WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — Benjamin Fernandez won the individual title as Southern Miss finished fourth at the JT Poston Invitational on Tuesday, according to university athletics.
The senior from Paraguay shot a career-low 64, finishing the 54-hole event at 17-under 196. He birdied four of his first five holes and added an eagle on the par-5 sixth to shoot a 6-under 29 on the front nine. Fernandez’s performance marked his first collegiate title and set the course record for lowest three-round score, surpassing the previous record by four strokes.
Fernandez began the day tied for third but moved into the lead with his strong front nine. His final score of 196 was a personal best and the best three-round score for Southern Miss since the Hal Williams Collegiate in February. His teammates John Markow and Franco Fernandez each carded 70 in their collegiate debuts, with Markow climbing nine spots to tie for 37th at 2-under and Franco Fernandez jumping 15 places to tie for 70th at 4-over.
Jake Moffitt finished with an even 71, moving into a tie for 48th at even par. Meanwhile, Supakorn Amornchaichan, competing as an individual, shot a 69, climbing 16 spots into a tie for 43rd. Matthew Javier posted a 72, tying for 43rd at 1-over for the tournament.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot a final-round 9-under 270 to finish at 24-under par, securing fourth place. It was their best 54-hole score since the 2026 Hal Williams Collegiate. South Carolina won the tournament with a 31-under total, claiming its second JT Poston Invitational title. The Gamecocks’ final round of 270 was the second-lowest since the event moved to Waynesville in 2024.
NC State and Virginia Tech tied for second at 26-under, followed by Lipscomb at 21-under. UTRGV and Elon finished at 17-under and 16-under, respectively. Southern Miss has a weekend off before competing in the Badger Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, from Sept. 27-29.
