Chris Epperson ties for 18th at Nationwide golf tournament

Epperson 18th

at Mylan Classic

CANONSBURG, Pa. Savannah native Chris Epperson claimed his first top-20 finish Sunday on the PGA Nationwide Tour, shooting a 9-under-par 275 at the Mylan Classic.

Epperson had to wait for 23 players to withdraw from the Mylan Classic just to earn a spot. Arriving in Pennsylvania the day before the event started, Epperson fired a 5-under-par 66 and led the first round for several hours Thursday at the Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg.

The round was more impressive considering the story surrounding his caddie, local high school senior Ben Ducarme, who volunteered to tote Eppersons bag throughout the weekend after no other caddie was available from the course.

Epperson, a former standout at Savannah Christian and Armstrong Atlantic State University, fired rounds of 71-67-71 to finish tied for 18th in the tournament. By virtue of his finish, Epperson will automatically be extended an invitation to the next Nationwide Tour event Sept. 15-18 in Boise, Idaho.

The Hilton Head Island, S.C., resident earned conditional Nationwide Tour status in December when he advanced to the final stage of qualifying in the PGA Tours Q-School.

Power wins first

Baltimore GP

BALTIMORE Will Power capped a perfect weekend by winning the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.

Power had the best time in Fridays practice, won the pole Saturday, then breezed to his second straight IndyCar victory and sixth of the season Sunday with an outstanding performance on a difficult street course.

Oriol Servia finished second and Tony Kanaan was third. Kanaan lost his brakes during a practice run Sunday morning, soared over Helio Castroneves car and had to drive a backup.

Points leader Dino Franchitti finished fourth.

Defending MEAC

champion rolls

ORLANDO, Fla. Jamarr Robinson ran for two TDs and passed for another to lead 2010 MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman past Prairie View A&M, 63-14, in the MEAC/SWAC Football Challenge on Sunday.

Bethune-Cookman took a 42-0 late in the second quarter and finished with 500 total yards.