University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Men’s Golf Inks Three During Early Signing Period
11/9/2022 3:20:00 PM | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss men's golf coach Eddie Brescher announced Wednesday the additions of three players for the 2023-24 season including graduate transfer Leonardo Bono (Rivera, Switzerland), along with incoming freshmen Supakorn Amornchaichan (Bangkok, Thailand) and Matthew Downing (Oxford, Miss.).
Bono, who will graduate from USC Aiken next fall, is a two-time Srixon/Cleveland All-America Scholar, who has averaged 72.89 per round over 76 rounds in his collegiate career. His career scoring average ranks as the third best in USC Aiken history. Bono has posted one top five, eight top 10 and 14 top 25 finishes during his collegiate career and is a two-time Peach Belt Conference selection.
"Leo comes to our program with one year of eligibility remaining in the collegiate ranks," said Brescher. "He is an experienced veteran with a ton of collegiate experience under his belt. We have the upmost respect for USC Aiken's program, as they essentially play a Division One schedule each year. Leo being an older, more experienced player is exactly what we want in our senior leadership of our program. He is very mature and independent, which usually translates well to our sport. We can't wait to see Leo in a black and gold uniform."
Amornchaichan comes to Southern Miss after posting a 2022 scoring average of 71.89 over 18 rounds. He is the No. 2 ranked player in Thailand according to Junior Golf Scoreboard. He collected first place finished at the 2021 Thailand Junior Development with a 67 and a 71, as well as the 2022 event with a 69 and a 74.
He also finished fifth with rounds of 67,70 and 73 at the American Junior Golf Association at Canebrake in Alabama and was also a 2022 US Junior Amateur participant in Brandon Dunes, Oregon.
"Nicknamed Mic, he is a fantastic player that we expect to add immediate depth to our roster for next season," said Brescher. "Mic is a proven champion with all the tournament experience to prepare himself to step into our starting lineup from day one on campus. His game is nothing flashy but he does not have any big misses, strikes the ball well with surprisingly good distance, and a solid short game to match. Mic is a good student and a very responsible young man. All of these attributes will bode him well when he joins our program next year."
Downing, who attends Oxford High School, posted a 73.40 scoring average over 20 rounds in 2022. He holds a No. 259 world ranking as well as being the No. 2 ranked played among 2023 Mississippi players.
His tournament finishes include a second-place showing at the 2022 Randy Watkins, Jr. Championship with rounds of 67 and 73. He also posted a No. 8 finish in the Mississippi Junior Amateur with a 76, 70 and a 74, as well as a No. 17 showing at the 2022 AJGA Stewart Cink Championship with a 71, 70 and a 69 and a 26th place in the Future Masters with scores of 74, 72 and 72.
"Matthew is another good local talent I have been keeping an eye on through the years," said Brescher. "Matthew has worked hard through our Mississippi junior ranks and has shown he can perform at the division one level. He has also performed well on a regional and national scale. The tournament experience he has gained from playing all over the country will translate well into our program. Matthew has a beautiful golf swing and works with an excellent coach in Drew Belt. Matthew has plenty of distance and great ball-striking throughout his bag. Sky is the limit for his game."
Bono, who will graduate from USC Aiken next fall, is a two-time Srixon/Cleveland All-America Scholar, who has averaged 72.89 per round over 76 rounds in his collegiate career. His career scoring average ranks as the third best in USC Aiken history. Bono has posted one top five, eight top 10 and 14 top 25 finishes during his collegiate career and is a two-time Peach Belt Conference selection.
USC Aiken 🔜 The Burg
— Southern Miss Golf (@SouthernMissMG) November 9, 2022
Welcome to the Family, Leonardo Bono
🟡 #3 best career scoring average in USC Aiken team history (72.89)
🟡 Switzerland National Team Member
🟡 2x Peach Belt All Conference#SMTTT #SigningDay pic.twitter.com/AylcO8eygG
"Leo comes to our program with one year of eligibility remaining in the collegiate ranks," said Brescher. "He is an experienced veteran with a ton of collegiate experience under his belt. We have the upmost respect for USC Aiken's program, as they essentially play a Division One schedule each year. Leo being an older, more experienced player is exactly what we want in our senior leadership of our program. He is very mature and independent, which usually translates well to our sport. We can't wait to see Leo in a black and gold uniform."
Amornchaichan comes to Southern Miss after posting a 2022 scoring average of 71.89 over 18 rounds. He is the No. 2 ranked player in Thailand according to Junior Golf Scoreboard. He collected first place finished at the 2021 Thailand Junior Development with a 67 and a 71, as well as the 2022 event with a 69 and a 74.
He also finished fifth with rounds of 67,70 and 73 at the American Junior Golf Association at Canebrake in Alabama and was also a 2022 US Junior Amateur participant in Brandon Dunes, Oregon.
Bankok, Thailand 🔜 The Burg
— Southern Miss Golf (@SouthernMissMG) November 9, 2022
Welcome to the Family, Supakorn Amornchaichan.
🟡 #2 ranked player in Thailand (Junior Golf Scoreboard
🟡 2022 tournament scoring average = 71.89 for 18 rounds#SMTTT #SigningDay pic.twitter.com/7f1nM8gf4a
"Nicknamed Mic, he is a fantastic player that we expect to add immediate depth to our roster for next season," said Brescher. "Mic is a proven champion with all the tournament experience to prepare himself to step into our starting lineup from day one on campus. His game is nothing flashy but he does not have any big misses, strikes the ball well with surprisingly good distance, and a solid short game to match. Mic is a good student and a very responsible young man. All of these attributes will bode him well when he joins our program next year."
Downing, who attends Oxford High School, posted a 73.40 scoring average over 20 rounds in 2022. He holds a No. 259 world ranking as well as being the No. 2 ranked played among 2023 Mississippi players.
His tournament finishes include a second-place showing at the 2022 Randy Watkins, Jr. Championship with rounds of 67 and 73. He also posted a No. 8 finish in the Mississippi Junior Amateur with a 76, 70 and a 74, as well as a No. 17 showing at the 2022 AJGA Stewart Cink Championship with a 71, 70 and a 69 and a 26th place in the Future Masters with scores of 74, 72 and 72.
Oxford 🔜 The Burg
— Southern Miss Golf (@SouthernMissMG) November 9, 2022
Welcome to the Family, Matthew Downing. #SMTTT #SigningDay pic.twitter.com/P10Y0tzzzW
"Matthew is another good local talent I have been keeping an eye on through the years," said Brescher. "Matthew has worked hard through our Mississippi junior ranks and has shown he can perform at the division one level. He has also performed well on a regional and national scale. The tournament experience he has gained from playing all over the country will translate well into our program. Matthew has a beautiful golf swing and works with an excellent coach in Drew Belt. Matthew has plenty of distance and great ball-striking throughout his bag. Sky is the limit for his game."
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