South Carolina-Aiken won its second straight Division II Men's Golf Championships team title, posting a five-stroke margin over host Armstrong Atlantic State May 17-20 in Savannah, Georgia.

The win completes a dominant campaign for the Pacers in which they followed up last year's nine-stroke victory over Cal State Chico at the inaugural Division II National Championships Festival with wins this season in 11 of 13 tournaments, including two Division I events -- all without a senior among the program's top five golfers.

The Pacers began the final round with a four-shot lead, but Armstrong Atlantic State closed to within two with just eight holes to play, largely because of an Ashley Loyd eagle on the par-4 14th hole. But South Carolina-Aiken gained three shots over the next three holes and held onto the five-stroke victory.

The first round of the tournament was hampered by a two-hour rain delay. Once play finally caught up at the midway point of the tournament, South Carolina-Aiken emerged as the frontrunner with a two-shot lead over first-round leader Northern Kentucky and Cal State Bakersfield. At that point, the top 11 teams were separated by just 10 strokes. South Carolina-Aiken's first-round total of 294 was the team's highest for the tournament. The Pacers took control of the field with rounds of 288 and a tournament-best 283 in rounds two and three.

In the race for individual honors, the Pacers' Dane Burkhart carded 3-under-par 68s in both the second and third rounds, then fought off Nick Mason of Hawaii-Hilo down the stretch to win medalist honors. Burkhart had to birdie the 17th hole to escape with a one-shot win. The two golfers were separated by just one stroke in last year's tournament as well, with Mason tying for fifth, one stroke ahead of Burkhart.

Burkhart, South Carolina-Aiken's first medalist, won two tournaments this year and posted 12 top-10 finishes. His 71.74 stroke average was second-best in Division II, and he is the first Pacer to finish the season with a stroke average under par.

Todd Dayton of Central Oklahoma fired the best final-round score of 4-under-par 67 to finish third in the individual standings. Brice Garnett of Missouri Western State finished fourth, followed by Jonathan Cox of Armstrong Atlantic State, Marc Peterson of Cal State Chico and Blake Slaughter of St. Edward's, who all tied for fifth.

Other South Carolina-Aiken golfers to contribute were Scott Brown, whose second-round 68 helped him to a 10th place tie, and Clint Smith, who birdied two of the final three holes in the last round to tie for 20th at 9-over par.

Armstrong Atlantic State's second-place finish was the school's best since the school's golf program was reinstated in 2000. St. Edward's, making its first appearance in the championships, finished six strokes behind the Pirates. Cal State Bakersfield and Hawaii-Hilo rounded out the top five. Rollins shot the best aggregate score in the final round and placed sixth.

South Carolina-Aiken is the first repeat champion since Florida Southern won three straight titles from 1998 to 2000. The Pacers also were runners-up at the 1995, 1996 and 1999 championships.

Team results

1. S.C.-Aiken, 294-288-283-293 -- 1,158; 2. Armstrong Atlantic, 289-296-284-294 -- 1,163; 3. St. Edward's, 288-299-292-290 -- 1,169; 4. Cal St. Bakersfield, 290-294-296-290 -- 1,170; 5. Hawaii-Hilo, 299-291-289-294 -- 1,173; 6. Rollins, 294-296-298-286 -- 1,174; 7. Cal St. Chico, 293-294-298-290 -- 1,175; 8. Lynn, 293-296-295-292 -- 1,176; 9. Western Wash., 299-293-296-294 -- 1,182; 10. Washburn, 290-298-296-299 -- 1,183; 11. Delta St., 304-304-279-298 -- 1,185; 12. Northern Ky., 287-297-302-301 -- 1,187; 13. Central Okla., 297-305-289-298 -- 1,189; 14. Columbus St., 298-298-299-295 -- 1,190; 15. GC&SU, 305-309-288-302 -- 1,204; 16. Pfeiffer, 297-304-297-309 -- 1,207; 17. St. Martin's, 302-306-298-302 -- 1,208; 18. Indiana (Pa.), 297-309-302-304 -- 1,212; 19. Bryant, 306-301-300-311 -- 1,218; 20. Minn. St. Mankato, 307-308-310-306 -- 1,231.

Individual results

1. Dane Burkhart, S.C.-Aiken, 71-68-68-72 -- 279; 2. Nick Mason, Hawaii-Hilo, 74-69-67-70 -- 280; 3. Todd Dayton, Central Okla., 75-69-73-67 -- 284; 4. Brice Garnett, Mo. Western St., 66-75-71-73 -- 285; 5. (tie) Jonathan Cox, Armstrong Atlantic, 73-71-71-71 -- 286; Marc Peterson, Cal St. Chico, 70-71-74-71 -- 286; and Blake Slaughter, St. Edward's, 68-77-72-69 -- 286; 8. Dan Walters, Rollins, 73-73-70-71 -- 287; 9. Clark Richardson, Delta St., 74-75-68-71 -- 288; 10. (tie) Mark Baker, Cal St. Bakersfield, 69-74-75-71 -- 289; Scott Brown, S.C.-Aiken, 77-68-73-71 -- 289; Tim Feenstra, Western Wash., 74-72-70-73 -- 289; and Keir McNicoll, Lynn, 71-74-73-71 -- 289.

Team results

1. S.C.-Aiken, 294-288-283-293 - 1,158; 2. Armstrong Atlantic, 289-296-284-294 - 1,163; 3. St. Edward's, 288-299-292-290 - 1,169; 4. Cal St. Bakersfield, 290-294-296-290 - 1,170; 5. Hawaii-Hilo, 299-291-289-294 - 1,173; 6. Rollins, 294-296-298-286 - 1,174; 7. Cal St. Chico, 293-294-298-290 - 1,175; 8. Lynn, 293-296-295-292 - 1,176; 9. Western Wash., 299-293-296-294 - 1,182; 10. Washburn, 290-298-296-299 - 1,183; 11. Delta St., 304-304-279-298 - 1,185; 12. Northern Ky., 287-297-302-301 - 1,187; 13. Central Okla., 297-305-289-298 - 1,189; 14. Columbus St., 298-298-299-295 - 1,190; 15. GC&SU, 305-309-288-302 - 1,204; 16. Pfeiffer, 297-304-297-309 - 1,207; 17. St. Martin's, 302-306-298-302 - 1,208; 18. Indiana (Pa.), 297-309-302-304 - 1,212; 19. Bryant, 306-301-300-311 - 1,218; 20. Minn. St. Mankato, 307-308-310-306 - 1,231.

Individual results

1. Dane Burkhart, S.C.-Aiken, 71-68-68-72 - 279; 2. Nick Mason, Hawaii-Hilo, 74-69-67-70 - 280; 3. Todd Dayton, Central Okla., 75-69-73-67 - 284; 4. Brice Garnett, Mo. Western St., 66-75-71-73 - 285; 5. (tie) Jonathan Cox, Armstrong Atlantic, 73-71-71-71 - 286; Marc Peterson, Cal St. Chico, 70-71-74-71 - 286; and Blake Slaughter, St. Edward's, 68-77-72-69 - 286; 8. Dan Walters, Rollins, 73-73-70-71 - 287; 9. Clark Richardson, Delta St., 74-75-68-71 - 288; 10. (tie) Mark Baker, Cal St. Bakersfield, 69-74-75-71 - 289; Scott Brown, S.C.-Aiken, 77-68-73-71 - 289; Tim Feenstra, Western Wash., 74-72-70-73 - 289; and Keir McNicoll, Lynn, 71-74-73-71 - 289; 14. (tie) Hoyt McGarity, Lynn, 73-71-74-72 - 290; and Shane Prante, St. Martin's, 79-70-71-70 - 290; 16. (tie) Jeremiah Nelson, Washburn, 68-73-74-76 - 291; and Cody Slover, Cal St. Bakersfield, 72-73-76-70 - 291; 18. (tie) Tyler Duncan, St. Edward's, 72-73-73-74 - 292; and John Tillery, GC&SU, 73-75-73-71 - 292; 20. (tie) Luke Bennett, Western Wash., 72-75-75-71 - 293; Tripp Coggins, Armstrong Atlantic, 74-73-71-75 - 293; Brandon Kuban, Columbus St., 74-72-73-74 - 293; Greg Lopez, Cal St. Bakersfield, 72-71-75-75 - 293; Darren Lundgren, Rollins, 74-72-76-71 - 293; Chris McGown, Washburn, 71-76-70-76 - 293; and Clint Smith, S.C.-Aiken, 70-73-75-75 - 293; 27. (tie) Mitch Berg, Cal St. Chico, 75-74-74-71 - 294; Chris Epperson, Armstrong Atlantic, 73-80-67-74 - 294; Josh Immordino, Western Wash., 76-69-73-76 - 294; Garrett Okamura, Hawaii-Hilo, 75-73-73-73 - 294; Christian Ries, Columbus St., 77-75-74-68 - 294; Pier-Andre Roy, Delta St., 75-72-72-75 - 294; and Kevin Shimomura, Hawaii-Hilo, 75-74-71-74 - 294; 34. (tie) Ryan Deutsch, Washburn, 77-74-73-71 - 295; Ashley Loyd, Armstrong Atlantic, 70-76-75-74 - 295; and Andy Moren, Cal St. Stanislaus, 68-76-73-78 - 295; 37. (tie) Brad Conner, North Ala., 74-76-71-75 - 296; Andrew Pranger, Rollins, 73-75-72-76 - 296; and David Shearer, Northern Ky., 71-73-79-73 - 296; 40. Nick Cristea, St. Edward's, 77-72-75-73 - 297; Gavin Dear, Lynn, 75-75-72-75 - 297; and Kevin Jones, Delta St., 77-77-68-75 - 297; 43. (tie) Stephen Clark, Pfeiffer, 70-80-77-71 - 298; and Chris Massoletti, Cal St. Chico, 72-74-76-76 - 298; 45. Eric Anderson, Indiana (Pa.), 73-81-71-74 - 299; 46. (tie) Matt Bookatz, Lynn, 74-76-76-74 - 300; D.J. Fernando, Cal St. Bakersfield, 77-76-73-74 - 300; Mark Krahe, Northern Ky., 72-74-83-71 - 300; Pablo Rosas, St. Edward's, 71-78-77-74 - 300; Omar Sanchez, Columbus St., 71-72-75-82 - 300; Jess Stimack, Cal St. Chico, 78-75-75-72 - 300; and Casey Thompson, S.C.-Aiken, 76-79-70-75 - 300; 53. (tie) Matt Ellis, Central Okla., 74-75-74-78 - 301; Andrew Jewell, Northern Ky., 73-73-72-83 - 301; and Jason Pendleton, Minn. St. Mankato, 77-72-76-76 - 301; 56. (tie) Greg Dobbins, UNC Pembroke, 78-77-71-76 - 302; Dan Falcucci, Bryant, 75-74-78-75 - 302; Dave Falcucci, Bryant, 81-73-73-75 - 302; and Graham Hill, Indiana (Pa.), 78-73-74-77 - 302; 60. (tie) Jonathan Buchanan, St. Edward's, 78-77-72-76 - 303; and Niclas Szeiger, GC&SU, 78-76-69-80 - 303; 62. (tie) Ian Kenwright, Pfeiffer, 75-73-79-77 - 304; Donnie Martin, Central Okla., 74-82-72-76 - 304; and Jordan Stelmach, Pfeiffer, 75-76-70-83 - 304; 65. (tie) Juan Bialet, GC&SU, 77-80-73-75 - 305; Jared Bouchey, St. Martin's, 73-79-76-77 - 305; Colin Gilliam, Hawaii-Hilo, 75-75-78-77 - 305; Daniel Laughlin, Rollins, 75-76-81-73 - 305; Curtis Phelps, Northern Ky., 71-80-77-77 - 305; and Dan Thompson, Indiana (Pa.), 74-77-78-76 - 305; 71. (tie) Tim Acquaviva, Rollins, 74-81-80-71 - 306; Jason Fober, Armstrong Atlantic, 73-76-81-76 -- 306; and Sam Proal, Central Okla., 79-79-71-77 - 306; 74. (tie) Johan Cronvall, GC&SU, 77-78-76-76 - 307; Jonathan Ehlen, Northern Ky., 76-77-74-80 - 307; David Harris, Pfeiffer, 77-77-73-80 - 307; and Brenden Smith, Bryant, 74-75-72-86 - 307; 78. Matt Warnock, Washburn, 76-75-81-76 - 308; 79. Matt Hicks, West Liberty St., 79-79-73-78 - 309; 80. (tie) Thomas Facciani, Indiana (Pa.), 72-78-83-77 - 310; Paul Resner, Washburn, 75-80-79-76 -- 310; and Bobby Thomas, Columbus St., 78-79-77-76 - 310; 83. (tie) John Skelton, Cal St. Chico, 76-80-75-80 - 311; and Chris Westrum, St. Martin's, 81-78-76-76 - 311; 85. (tie) Matt Dawson, Minn. St. Mankato, 74-83-75-80 - 312; Brandon Loesch, Minn. St. Mankato, 77-79-80-76 - 312; and Tyler Rolley, S.C.-Aiken, 83-80-72-77 - 312; 88. Chris Hutson, Central Okla., 74-83-73-83 - 313; 89. (tie) Rodney Boswell, Delta St., 78-80-75-81 - 314; Jim O'Connell, Bryant, 77-79-79-79 - 314; Bryan Shumate, Delta St., 84-82-71-77 - 314; Kevin Starr, Cal St. Bakersfield, 77-81-73-83 - 314; and Matt Whelband, Pfeiffer, 78-78-77-81 - 314; 94. (tie) Chris Anderson, Western Wash., 77-78-78-82 - 315; Stu Bell, Western Wash., 77-77-87-74 - 315; and Carter Collins, GC&SU, 81-81-73-80 - 315; 97. (tie) Ryan Carlson, Minn. St. Mankato, 79-79-79-79 - 316; and Jake Spott, Minn. St. Mankato, 81-78-82-75 - 316; 99. (tie) Jordan Burns, St. Martin's, 77-79-75-86 - 317; and Kris Swanson, St. Martin's, 73-79-86-79 - 317; 101. (tie) Michael Morrow, Columbus St., 76-86-79-77 - 318; and Sebastian Salem, Lynn, 79-80-80-79 - 318; 103. (tie) Brian Galica, Indiana (Pa.), 80-81-79-79 - 319; and Mike Philipp, Bryant, 80-80-77-82 - 319; 105. Troy Higashiyama, Hawaii-Hilo, 80-84-86-87 - 337.