University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Men’s Golf Inks Three on National Signing Day
11/12/2025 8:17:00 PM | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss.- Southern Miss men's golf coach Eddie Brescher announced Wednesday the addition of three players to the program for the 2026-2027 season.
The Golden Eagles welcome Franco Fernandez (Asunción, Paraguay/Center for Development of Intelligence), Siradech "Pete" Chanha (Bangkok, Thailand/ The Essence School) and John Markow (Ridgeland, Miss./Jackson Academy).
Fernandez, who trains at the Center for Development of Intelligence in Asunción, Paraguay, joins his brother Benjamin Fernandez entering the program with an impressive #511 World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). He has represented the Paraguay National Team in multiple international events and compiled a strong 2025 campaign that includes a runner-up finish at the AJGA Junior at Indiana, a T11th at the AJGA Mizuno Junior Championship, T21st at the Junior Orange Bowl and T28th at the World Amateur Team Championships.
"Franco is playing some of the best golf of any junior on the planet right now," said Brescher. "In recent months, he has consistently been posting under-par rounds in tournaments. He has a lot of clubhead speed and is an intense player who does not like to lose. Having his big brother on roster for his first year will certainly help with his transition from junior to collegiate golf. He comes from an elite golf family that saw his older sister play Division I college golf as well. I am confident Franco will raise eyebrows and help our team continue our winning standard from day one."
Chanha, from Bangkok, Thailand, attends The Essence School and brings a decorated junior résumé highlighted by a 1st-place finish at the 2025 Thailand National Youth Games. In 2024, he collected five junior championship victories and four runner-up finishes, cementing his place among Thailand's top young talents.
"Pete continues our great relationship with Thailand players," said Brescher. "He has tons of distance off the tee and is a good approach shot player. It was evident during the recruiting process that Pete can get up and down from just about anywhere — that's only when he hits an errant approach. As it is with all previous Thai players I have coached, this will be an adjustment for Pete coming to Division I golf. However, I am confident he will transition well to our program."
Markow, from Jackson Academy in Ridgeland, Mississippi, is ranked as the #2 player in the 2026 class in Mississippi according to the Junior Golf Scoreboard. The 2025 Mississippi Junior Player of the Year is also an AJGA Champion (2023 Dallas Junior All-Star) and has recorded three additional top 25 AJGA finishes. His 2025 season includes a T12th finish at the Mississippi Amateur and T3rd at the Mississippi Junior Amateur.
"John is a highly touted, in-state player," Brescher said. "He is well known in the Magnolia State as one of the best juniors. His golf IQ is tremendous and I feel that will translate well to our elite Division I level. John is also a fantastic student in the classroom, which certainly carries over into his golf game by being disciplined with his shot process. He will only add to the numerous amount of elite Mississippi players that have come through our program at Southern Miss."
The Golden Eagles welcome Franco Fernandez (Asunción, Paraguay/Center for Development of Intelligence), Siradech "Pete" Chanha (Bangkok, Thailand/ The Essence School) and John Markow (Ridgeland, Miss./Jackson Academy).
Fernandez, who trains at the Center for Development of Intelligence in Asunción, Paraguay, joins his brother Benjamin Fernandez entering the program with an impressive #511 World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). He has represented the Paraguay National Team in multiple international events and compiled a strong 2025 campaign that includes a runner-up finish at the AJGA Junior at Indiana, a T11th at the AJGA Mizuno Junior Championship, T21st at the Junior Orange Bowl and T28th at the World Amateur Team Championships.
"Franco is playing some of the best golf of any junior on the planet right now," said Brescher. "In recent months, he has consistently been posting under-par rounds in tournaments. He has a lot of clubhead speed and is an intense player who does not like to lose. Having his big brother on roster for his first year will certainly help with his transition from junior to collegiate golf. He comes from an elite golf family that saw his older sister play Division I college golf as well. I am confident Franco will raise eyebrows and help our team continue our winning standard from day one."
Chanha, from Bangkok, Thailand, attends The Essence School and brings a decorated junior résumé highlighted by a 1st-place finish at the 2025 Thailand National Youth Games. In 2024, he collected five junior championship victories and four runner-up finishes, cementing his place among Thailand's top young talents.
"Pete continues our great relationship with Thailand players," said Brescher. "He has tons of distance off the tee and is a good approach shot player. It was evident during the recruiting process that Pete can get up and down from just about anywhere — that's only when he hits an errant approach. As it is with all previous Thai players I have coached, this will be an adjustment for Pete coming to Division I golf. However, I am confident he will transition well to our program."
Markow, from Jackson Academy in Ridgeland, Mississippi, is ranked as the #2 player in the 2026 class in Mississippi according to the Junior Golf Scoreboard. The 2025 Mississippi Junior Player of the Year is also an AJGA Champion (2023 Dallas Junior All-Star) and has recorded three additional top 25 AJGA finishes. His 2025 season includes a T12th finish at the Mississippi Amateur and T3rd at the Mississippi Junior Amateur.
"John is a highly touted, in-state player," Brescher said. "He is well known in the Magnolia State as one of the best juniors. His golf IQ is tremendous and I feel that will translate well to our elite Division I level. John is also a fantastic student in the classroom, which certainly carries over into his golf game by being disciplined with his shot process. He will only add to the numerous amount of elite Mississippi players that have come through our program at Southern Miss."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
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