By: Hunter McKay
Story Links
Tournament #2: J.T. Poston Invitational
Dates: September14-16, 2025
Location: Waynesville Inn and Golf Club– Waynesville, N.C.- Par 70 – 6720 Yards
Host: Western Carolina
Format: 54 Holes of Stroke Play (Sunday – Tuesday)
Links: Live Scoring | Twitter
Opening Tee
The Kennesaw State men’s golf team heads to Waynesville, N.C. for the J.T. Poston Invitational.
Play begins at 9 a.m. EST at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday morning. KSU is paired with Western Carolina and James Madison on Sunday.
KSU head coach Bryant Odom was the head coach at Western Carolina prior to coming to Kennesaw in 2015. J.T. Poston played for Odom at WCU.
TOURNAMENT FIELD (15)
Western Carolina, Jacksonville, Southern Mississippi, Abilene Christian, James Madison, UT-Rio Grande Valley, Drexel, Kennesaw State, Virginia Tech, Elon, Lipscomb, Wofford, Francis Marion, Morehead State, Xavier
LINEUP
1. Walker Gantt
2. Kyle Bachkosky
3. Luca Gallingani
4. Shaun Cook
5. Hunter Gillard
Ind: Reed Sweigart
2025-26 OUTLOOK
Kennesaw State returns seven players from last year’s team, which was ranked No. 67 in the final NCAA Scoreboard poll and finished third at the Conference USA Championship. KSU and Delaware are tied with seven returners each from last season.
The Owls bring back Conference USA Freshman of the Year Luca Gallingani, along with Shaun Cook, who earned second-team All-Conference honors. Four players who competed in 30 or more rounds last season return.
Kennesaw State posted 76 rounds at par or better in 2024–25, with 55 of those rounds recorded by players still on the roster. The Owls added two talented freshmen: Walker Gantt and Ryan Nicholson. Gantt and Cook both competed at the U.S. Amateur over the summer.
2024-25 REVIEW
In its inaugural season in Conference USA, Kennesaw State’s men’s golf team turned in a standout 2024‑25 campaign. The Owls posted multiple tournament victories, including team and individual titles at the Cullan Brown Collegiate and the Pinetree Intercollegiate, while Claes Borregaard earned Golfer of the Week honors six times and later claimed C-USA Player of the Year, with teammate Luca Gallingani named Freshman of the Year. Shaun Cook earned second-team All-Conference honors. Borregaard finished T2 at the NCAA Auburn Regional and T47 at the NCAA Championships.
NEXT UP
The Owls will head to Lexington, Ky. for the Cullan Brown Intercollegiate on Oct. 6-7.
