AIKEN, S.C.- Led by freshman Andrew Pitcher's 11th-place finish, Francis Marion University finished seventh in the team standings at the ninth-annual Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate championship, hosted by USC Aiken.
For the second consecutive year, USCA and the University of Houston shared the team title, both finishing play at 17-over-par. In 2005, the two teams tried two playoff holes to determine a winner, but to no avail. This year, the Cougars again had to zip out of town and to the airport to catch their flight, not allowing for a playoff. Houston’s Jordan Irwin also claimed medalist honors for the second straight year.
The 54-hole event was contested at the 6,565 yard, par-71 Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken. 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.
USCA and Houston finished with 869 team scores, followed by Virginia Commonwealth University (873), College of Charleston (881), University of Maryland (883), East Carolina University (886), FMU (888), Furman University (890), Iowa State University (906), University of Rhode Island (907), Presbyterian College (925), and Tulane University (929).
Houston began the final round 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.
Pitcher fired a final-round 75 to finish tied for 11th at five-over-par 218 (74-69-75). Senior Adam Hart tied for 22nd (77-70-75=222), Jacob Tveit tied for 30th (79-73-73=225), Colin Floyd tied for 37th (81-73-74=228), and Luke Hart tied for 46th (76-78-77=231).
Tveit carded a hole-in-one on the par-three 11th hole during the second round.
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. USCA senior All-American Scott Brown finished in a tie for second with VCU’s Daryl Chappell at two-over-par 215.
Francis Marion will participate in the Furman Intercollegiate Tournament, March 24-26.
NINTH-ANNUAL CLEVELAND GOLF PALMETTO INTERCOLLEGIATE
PALMETO G.C. AIKEN, S.C.
PAR: 71 YARDAGE: 6,565 DATES: MARCH 13-14
TEAM RESULTS
1 USC Aiken 291 293 285 869 +17
Houston 288 293 288 869 +17
3 VCU 290 284 299 873 +21
4 College of Charleston 291 286 304 881 +29
5 Maryland 301 292 290 883 +31
6 East Carolina 302 283 301 886 +34
7 Francis Marion 306 285 297 888 +36
8 Furman 289 293 308 890 +38
9 Iowa State 300 306 300 906 +54
10 Rhode Island 304 295 308 907 +55
11 Presbyterian 303 310 312 925 +73
12 Tulane 298 309 322 929 +77
Men's Sports
