University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Wisconsin
Men’s Golf Claims 2026 Badger Invitational Title; Moffitt Earns Individual Title
9/29/2026 5:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
MADISON, Wis. — Jake Moffitt earned the individual title as the Golden Eagles closed with a tournament-best 11-under 277 to win the 2026 Badger Invitational on Tuesday. Southern Miss finished at 23-under, six strokes clear of runner-up South Dakota State.
Moffitt's victory marked Southern Miss' third individual title of the season, following Benjamin Fernandez at the JT Poston Invitational and John Markow at the Goat Hill Individual Championship. It marks the first time the Golden Eagles have won three individual titles in a season since 2022-23, and the most since they won four in 2014-15.
Moffitt, who began the day in first place, fired a five-under 67 to finish at 14-under 202 and win by three strokes over South Dakota's Cole Witherow. The round included seven birdies, six of them coming over his first nine holes. After opening with a bogey, Moffitt birdied six of his next eight holes to turn in a four-under 31. He added a birdie on the par-5 11th, and finished with a pair of pars on the closing holes after a bogey on the 14th. Moffitt tied Witherow for the tournament lead with 18 birdies and led the field in par-3 scoring at three-under.
Supakorn Amornchaichan posted the day's best round for the Golden Eagles, a bogey-free six-under 66 that included six birdies. The junior climbed 17 spots into a tie for fourth at seven-under 209.
Fernandez closed with an even-par 72, finishing tied for sixth at five-under 211. Fernandez made an eagle on the par-4 18th hole to cap his round, offsetting a double bogey on the par-3 eighth and three additional bogeys. His finish gave Southern Miss three players in the top six on the leaderboard.
Franco Fernandez also carded an even-par 72, jumping eight spots into a tie for 38th at three-over. He made an eagle on the par-5 11th hole and added a birdie on the 16th. Matthew Javier shot a four-over 76 and finished tied for 73rd at eight-over.
As a team, the Golden Eagles shot 11-under in the final round after posting rounds of seven-under and five-under to open the tournament. Southern Miss entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over South Dakota State and expanded it to six with the tournament's best team round of the day. South Dakota State finished second at 17-under, followed by Western Kentucky and Wisconsin, who tied for third at nine-under. St. Thomas (Minn.) placed fifth at eight-under, while Northern Illinois rounded out the top six at six-under.
The Golden Eagles will next compete at the Blessings Collegiate, in Fayetteville, Ark. on Oct. 3-5. Follow the Golden Eagles on Instagram (@southernmissmg) for the latest information.
Individual Leaderboard
1. Jake Moffitt | 67 (-5), 68 (-4), 67 (-5) ; 202 (-14)
T4. Supakorn Amornchaichan | 73 (+1), 70 (-2), 66 (-6) ; 209 (-7)
T6. Benjamin Fernandez | 68 (-4), 71 (-1), 72 (E) ; 211 (-5)
T38. Franco Fernandez | 73 (+1), 74 (+2), 72 (E) ; 219 (+3)
T73. Matthew Javier | 74 (+2), 74 (+2), 76 (+4) ; 224 (+8)
Team Leaderboard
1. Southern Miss
2. South Dakota State
T3. Western Kentucky
T3. Wisconsin
5. St. Thomas (Minn.)
6. Northern Illinois
T7. North Dakota
T7. South Dakota
9. Western Carolina
T10. Green Bay
T10. North Dakota State
12. Drake
13. Illinois State
14. Ohio
15. Omaha
16. Southern Illinois
17. Appalachian State
18. Valparaiso
19. Oakland
