation of the first round, is possible. Teams must play 36 holes for the event to be considered official.

The tournament includes nine of the top 21 teams from the latest Golfstat poll, including No. 14 Barton, No. 19 Coker and No. 21 Pfeiffer from the Atlantic and No. 3 Armstrong Atlantic, No. 4 USC Aiken, No. 7 Francis Marion, No. 12 Georgia College & State University, No. 13 Carson-Newman and No. 18 Columbus State from the Southeast.

Barton is the defending Atlantic champ and USC Aiken won last year's Southeast Regional. Francis Marion is the defending NCAA D-II National Champion.