Monday, September 25
Sapphire Valley, NC | Country Club of Sapphire Valley
All Day
Wake Forest University
at
J.T. Poston Invitational (Individuals)
Freshmen Deacs Prepare to Compete in the J.T. Poston Invitational
9/24/2023 3:27:00 PM | Men's Golf
Tom Haberer, Marco Florioli and Kyle Haas are set to compete as individuals at the J.T. Poston Invitational
SAPPHIRE, N.C. - Fresh off of their team victory at the Highlands Invitational, the freshman Wake Forest men's golfers prepare to compete in the J.T. Poston Invitational this week at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley in Sapphire, N.C.
Last weekend, all three Demon Deacon freshmen made starts at the Highlands Invitational. Kyle Haas and Marco Florioli made their debuts at Chicago Highlands last week.
Tom Haberer made his second start for the Deacs during their last tournament. Haberer started the first round strong for the Deacs with six birdies through the first 18 holes.
The J.T. Poston Invitational has been hosted the past 17 seasons by Western Carolina. The event takes its namesake from two-time PGA Tour winner and Western Carolina alumni, J.T. Poston. For the seventh time in the history of the event, the J.T. Poston Invitational will be played in a 54-hole format.
This year, the field will feature 18 teams. The teams competing in the event will be Western Carolina, Abilene Christian, Augusta, Drexel, Elon, Francis Marion, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, High Point, Kennesaw State, Queens, Radford, Western Kentucky, Xavier and Wofford. The Deacs will join the field as individuals with ACC foe Clemson and ETSU.
The last five tournaments have been tight down the stretch at CCSV. Each champion has been decided by three or fewer strokes at the J.T. Poston Invitational the past five years. In 2021 and 2022, there was only a two-stroke margin between the champion and runner up.
Live scoring throughout the tournament will be available on GolfStat.com.
The event will be a shotgun start beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday and 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The Wake Forest freshmen individuals will tee off against Clemson and ETSU
THE DEACS' INDIVIDUALS
Tom Haberer
Freshman Tom Haberer made his Wake Forest debut this fall at the Sahalee Players Championship. Last week, the German helped Wake Forest take home their first team championship of the season at the Highlands Invitational. Haberer looks to make his first appearance as an individual at the J.T. Poston Invitational.
Marco Florioli
Marco Florioli made history as the first Italian player in Demon Deacons history with his appearance at the Highlands Invitational. Florioli has been one of the highest ranked golfers in Europe during the final years of his junior career.
Kyle Haas
Freshman Kyle Haas made his freshman debut last week at the Highlands Invitational. Haas was the No. 1 player in North Carolina for the Class of 2023. Before his time at Wake Forest, Haas won the 2023 Eastern Amateur title and the AJGA Sam Burns Classic.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Teams
Individual
COURSE INFORMATION
J.T. Poston Invitational
Country Club of Sapphire Valley - Sapphire Valley, N.C. - Par 71 - 7,007 yards
LIVE SCORING
TEE TIMES
Monday, September 25 - First & Second Round - Play begins at 9:00 a.m. ET play will be continuous through the second round.
Tuesday, September 26 - Third Round - Play begins at 9:30 a.m. ET
Last weekend, all three Demon Deacon freshmen made starts at the Highlands Invitational. Kyle Haas and Marco Florioli made their debuts at Chicago Highlands last week.
Tom Haberer made his second start for the Deacs during their last tournament. Haberer started the first round strong for the Deacs with six birdies through the first 18 holes.
The J.T. Poston Invitational has been hosted the past 17 seasons by Western Carolina. The event takes its namesake from two-time PGA Tour winner and Western Carolina alumni, J.T. Poston. For the seventh time in the history of the event, the J.T. Poston Invitational will be played in a 54-hole format.
This year, the field will feature 18 teams. The teams competing in the event will be Western Carolina, Abilene Christian, Augusta, Drexel, Elon, Francis Marion, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, High Point, Kennesaw State, Queens, Radford, Western Kentucky, Xavier and Wofford. The Deacs will join the field as individuals with ACC foe Clemson and ETSU.
The last five tournaments have been tight down the stretch at CCSV. Each champion has been decided by three or fewer strokes at the J.T. Poston Invitational the past five years. In 2021 and 2022, there was only a two-stroke margin between the champion and runner up.
Live scoring throughout the tournament will be available on GolfStat.com.
The event will be a shotgun start beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday and 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The Wake Forest freshmen individuals will tee off against Clemson and ETSU
THE DEACS' INDIVIDUALS
Tom Haberer
Freshman Tom Haberer made his Wake Forest debut this fall at the Sahalee Players Championship. Last week, the German helped Wake Forest take home their first team championship of the season at the Highlands Invitational. Haberer looks to make his first appearance as an individual at the J.T. Poston Invitational.
Marco Florioli
Marco Florioli made history as the first Italian player in Demon Deacons history with his appearance at the Highlands Invitational. Florioli has been one of the highest ranked golfers in Europe during the final years of his junior career.
Kyle Haas
Freshman Kyle Haas made his freshman debut last week at the Highlands Invitational. Haas was the No. 1 player in North Carolina for the Class of 2023. Before his time at Wake Forest, Haas won the 2023 Eastern Amateur title and the AJGA Sam Burns Classic.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Teams
- Western Carolina
- Abilene Christian
- Augusta
- Drexel
- Elon
- Francis Marion
- Georgia Southern
- Georgia State
- High Point
- Kennesaw State
- Queens
- Radford
- Western Kentucky
- Xavier
- Wofford
Individual
- No. 25 Wake Forest
- ETSU
- Clemson
COURSE INFORMATION
J.T. Poston Invitational
Country Club of Sapphire Valley - Sapphire Valley, N.C. - Par 71 - 7,007 yards
- The Country Club of Sapphire Valley is a private, member-owned club located at the base of the southern Appalachian Mountains.
- The J.T. Poston Invitational has been played at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley since its inception in 2011.
- Despite being located in the Appalachian Mountains, the course is tucked away in a valley giving the tournament a picturesque backdrop.
- The mountain course was originally built by George Cobb then later updated by Bill Bergin.
LIVE SCORING
TEE TIMES
Monday, September 25 - First & Second Round - Play begins at 9:00 a.m. ET play will be continuous through the second round.
Tuesday, September 26 - Third Round - Play begins at 9:30 a.m. ET
Players Mentioned
Wake Forest Football | Georgia Tech Trailer
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Football Media Availability (9/24/25)
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Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
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Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23