The Francis Marion University golf team will open its 2025-26 season on Sunday (Sept. 14) when the Patriots compete in the JT Poston Invitational Tournament hosted by Western Carolina University in Waynesville, N.C.
The three-day 54-hole event will be played on the 6,720-yard, par-70 Waynesville Inn & Golf Club course.
In addition to the host school and FMU, the tournament field includes Abilene Christian University, Drexel University, Elon University, Jacksonville University, James Madison University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Morehead State University, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Virginia Tech, Wofford College, and Xavier University.
The event features the most unique trophy in college golf – the purple mailbox – in honor of JT "the Postman" Poston, program alum, golfer on the PGA Tour, and tournament's namesake.
Patriot head coach
Mark Gaynor, entering his 23rd season at FMU, welcomes back seven lettermen from last year's squad that posted a 296.00 team stroke average and six Top-10 finishes in 11 events.
Leading the returnees is sophomore
Leander Neuhaus, who played in all 11 events and registered a 73.97 stroke average as a first-year player.
Other returnees include senior
Pake June (76.00); juniors
Ryan Bozard (75.68),
Simon DiMaggio (75.47), and
Josh Dugard (75.67); sophomore
Matthew Parker (78.25), and red-shirt freshman
Chan Lee. Both June and Parker are natives of Florence.
Neuhaus was named to the Academic All-Conference Team as a freshman, while Bozard garnered 2025 All-America Scholars recognition, and June was tabbed for the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
Two freshmen – twins Cade and
Carson Jordan from Conway, S.C. – have been added to the roster for the 2025-26 campaign.
Gaynor said his traveling party for the first event would include Neuhaus, Bozard, DiMaggio, and both Jordans.
"Overall the preseason has gone well," Gaynor said. "The players have been handling the preparation for a new season in a great way, saying the right things and asking the right questions. Our golf IQs are improving.
"Every year we get better, but so does everyone else. The level of play in collegiate golf has drastically improved.
"It is always an exciting trip to Waynesville. This is a good first test for us, as we face another very competitive schedule. Also, a shout-out to our local Raines group as they operate the Waynesville resort, and for their continued involvement with collegiate golf.
"I am looking forward to the depth we have in this year's squad. Our basic goal every year is to have the top five players competing when we get to conference tournament time in the spring.
"Leander and Josh have had good summers of play, Ryan and Simon have improved, and I look forward to what Pake will contribute as the team's lone senior."
The 2025-26 Francis Marion schedule includes four tournaments in the fall and five in the spring prior to the Big Sky Conference Championships set for April 27-29 in Litchfield Park, Ariz. FMU will host the 20th-annual Wexford Intercollegiate Tournament, Feb. 16-17, 2026, on Hilton Head Island.
