Southern Miss Men’s Golf Opens 2026 Season at JT Poston Invitational
The University of Southern Mississippi men’s golf team kicks off its 2026 season Sunday at the JT Poston Invitational, returning as defending champions. The tournament is set to be held at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club in North Carolina over three days.
The Golden Eagles are among 16 teams competing, including Western Carolina, Drexel, Elon, Francis Marion, Jacksonville, James Madison, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee, NC State, South Carolina, UT Rio Grande Valley, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, and Wofford. The course is a par-71 measuring 6,735 yards. Play begins with round one at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by round two on Monday and the final round Tuesday morning at 7:10 a.m., according to tournament organizers.
Southern Miss won last year’s event with a three-round total of 827, narrowly edging Kennesaw State, which posted a tournament-record final round score of 273 for a total of 828. The Waynesville Inn, established in 1926 and designed by Donald Ross, features vintage guest cottages, event spaces, and dining options, blending historic charm with modern amenities.
The team is led by coach Eddie Brescher and features seniors Benjamin Fernandez and Supakorn “Mic” Amornchaichan, juniors Matthew Javier and Jake Moffitt, and freshmen John Markow and Franco Fernandez. Moffitt, a two-year player, earned Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors last season and set a program record with a 70.16 season-average score.
Fernandez, also a senior, posted a 70.68 season average in 2025-26 and earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors. Javier, who averaged 71.34 and was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team, recorded an 8-under 64 at the Everett Buick GMC Classic. Franco Fernandez and Markow will make their debut, with Markow ranked as the No. 2 golfer in Mississippi’s Class of 2026. Follow Southern Miss golf on Instagram (@southernmissmg) for updates.
The team’s lineup for the first round includes John Markow, Matthew Javier, Franco Fernandez, Benjamin Fernandez, and Jake Moffitt. The individual competition features Supakorn Amornchaichan.
Source: Original Article
