Men's Golf Opens Fall Season at JT Poston Invitational

Sunday, September 14

Waynesville, N.C.

9 a.m.

Xavier University

JT Poston Invitational

Men's Golf Opens Fall Season at JT Poston Invitational

09.13.25 | Men's Golf

Live Scoring

The three-day tournament is being hosted by Western Carolina on Sept. 14-16

By: Brian Arlinghaus

CINCINNATI - The Xavier men's golf team starts its fall slate September 14–16 at the JT Poston Invitational, hosted by Western Carolina University at the scenic Waynesville Inn & Country Club. The 54-hole event will feature a deep 15-team field, providing the Musketeers with an early-season test against both regional rivals and nationally competitive programs.

The field includes Virginia Tech, Lipscomb, Kennesaw State, Wofford, James Madison, Southern Miss, Drexel, Elon, Abilene Christian, Jacksonville, Morehead State, UT Rio Grande Valley, Francis Marion, and host Western Carolina. With so many strong programs in attendance, the tournament is expected to be one of the most competitive early stops on the fall schedule.

Head coach Brian Arlinghaus and the Musketeers bring a balanced mix of proven veterans and rising talent into the lineup.

The Waynesville Inn & Country Club offers a traditional mountain layout that rewards accuracy and creativity. Swirling winds and firm greens can make scoring conditions tricky, demanding patience and discipline over the three-day stretch.

THE LINEUP

Carson Bellish (Sr.) – A steady presence at the top of the order, Bellish returns for his senior campaign after earning First Team All-BIG EAST honors last season. His consistency and experience provide an anchor for the Musketeers in any field.
Zach Burton (Sr.) – A reliable upperclassman with multiple years of starting experience, Burton's leadership and competitive edge strengthen Xavier's depth. He has a track record of delivering steady rounds in pressure situations.
Ray Filter (Jr.) – Entering his third season, Filter adds another layer of experience to the lineup. Known for his ball-striking and ability to score in bunches, he is poised to take on a larger role this fall.
Kellen Dean (So.) – After an impressive freshman year, Dean is primed to take a leap forward. His length and scoring ability give Xavier a dangerous weapon as he continues to mature in his sophomore season.
Cayse Morgan (Fr.) – One of Ohio's top-ranked junior golfers, Morgan arrives in Cincinnati as a highly touted newcomer. His debut fall schedule offers a chance to make an immediate impact against strong collegiate competition.

TOURNAMENT INFO

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Name: JT Poston Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 13: 1 pm – Collegiate / Am event
Sunday, Sept. 14: 9 am – First Round Tee Times off No. 1 and No. 10
Monday, Sept. 15: 9 am – Second Round Tee Times off No. 1 and No. 10
Tuesday, Sept. 16: 9 am – Final Round Tee Times off No. 1 and No. 10
Course: Waynesville Inn & Country Club
Location: Waynesville, N.C.
Course Par/Yardage: 70 / 6,720

LIVE SCORING: bit.ly/42eiuTB

2025-26 SCHEDULE

FALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 14-16 - JT Poston Invitational - Waynesville, N.C. (Waynesville Inn and Golf Club)
Sept. 22-23 - Badger Invitational - Madison, Wis. (TPC Wisconsin)
Sept. 26 - The Indy at Forest Hills - Richmond, Ind. (Forest Hills Country Club)
Oct. 13-14 - Moraine Intercollegiate - Dayton, Ohio (Moraine Country Club)
Oct. 20-21 - Xavier Invitational presented by Gateway Logistics - Cincinnati, Ohio (Maketewah Country Club) ^

SPRING SCHEDULE
Feb. 9-10 - Lake Jovita Invitational - Dade City, Fla. - (Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club)
Feb. 16-17 - Wexford Intercollegiate - Hilton Head, S.C. (Wexford Golf Club) ^
March 12-14 - The Peoples Championship - St. Simons Island, Ga. (The Club at Sea Palms)
March 24 - Keene Trace Collegiate - Nicholasville, Ky. (Keene Trace Golf Club)
March 30-31 - Seahawk Intercollegiate - Wilmington, N.C. (Country Club of Landfall)
April 6-7 - Northern Kentucky's The Jewell - Batavia, Ohio (Elks Run Golf Course)
April 6-7 - Tiger Invitational - Columbia, Mo. (The Club at Old Hawthorne)
April 12-13 - Wright State Invitational - Springboro, Ohio (Heatherwoode Golf Club)
April 13-14 - Mountaineer Invitational - Bridgeport, W.Va. (Pete Dye Golf Club)
April 20 - Muirfield Shootout - Dublin, Ohio (The Country Club at Muirfield Village)
May 2-4 - BIG EAST Championships - Hardeeville, S.C. (Riverton Pointe Golf and Country Club)
May 18-20 - NCAA Regionals

^ defending tournament champions

NOTABLES

Zach Burton set the course record at Maketewah Country Club on Aug. 22 with a score of 62 (-8).
AJ Adams, Ray Filter and A.J. Wilhelm were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma at the department's annual welcome back event on Aug. 17.
Carson Bellish was named a Xavier Athletics Strength Athlete of the Year Award winner for the 2024-25 academic year.
Xavier earned the 2024-25 PLATFORM Golf Team Academic Award on Aug. 5. The Musketeers posted a 3.64 team grade point average last season.
Carson Bellish, Zach Burton, Ray Filter and A.J. Wilhelm were named to the 2025 Academic All-District® Men's At-Large Team selected by College Sports Communicators on June 17.
The Musketeers post five, top-three finishes last season with two tournament titles. Xavier placed second at the BIG EAST Championships on April 28, the highest finish for the Musketeers at the BIG EAST Championships since 2016 (also finished second).
Carson Bellish and Ray Filter earned All-BIG EAST honors on May 5. Bellish was named to the first team, while Filter picked up second-team honors.
Bellish and Filter are the first Xavier golfers to earn All-BIG EAST honors since 2019 (Garrett Wood - First Team). Xavier also had two or more golfers earn all-conference honors in the same season for the first time since 2016 (Jose Montaño and Daniel Wetterich).
Carson Bellish led the Musketeers in stroke average (71.3) in 2024-25 and posted a team-high seven top-10 finishes. The Pickerington, Ohio, native has a career 72.8 stroke average through 84 rounds of golf with 12 top-10 finishes.
Ray Filter finished the year ranked third on the team in stroke average (72.2). He had four top-10 finishes with one individual tournament title. The Crown Point, Ind., native has a career 72.6 stroke average through 45 rounds of golf with five top-10 finishes.
Xavier welcomes two newcomers to the 2025-26 roster in Sam Fauver (Hudson, Ohio) and Cayse Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio).
Tyler Goecke will return as assistant coach for the 2025-26 season. After a standout first year on staff, Goecke earned full status on PGA TOUR Americas and is spending the summer competing across Canada.