Danny Green shot a 3-under-par 67 on the last day to lead the three-man team from Tennessee to victory at the 2003 USGA Men's State Team Championship by four strokes over California and North Carolina at Charles River Country Club in Newton Centre, Mass.

"The objective when you leave home is to win," said Green, the 1999 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion. "Unfortunately, golf is more about losing than winning so it makes it even sweeter when you win. Anything less than winning is not a successful tournament for us."

Green, 46, a 2001 USA Walker Cup squad member, made three birdies on the second nine for the final day's low round. Tim Jackson of Germantown, the 1994 and 2001 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, added an even-par 70, and Brandt Snedeker of Nashville, the 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, shot 71.

"It means a lot," said Jackson, 43, who is a two-time USA Walker Cup squad member. "To represent your state and win a national championship, it's why we play - to win those gold medals. Everybody contributed for the week. That's the way it ought to be."

In the 54-hole, three-day championship, in which the lowest two individual scores for the day count as the team total, Tennessee shot 7-under-par 413 on Charles River's 6,513-yard, par-70 course. It was the lowest team score in the championship's history, ahead of the 10-under 416 shot by Minnesota in winning in 1997.

California and North Carolina tied for second at 3-under-par 417, with Georgia in fourth at 421 and Massachusetts, the secon-round leader, in fifth at 422.

On a windy but warm mid-September day that showed the affects of hurricane Isabel, scoring conditions were difficult.

"I was really glad the conditions got tough because Tim (jackson) and I know how to handle it," said Green. "I heard the scores and I was trying to make it easy on Tim behind me."

Green and Jackson, who have both competed in more than 20 USGA Championships each, felt their experience was a factor in Tennessee's victory.

"You can count on my performance," said Green. "I'm not going to dog it. I may hit some bad shots but it's not going to be from the pressure. I've handled it before and I can take the heat."

Jackson knew Green was capable of his outstanding round.

"This is a perfect golf course for Danny," said Jackson, "With a good set of greens, this course is made for him. We had got some tough conditions that helped our overall team. Generally speaking, the people with the most experience in tougher conditions handle it better."

Massachusetts, which had set a 36-hole scoring record of 7-under-par 273 and had a three-stroke lead over California, North Carolina and Tennessee, could not hold its edge. Frank Vana Jr., 40, of Shrewsbury, fired a 3-over-par 73 and Kevin Quinn, 37, of Needham, shot 76.

Tennessee was teh only team to post a sub-par total on the third day as only eight players in the field broke par.

Because of the approaching bad weather, the Championship Committee implemented a cut Wednesday in order to complete 54 holes for the leading teams. A total of 36 teams made the cut at 13-over-par 294.