AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken fired a final round of even-par 280 to win their third-straight Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate title, Tuesday afternoon (March 13), while Francis Marion University finished 15th.

USCA, the three-time defending NCAA Division II national champions, had shared the last two crowns with the University of Houston, but claimed the 2007 edition by six strokes over Virginia Tech.  Sophomore All-American Roberto Diaz of USCA took medalist honors with a final-round 67. 

The 54-hole event was contested at the 6,565 yard, par 70 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.  

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.  The University of 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 University (+41) round out the top five. FMU carded a final-round 299 tally to finish with a 904 team score.

FMU sophomore Andrew Pitcher tied for eighth position at 6-over-par 216. He fired a 74 on Tuesday over the final 18 holes.

Other Patriot golfers included freshman Christopher Couch tied for 35th place (77-75-72=224), sophomore Ronan O’Connor tied for 60th (77-79-75=231), freshman Jonathan Lavin tied for 76th (79-81-78=238), and junior Jacob Tveit in 80th (74-83-84=241). Frederick Fox competed as an individual and finished tied for 73rd position (78-76-83=237).  

The shot of the day belonged to Francis Marion’s Couch as he aced the 187-yard, par-three ninth hole.  

FMU will compete in the Furman University Intercollegiate Tournament, March 23-25, in Greenville.