University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, September 15
Waynesville, N.C.
Southern Miss
vs
Western Carolina
Benjamin Fernandez Claims the Individual Title as Southern Miss Takes Fourth at the JT Poston Invitational
9/15/2026 7:27:00 PM | Men's Golf
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — Benjamin Fernandez earned the individual title as the senior led Southern Miss to a fourth-place finish at the JT Poston Invitational on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles carded their best 54-hole score since the Hal Williams Collegiate.
Senior Benjamin Fernandez secured the individual title by carding a collegiate career low of seven-under 64, marking his first collegiate title and lowest career round. The Paraguay native shot the course's lowest three-round score of 196, edging out the previous record by four strokes. Fernandez, who began the day tied for third, birdied four of his first five holes and added an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to turn in a 6-under 29 on the front nine, then closed out his round to secure his 17-under 196 and the individual title.
Marking their collegiate debut, John Markow and Franco Fernandez each closed with a one-under 70. Markow carded six bridies, climbing nine positions into a tie for 37th at two-under for the event, while Franco Fernandez leaped 15 spots into a tie for 70th at 4-over.
Jake Moffitt rounded out team scoring in the third round with an even 71, moving up five spots into a tie for 48th at even par. Supakorn Amornchaichan, playing as an individual, carded a two-under 69 with three birdies against a single bogey, climbing 16 spots into a tie for 43rd. Matthew Javier turned in a one-over 72, settling into a tie alongside Amornchaichan in 43rd place.
As a team, the Golden Eagles posted a 9-under total in the final round to finish the tournament at 24-under, good for a solo fourth-place finish and a two-spot jump from their tie for sixth after Monday's second round. Southern Miss carded its best 54-hole score since the Hal Williams Collegiate on Feb.16-17, 2026.
South Carolina claimed the team title at 31-under, winning its second JT Poston Invitational after also taking the event in 2021 at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. The Gamecocks' final-round 270 is the second-lowest round since the tournament moved to Waynesville in 2024, behind only Lipscomb's 269 that year, and their winning 54-hole score of 821 is the lowest at the Waynesville venue, topping the previous mark of 827 set by Southern Miss in 2025. NC State and Virginia Tech tied for second at 26-under, with Lipscomb rounding out the top five at 21-under, followed by UTRGV at 17-under and Elon at 16-under.
The Golden Eagles have a weekend off before heading to Madison, Wis. To compete in the Badger Invitational on Sept. 27-29. Follow the Golden Eagles on Instagram (@southernmissmg) for the latest information.
Individual Leaderboard
1. Benjamin Fernandez | 67 (-4), 65 (-6), 64 (-7) ; 196 (-17)
T37. John Markow | 73 (+2), 68 (-3), 70 (-1) ; 211 (-2)
T43. Matthew Javier | 70 (-1), 70 (-1), 72 (+1) ; 212 (-1)
T43. Supakorn Amornchaichan (IND) | 73 (+2), 70 (-1), 69 (-2) ; 212 (-1)
T48. Jake Moffitt | 70 (-1), 72 (+1), 71 (E) ; 213 (E)
T70. Franco Fernandez | 71 (E), 76 (+5), 70 (-1) ; 217 (+4)
Team Leaderboard
1. South Carolina
T2. N.C. State
T2. Virginia Tech
4. Southern Miss
5. Lipscomb
6. UTRGV
7. Elon
8. Wisconsin
9. Wofford
10. Western Carolina
T11. Kennesaw State
T11. James Madison
13. Middle Tennessee
14. Drexel
15. Jacksonville
16. Francis Marion
Senior Benjamin Fernandez secured the individual title by carding a collegiate career low of seven-under 64, marking his first collegiate title and lowest career round. The Paraguay native shot the course's lowest three-round score of 196, edging out the previous record by four strokes. Fernandez, who began the day tied for third, birdied four of his first five holes and added an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to turn in a 6-under 29 on the front nine, then closed out his round to secure his 17-under 196 and the individual title.
Marking their collegiate debut, John Markow and Franco Fernandez each closed with a one-under 70. Markow carded six bridies, climbing nine positions into a tie for 37th at two-under for the event, while Franco Fernandez leaped 15 spots into a tie for 70th at 4-over.
Jake Moffitt rounded out team scoring in the third round with an even 71, moving up five spots into a tie for 48th at even par. Supakorn Amornchaichan, playing as an individual, carded a two-under 69 with three birdies against a single bogey, climbing 16 spots into a tie for 43rd. Matthew Javier turned in a one-over 72, settling into a tie alongside Amornchaichan in 43rd place.
As a team, the Golden Eagles posted a 9-under total in the final round to finish the tournament at 24-under, good for a solo fourth-place finish and a two-spot jump from their tie for sixth after Monday's second round. Southern Miss carded its best 54-hole score since the Hal Williams Collegiate on Feb.16-17, 2026.
South Carolina claimed the team title at 31-under, winning its second JT Poston Invitational after also taking the event in 2021 at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. The Gamecocks' final-round 270 is the second-lowest round since the tournament moved to Waynesville in 2024, behind only Lipscomb's 269 that year, and their winning 54-hole score of 821 is the lowest at the Waynesville venue, topping the previous mark of 827 set by Southern Miss in 2025. NC State and Virginia Tech tied for second at 26-under, with Lipscomb rounding out the top five at 21-under, followed by UTRGV at 17-under and Elon at 16-under.
The Golden Eagles have a weekend off before heading to Madison, Wis. To compete in the Badger Invitational on Sept. 27-29. Follow the Golden Eagles on Instagram (@southernmissmg) for the latest information.
Individual Leaderboard
1. Benjamin Fernandez | 67 (-4), 65 (-6), 64 (-7) ; 196 (-17)
T37. John Markow | 73 (+2), 68 (-3), 70 (-1) ; 211 (-2)
T43. Matthew Javier | 70 (-1), 70 (-1), 72 (+1) ; 212 (-1)
T43. Supakorn Amornchaichan (IND) | 73 (+2), 70 (-1), 69 (-2) ; 212 (-1)
T48. Jake Moffitt | 70 (-1), 72 (+1), 71 (E) ; 213 (E)
T70. Franco Fernandez | 71 (E), 76 (+5), 70 (-1) ; 217 (+4)
Team Leaderboard
1. South Carolina
T2. N.C. State
T2. Virginia Tech
4. Southern Miss
5. Lipscomb
6. UTRGV
7. Elon
8. Wisconsin
9. Wofford
10. Western Carolina
T11. Kennesaw State
T11. James Madison
13. Middle Tennessee
14. Drexel
15. Jacksonville
16. Francis Marion
Players Mentioned
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