Mustangs fight to climb back after a tough round. Elite competition tests SMU's resilience, with individual efforts crucial for a final-day surge.
SMU men’s golf heads into the final day of the Southwestern Invitational looking to rebound after a challenging second round at North Ranch Country Club.
The Mustangs enter Wednesday in ninth place in what is shaping up to be one of the deepest and most competitive fields they will see all season.
After opening the tournament in a strong position, SMU couldn’t quite maintain that momentum on Tuesday as the course showed its teeth.
The Mustangs battled throughout the day but slid down the leaderboard against a field packed with nationally ranked programs, including eight teams inside the top 50.
Despite the drop, SMU remains firmly in the mix and ahead of a ranked UCLA squad, an important benchmark as postseason resumes begin to take shape.
Individually, Gabe Post continues to set the pace for the Mustangs.
He followed up his standout opening round with a steady performance on Tuesday, highlighted by a hot start that included multiple birdies early in his round. Sitting just one stroke over par overall, Post remains within striking distance of the top 10 heading into the final round.
His ability to convert early opportunities has been a consistent theme and will be crucial if SMU hopes to climb back up the board.
Will Sides is right behind him and quietly putting together a solid tournament.
After an impressive opening round, Sides turned in another composed score on Tuesday, playing his opening nine holes under par. His consistency across both rounds has him positioned well inside the top 25, making him another key piece for SMU’s final-round push.
Zachary Kingsland delivered one of the more eye-catching starts of the day, opening his round with a birdie and an eagle in his first few holes. While the back half proved more difficult, those early flashes show the upside he brings to the lineup and why he remains capable of a low round when things click.
Christian Clark and Matthew Foster round out the Mustangs’ scoring, and while both face an uphill climb individually, their contributions remain important in a tournament where every stroke matters.
With one round remaining, SMU has an opportunity to reset, play aggressively, and reclaim ground. In a field this strong, even a modest move up the leaderboard can carry real value.
Expect the Mustangs to attack pins early Wednesday and look for a collective response as they close out a demanding week against elite competition.