Tuesday, March 14, 2006
USC AIKEN
& HOUSTON SHARE PALMETTO TITLE
FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
Blue Hose finish 11th after shooting final round
312
AIKEN, S.C. — For the second consecutive year, USC Aiken and the University of Houston shared the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate championship, both finishing play on Tuesday at 17-over-par. Presbyterian College moved up one spot to finish in 11th place after shooting a final round 312.
In 2005, the two teams tried two playoff holes to determine a winner, but to no avail. This year, in the ninth edition of the event, the Cougars again had to zip out of town and to the airport to catch their flight, not allowing for a playoff.
The 54-hole event was contested at the 6,565-yard, par 71 Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. Founded in 1892, Palmetto is recognized as the fourth oldest golf course in the United States and holds the oldest membership certificate to the USGA still in existence.
It is USC Aiken’s third Palmetto Intercollegiate title, while Houston claims a share of their second in as many tries.
Houston began the day in third place, trailing day one leader VCU by seven shots, while USC Aiken was another three strokes back in fifth place. But both the Pacers and Cougars separated themselves from the field, posting the day’s best scores amidst windy conditions. USCA fired a one-over-par 285 while Houston concluded the day with a four-over-par 288. VCU (+21) dropped back to third with a final round 299. College of Charleston (+29) and Maryland (+31) rounded out the top five.
Houston’s Jordan Irwin claimed medalist honors for the second-straight year. Irwin fired a final round of even-par 71 to finish at one-under-par 212 for the 54 holes, the lone player in the 65-member field to card red numbers. USC Aiken senior All-American Scott Brown finished in a tie for second with VCU’s Daryl Chappell at two-over-par 215.
Presbyterian’s sophomore Hugh Morrison (Macon, Ga.) finished T-27th after shooting a final round 78 for a three-round score of 224. Freshman Rob Varner (Columbus, Ga.) finished T-49th with a score of 232, while junior Patrick Townes (Summerville, S.C.) placed T-54th with a score of 233. Junior Ben Karns (Gaffney, S.C.) finished 59th (237), while younger brother Andy Karns (Gaffney, S.C.) finished 64th at 249.
The Blue
Hose return to action on March 27-28 as they participate in
the Bobcat Invitational held at the Cuscowilla Golf Club in
Eatonton, Ga.
|
NINTH ANNUAL CLEVELAND GOLF PALMETTO
INTERCOLLEGIATE - FINAL RESULTS |
||||
| Teams | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Totals |
| T-1. USC Aiken | 291 | 293 | 285 | 869 |
| T-1. University of Houston | 288 | 293 | 288 | 869 |
| 3. Virginia Commonwealth | 290 | 284 | 299 | 873 |
| 4. College of Charleston | 291 | 286 | 304 | 881 |
| 5. University of Maryland | 301 | 292 | 290 | 883 |
| 6. East Carolina University | 302 | 283 | 301 | 886 |
| 7. Francis Marion University | 306 | 285 | 297 | 888 |
| 8. Furman University | 289 | 293 | 308 | 890 |
| 9. Iowa State University | 300 | 306 | 300 | 906 |
| 10. University of Rhode Island | 304 | 295 | 308 | 907 |
| 11. Presbyterian College | 303 | 310 | 312 | 925 |
| 12. Tulane University | 298 | 309 | 322 | 929 |
| PC INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (11th) | ||||
| T-27. Hugh Morrison | 73 | 73 | 78 | 224 |
| T-49. Rob Varner | 79 | 73 | 80 | 232 |
| T-54 Patrick Townes | 73 | 83 | 77 | 233 |
| 59. Ben Karns | 78 | 82 | 77 | 237 |
| 64. Andy Karns | 82 | 82 | 84 | 249 |