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Tuesday, March 13, 2007 PC Finishes 14th At Palmetto Intercollegiate Final Results The 54-hole event was contested at the 6,565 yard, par 70 Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. and hosted by the Pacers. Sixth-ranked USC Aiken fired a final round of even-par 280 to win their third-straight Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate title on Tuesday afternoon. The three-time defending NCAA Division II National Champions had shared their last two crowns with the University of Houston, but claimed the 2007 edition by six strokes over Virginia Tech. Sophomore All-American Roberto Diaz made it a clean sweep for the Pacer contingent, taking medalist honors with a final round 67. It is USC Aiken’s fourth Palmetto Intercollegiate title, but their first outright win since 1999. The Pacers win their second Division I tournament of the season and their seventh in the last three years. Virginia Tech began the day eight shots ahead of USC Aiken following Monday’s 36 holes, but a final round 294 bumped the Hokies to runner-up at 27-over-par. USCA carded the best round of the tournament, 280, to finish at 21-over-par. Nebraska entered the final round in a three-way tie for sixth, but a final round two-over-par 282 vaulted the Huskers into third place at 32-over-par for the tournament. The College of Charleston (+35) and St. John’s (+41) round out the top five. In earning his second career individual tournament title, Diaz becomes the third Pacer to capture the Palmetto crown joining Aaron Black (2003) and Brock Ehler (1999). Andre Thorsen of East Carolina took second with a final round 70 to finish at even-par 210 while Virginia Tech’s Nick MacDonald also shot 70 to place third at one-over-par 211. The shot of the day belonged to Francis Marion’s Chris Couch as he aced the 187-yard, par three ninth hole. Couch finished with a 72 and tied for 35th at 14-over-par. The Blue Hose will next play in the Southeastern Collegiate in Valdosta, Ga. The tournament will run from March 18-20. |