USC Aiken, Atkins Claim PBC Men’s Golf Championships
Pine Mountain, Ga. -- The nationally third-ranked University of
South Carolina Aiken men's golf team claimed the team title at the
2013 Peach Belt Conference Men's Golf Championship at the par-72,
7,057-yard Mountain View Course at Callaway Gardens. The
Pacers edged out second-place Columbus State, who fired the low
round of the day at 286 and finished two strokes behind the
Pacers. Armstrong finished third with Georgia Southwestern in
fourth.
USC Aiken concluded the three rounds of the Peach Belt
Conference Men’s Golf Championship with a team score of 873
(300-282-291). USC Aiken now has nine Peach Belt Conference
team championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008
and 2013).
Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year Matt Atkins claimed
individual medalist honors for USC Aiken at the championship.
Atkins finished his three rounds with a 4-under score of 212
(78-65-69) and was the only player to finish the tournament under
par.
Columbus State’s Bryan Lichimo finished second with an
even-par 216 following a final-round 74. Armstrong’s
Cory Griffin and Georgia Southwestern’s Matthew Whittaker
were tied for third at 218. Four players finished in a tie
for fifth at 219, all players who finished fifth or better,
including ties, were named to the All-Tournament team.
Also for USCA, Mark Dickson (Edinburgh, Scotland/Firrhill)
closed out the Peach Belt Conference Championship in a tie for
fifth at 219 (71-73-75).
The fifth place finish allowed Dickson to join Atkins on the
2013 Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team.
All five of the Pacers finished in the top-30 individually with
JP Solis (Morelia, Mexico/Lico Morelia) tying for 17th at 222
(74-69-79). USC Aiken’s Hayden Letien (Sumter, S.C./Sumter
HS) tied for 25th at 226 (79-75-72).
Taylor Welborn (LaGrange, Ga./Darton) finished in a tie for 28th
(77-76-75=228).
USC Aiken will next compete in the 2013 NCAA South/Southeast
Regional, having won the PBC’s automatic bid to the event.
The field for the regional will be unveiled at 4 p.m. on Friday,
April 26.