University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Men’s Golf Announces Additions for 2024-25 Season
11/8/2023 5:01:00 PM | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss men's golf coach Eddie Brescher announced Wednesday the addition of four players for the 2024-25 season, including Charl Barnard (Pretoria, South Africa/St. Alban's College), Will Burnham (Jackson, Miss./Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College), Braden Duvall (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) and Matthew Javier (Toronto, Ontario/The Crescent School).
Bernard currently ranks as the No. 10 in U19 Boys in South Africa with three Top 10 finishes during 2023, including a second-place showing in the NOMADS South Africa Boys U19 Championship match play event. He finished tied for fifth in the NOMADS South Africa Boys U19 Championship qualifier finishing with a 279 (72-71-64-72) and most recently finished in fourth at the Dimension Date Junior Open, in which he placed fourth (73-68-71) with a 212.
"Charl is one of the best players in South Africa," said Southern Miss coach Eddie Brescher. "He has a track record for success and a ton of tournament experience. Great student, world class talent, high character…exactly what we are looking for in players."
Burnham, a former Clarion-Ledger all-state selection and 2020 Mississippi Junior Golf Association Player of the Year, is a sophomore at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Burnham was named to the PING All-American Second Team, and a part of the five-man All-Freshman Team. Burnham's freshman win total tied him for the fourth-best season in school history. He is in top 10 in scoring average, par-3 scoring and finish percentage and enjoyed eight top-five finishes. Burnham also earned a spot on the All-East Region Team. He capped his freshman honors with the Phil Mickelson Award, honoring the nation's top freshman in NJCAA Division II. He was also named to the NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.80-3.99) and Distinguished Academic All-MACC team.
This season, Burnham lost a playoff for medalist at the national tournament preview in Joplin, Mo. He got his fourth career win at the Bobcat Invitational at Laurel Country Club, then finished second at the MGCCC Fall Invitational last week.
"Will is first class in everything he does," said Brescher. "He is a hard worker that has improved year after year. He brings a veteran leadership that our team will lean on in the future."
Duvall enjoys a 71.81 overall scoring average and is ranked as the No. 16 Class of 2024 prospect from the state of Florida and the No. 40 prospect overall. A former Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year, Duvall won the 66th Divot Derby last summer. Earlier this fall, he captured second in the Class 3A District 1 with a 71 and is expected to play in the state tournament later this week.
"Braden simply knows how to win," said Brescher. "His scoring average ranks among the best in the nation for 2024 recruits. A long hitting leftie with a very bright future ahead of him."
Javier holds a 71 stroke average this season and is ranked No. 10 in his state's 2024 class and No. 17 overall. He earned a spot on the Canadian National Junior Team. Has won three tournaments including the NextGen Selection Camp earlier this year as well as the Golf Ontario U17 Championships over the last two years.
"One of the highest ranked junior golfers in the world, Matthew is a gamer," said Brescher. "Every time he competes, he is always in the hunt for championships. And he has a perfect academic record in the classroom. Matthew will play a vital part of our teams future success."
The four signees marks the largest signing class for the Golden Eagles under Brescher.
"This is the largest class of players we have ever signed in my time at Southern Miss," said Brescher. "We searched the globe for elite talent and are fortunate to have such great players, students, and high character people joining our team next year. These four players will be vital parts to our team's future success."
Bernard currently ranks as the No. 10 in U19 Boys in South Africa with three Top 10 finishes during 2023, including a second-place showing in the NOMADS South Africa Boys U19 Championship match play event. He finished tied for fifth in the NOMADS South Africa Boys U19 Championship qualifier finishing with a 279 (72-71-64-72) and most recently finished in fourth at the Dimension Date Junior Open, in which he placed fourth (73-68-71) with a 212.
"Charl is one of the best players in South Africa," said Southern Miss coach Eddie Brescher. "He has a track record for success and a ton of tournament experience. Great student, world class talent, high character…exactly what we are looking for in players."
Burnham, a former Clarion-Ledger all-state selection and 2020 Mississippi Junior Golf Association Player of the Year, is a sophomore at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Burnham was named to the PING All-American Second Team, and a part of the five-man All-Freshman Team. Burnham's freshman win total tied him for the fourth-best season in school history. He is in top 10 in scoring average, par-3 scoring and finish percentage and enjoyed eight top-five finishes. Burnham also earned a spot on the All-East Region Team. He capped his freshman honors with the Phil Mickelson Award, honoring the nation's top freshman in NJCAA Division II. He was also named to the NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.80-3.99) and Distinguished Academic All-MACC team.
This season, Burnham lost a playoff for medalist at the national tournament preview in Joplin, Mo. He got his fourth career win at the Bobcat Invitational at Laurel Country Club, then finished second at the MGCCC Fall Invitational last week.
"Will is first class in everything he does," said Brescher. "He is a hard worker that has improved year after year. He brings a veteran leadership that our team will lean on in the future."
Duvall enjoys a 71.81 overall scoring average and is ranked as the No. 16 Class of 2024 prospect from the state of Florida and the No. 40 prospect overall. A former Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year, Duvall won the 66th Divot Derby last summer. Earlier this fall, he captured second in the Class 3A District 1 with a 71 and is expected to play in the state tournament later this week.
"Braden simply knows how to win," said Brescher. "His scoring average ranks among the best in the nation for 2024 recruits. A long hitting leftie with a very bright future ahead of him."
Javier holds a 71 stroke average this season and is ranked No. 10 in his state's 2024 class and No. 17 overall. He earned a spot on the Canadian National Junior Team. Has won three tournaments including the NextGen Selection Camp earlier this year as well as the Golf Ontario U17 Championships over the last two years.
"One of the highest ranked junior golfers in the world, Matthew is a gamer," said Brescher. "Every time he competes, he is always in the hunt for championships. And he has a perfect academic record in the classroom. Matthew will play a vital part of our teams future success."
The four signees marks the largest signing class for the Golden Eagles under Brescher.
"This is the largest class of players we have ever signed in my time at Southern Miss," said Brescher. "We searched the globe for elite talent and are fortunate to have such great players, students, and high character people joining our team next year. These four players will be vital parts to our team's future success."
- @USMGoldenEagles/@SouthernMissMG -
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