FLORENCE, S.C. - Appalachian State University men's golfer Casey Johnson carded a 69-67-71-207 (-9) to tie for first place at the Spring Hill Suites Intercollegiate on Tuesday. After being last of 16 teams following one round of play, the Mountaineers leap-frogged seven squads over the final two rounds to place ninth at the Country Club of South Carolina.

Johnson held a three-stroke lead over Elon's Jayson Judy after nine holes on Tuesday, but Judy knocked in two birdies without a single bogey on the back nine to shoot a 70 for the day and tie the Mountaineer. There was no tiebreaker for the tournament.

The win is the second in 2009 for Johnson, as the senior from Charlotte won the North/South Intercollegiate in March.

Georgia Southern took home the team title with a 285-280-282-847 (-17), two strokes ahead of Southern Conference rival Western Carolina.

ASU moved up after each round of play to finish ninth at 298-283-286-867 (+3), just two strokes behind four teams tied for fifth place.

Dustin Hudson improved each round at 77-73-70-220 (+4) for a tie for 42nd place. Lance Wheeler (75-73-73) and Jacob Eggers (79-70-72) tied for 44th, just a stroke back.

Darren Cook carded a 77-78-82-237 (+21) for 83rd at the season opener.

ASU returns to the course next weekend for the Sea Trail Intercollegiate at Sunset Beach, N.C.