SAVANNAH, Ga. - USC Aiken's day began at the crack of dawn and ended 12 hours later.
The No. 1-ranked Pacers played 26 holes, waited out another long rain delay and found themselves in a familiar position when the sun set: Charging to the top of the leader board.
USC Aiken carded the best round of the day, 4-over-par 288 on Wednesday in the second round of the NCAA Division II National Championships to grab the clubhouse lead at The Club at Savannah Harbor.
Junior Pacers Dane Burkhart and Scott Brown shot matching 3-under-par 68s to lead USC Aiken to a two-round total of 14-over-par 582. Hawaii-Hilo (292) trails by eight and is followed by Columbus State (298, 596).
"We got a little better feel for the golf course," said USC Aiken coach Michael Carlisle, whose team has won 10 of 12 tournaments this season. "I think we made up some ground today. How much remains to be seen."
Second-round play was called due to darkness at 8:11 p.m., with 12 teams still on the course. Play resumes at 6:45 this morning. Teams will then be re-paired before the third round, which is expected to begin at 9:30.
St. Edward's and CSU-Bakersfield are the on-course leaders at 12-over-par - two shots better than USC Aiken. Other teams yet to finish their second round include: Northern Kentucky (13-over), Chico State (15-over) and Armstrong Atlantic State (16-over).
Those teams will get to experience what USC Aiken did Wednesday morning. The Pacers resumed their first round at 6:45. USC Aiken then opened second-round play on No. 10 tee at 10:15 and got only a few holes into the round before stopping again. Rainy conditions halted play for 2 hours, the second delay in two days.
When the Pacers got back on the course, Brown and Burkhart soon found their games. Burkhart drained short birdie putts on Nos. 16 and 17 before hitting an approach to three inches on No. 2 for another birdie.
"I knew I had a good round in me," Burkhart said. "The first round, I just didn't hit any greens. I didn't have any birdie chances. Today, I had a couple of short ones. And I pretty much took advantage of every one."
After an opening-round 71, Burkhart leads the individual portion at 3-under-par 138 with 36 holes remaining. First-round leader Brice Garnett, of Missouri Western State, shot 76 to fall two shots off the pace. USC Aiken's Clint Smith (73) is tied for third place at 143 with Hawaii-Hilo's Nick Mason (69) and Columbus State's Omar Sanchez (72).
"I'll finish 45th if the team can win a national championship," Burkhart said. "Of course, I'm not going to lie and say I wouldn't want to win this tournament as medalist."
Brown worked his way back into contention by tying his career-low round - moving up 48 places to a tie for 20th place.
"This is just one of those courses you adapt to," Brown said. "The more you play it, the better you get at it. Lord knows I've been out here all day two days in a row. I should be real good at it."
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
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