JACKSON, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Golf opened its 2026-27 schedule this week with a top-five finish at the University of Tennessee at Martin Grover Page Classic at the Jackson Country Club in Jackson, Tennessee.
 
The Screaming Eagles placed fifth out of 10 teams with a team score of 14-over-par 878 (294-286-298). Host UT Martin won the tournament with a score of 6-under-par 858 (289-281-288).
 
USI's fifth-place finish is its best tournament finish since the 2024-25 campaign, when the Screaming Eagles placed third at the Tennessee State University Big Blue Intercollegiate in April 2024. It was also the Screaming Eagles' best finish in three appearances at the Grover Page Classic.
 
Sophomore Ingtawan Wangrungwichaisri highlighted USI's results on the individual leaderboard, tying for eighth place with a 1-under-par 215 (71-71-73). Not only was it a career-best finish for Wangrungwichaisri, but it also marks the best individual finish by a Screaming Eagle in a stroke-play tournament since Jason Bannister and Sam Vertanen placed inside the top five at the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Championship. Wangrungwichaisri also turned in the best individual performance by a Screaming Eagle at the Grover Page Classic since Bannister in 2024, who placed tied for fifth.
 
Another strong individual performer for USI Men's Golf was freshman Loic Simard. Simard finished tied for 11^th, shooting even par 216 (69-71-76). Simard's T-11 finish is the best by a USI freshman in their debut not only in the Division I era but also since Nathan Hoss placed tied for 16^th at the Lewis University Flyer Intercollegiate in October 2021.
 
Round one on Monday morning featured a blistering start for Simard, who shot a 3-under 69. The freshman shot 35 on the front nine and 34 on the back nine, carding four birdies in the round. Wangrungwichaisri was close behind in red numbers with a 1-under 71. The sophomore logged five birdies in the effort. The combination of their two opening rounds along with junior Chandler Ornelas' 73 kept USI flirting with a top-five position after the first round.
 
In round two, USI Men's Golf catapulted to third by the end of day one. Wangrungwichaisri, Simard, and graduate senior Jonas Arnstrom-Bakker each posted a 1-under 71 in round two. Arnstrom-Bakker, making his USI debut, improved his score from the first round thanks to shooting 32 on the first nine. Ornelas stayed steady with another 73 in the second round. Wangrungwichchaisri sat near the top of the leaderboard during the day, while Simard also found his way inside the top 10 by the end of day one.
 
Collectively, USI faced a tougher challenge in Tuesday's final round. Arnstrom-Bakker shot the day's low round for the Screaming Eagles, posting even par 72 with five birdies. Wangrungwichaisri was one stroke behind with a 73. Simard and Ornelas shot 76 and 77, respectively.
 
The Screaming Eagles resume action in two weeks, September 28-29, returning to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Derek Dolenc Invitational at Gateway National Golf Links in Madison, Illinois.