The 2025 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Golf Tournament is set to begin today and last through Thursday at the historic Annadale Golf Club in Madison, MS. With 14 teams competing for the conference title, the tournament promises high-stakes action on one of Mississippi’s most prestigious courses.
The tournament format includes 54 holes of stroke play, with the top four teams advancing to match play on Thursday to determine the champion. Defending champions Arkansas State will look to repeat their success, while Troy, ranked 49th nationally, enters as the highest-ranked team in the field. Other top contenders include Louisiana (No. 67), Georgia Southern (No. 78), Coastal Carolina (No. 92), and South Alabama (No. 98).
Annandale Golf Club, founded in 1981, is a Jack Nicklaus-designed masterpiece. Built on the historic Annandale Plantation, the course has hosted numerous high-profile events, including the 1986 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and several Mississippi State Golf Association tournaments.  Before the Sanderson Farms Championship was held at the Country Club of Jackson it was played here at Annadale from 1994-2013.
The Sun Belt Conference has a rich golf tradition, with its championship serving as a proving ground for future stars. Past champions include Arkansas State (2024), Georgia Southern (2023), and Coastal Carolina (2022).
Golfers to Watch forÂ
- Brantley Scott (Troy) – Ranked No. 33 nationally, Scott has been a consistent performer and will be a key player for Troy, the highest-ranked Sun Belt team.
- Malan Potgieter (Louisiana) – Sitting at No. 66 in the national rankings, Potgieter has delivered strong performances throughout the season.
- Louis Anceaux (ULM) – Ranked No. 77, Anceaux will be looking to help ULM make a deep run in the tournament.
- Hugo Thyr (South Alabama) – The back-to-back reigning Sun Belt individual champion, Thyr won last year’s tournament in a playoff and will be aiming for a three-peat.
Southern Miss in the Tournament
The Golden Eagles delivered strong performances in multiple events in 2025, including the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship and the Memphis Intercollegiate. Southern Miss secured third place at the Memphis Intercollegiate, proving their ability to compete against tough competition. The team maintained a national ranking of No. 116, demonstrating steady improvement throughout the season.
The Golden Eagles will utilize the lineup of senior Ryan Dupuy (Baton Rouge, La.), junior Will Burnham (Jackson, Miss.), sophomores Benjamin Fernandez (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Supakorn Amornchaichan (Pattaya City, Thailand) and freshman Matthew Javier (Toronto, Ontario). Senior Cameron Guidry (Picayune, Miss.) will serve as the Golden Eagles’ potential substitute.
Fernandez, a mid-semester transfer, leads the squad in lowest stroke average over 18 rounds with a 71.94. Javier is next at 72.90, while Burnham is third at 73.70.
The Golden Eagles will start on the No. 1 team starting at 9:15 a.m. CT Monday and tee off every nine minutes to play the first 18 holes on Monday.
South Alabama in the Tournament
South Alabama, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season, finishing 12th at the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship. Despite a record-setting home tournament performance earlier in the season, the Jaguars struggled in their final event, with Hugo Thyr placing 33rd individually. If South Alabama can regain their early-season form, they could be a dark horse contender.
Freshman Tim Kretschmann made history by shooting a 64 in the final round of the Linger Longer Tournament in Greensboro, Georgia hosted by Kennesaw State. Tying the program record for the best single round in Jaguar history. South Alabama placed sixth in the same event, overcoming tough weather conditions with a stellar final round. The Jaguars showed steady improvement throughout the season, with standout performances from Hugo Thyr, who set his personal season-best score with a 67 in the final round.
The Jaguars will tee off at 8:09a.m. Monday morning.
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