Wednesday, February 18
Panama City Beach, Fla. (The Third Course at Watersound Club)
Mississippi State
vs
Watersound Invitational
Skinner Notches Top Ten, Bulldogs Finish Ninth At Watersound Invitational
February 18, 2026 | Men's Golf
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Mississippi State put together a solid final round of 2-under 278 to finish ninth overall at the Watersound Invitational. It is the Bulldogs' fifth top-10 finish this season in as many starts.
"We did a good job battling until the end on a pretty tough day," head coach Dusty Smith said. "I thought we did some really good things on our final 10-11 holes. Overall, we have to be a more complete team. We can't be a team that only shows up for two of the three rounds.
"The lack of consistency got us in the second round and took us out of the tournament. We need to trust our training and continue making the climb."
Jackson Skinner put together his best week as a Bulldog, placing sixth at 6-under overall. The true freshman's opening round of 6-under 64 was the best score of the week before concluding with back-to-back rounds of even-par 70.
Skinner is one of four freshmen in Mississippi State history to shoot a round of 64 or better.
"I'm really proud of Jackson this week," Smith said. "He played some big-time golf in a big-time field. It was nice to see him solid throughout the week. He really stepped up for us in a big way."
Garrett Endicott finished in a tie for 14th at 2-under overall. He began the event with rounds of 3-under 67 and 2-over 72 before concluding with a 69 to finish the tournament in red figures.
This is Endicott's fourth top-20 finish of the season. His two sub-70 rounds give him 33 in his Bulldog career, which ties him for second in program history.
"Garrett did a nice job fighting this week when he didn't have his best stuff," Smith added. "That's a testament to what kind of player he is."
Dain Richie saved his best for last, carding an even-par 70 to finish the event tied for 45th. Drew Wilson placed 56th after a final round of 73. Ugo Malcor tied Endicott for the Dawgs' low final round, concluding with a 1-under 69.
Ben Kelling carded an even-par 70 to tie for 38th individually, his second round of par or better for the event.
State will be back in action on March 13-15 at the Schenkel Invitational.
Watersound Invitational Final Results
1. Arkansas – 269, 277, 275 = 821 (-19)
2. Vanderbilt – 273, 267, 282 = 822 (-18)
3. TCU – 280, 275, 275 = 830 (-10)
4. Florida State – 276, 277, 278 = 831 (-9)
5. Ole Miss – 270, 278, 285 = 833 (-7)
6. Michigan State – 282, 278, 274 = 834 (-6)
7. Kentucky – 281, 272, 282 = 835 (-5)
8. Alabama – 285, 278, 274 = 837 (-3)
9. Mississippi State – 276, 285, 278 = 839 (-1)
10. Ohio State – 286, 282, 280 = 848 (+8)
11. Connecticut – 287, 281, 282 = 850 (+10)
12. Navy – 281, 298, 292 = 871 (+31)
Final State Player Results
6. Jackson Skinner – 64, 70, 70 = 204 (-6)
T14. Garrett Endicott – 67, 72, 69 = 208 (-1)
T45. Dain Richie – 72, 72, 70 = 214 (+4)
T56. Drew Wilson – 73, 71, 73 = 217 (+7)
T62. Ugo Malcor – 77, 72, 69 = 218 (+8)
Day Two State Individual Results
T38. Ben Kelling – 69, 73, 70 = 212 (+2)
For more information on the Bulldog golf program, follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching "HailStateMG."
"We did a good job battling until the end on a pretty tough day," head coach Dusty Smith said. "I thought we did some really good things on our final 10-11 holes. Overall, we have to be a more complete team. We can't be a team that only shows up for two of the three rounds.
"The lack of consistency got us in the second round and took us out of the tournament. We need to trust our training and continue making the climb."
Jackson Skinner put together his best week as a Bulldog, placing sixth at 6-under overall. The true freshman's opening round of 6-under 64 was the best score of the week before concluding with back-to-back rounds of even-par 70.
Skinner is one of four freshmen in Mississippi State history to shoot a round of 64 or better.
"I'm really proud of Jackson this week," Smith said. "He played some big-time golf in a big-time field. It was nice to see him solid throughout the week. He really stepped up for us in a big way."
Garrett Endicott finished in a tie for 14th at 2-under overall. He began the event with rounds of 3-under 67 and 2-over 72 before concluding with a 69 to finish the tournament in red figures.
This is Endicott's fourth top-20 finish of the season. His two sub-70 rounds give him 33 in his Bulldog career, which ties him for second in program history.
"Garrett did a nice job fighting this week when he didn't have his best stuff," Smith added. "That's a testament to what kind of player he is."
Dain Richie saved his best for last, carding an even-par 70 to finish the event tied for 45th. Drew Wilson placed 56th after a final round of 73. Ugo Malcor tied Endicott for the Dawgs' low final round, concluding with a 1-under 69.
Ben Kelling carded an even-par 70 to tie for 38th individually, his second round of par or better for the event.
State will be back in action on March 13-15 at the Schenkel Invitational.
Watersound Invitational Final Results
1. Arkansas – 269, 277, 275 = 821 (-19)
2. Vanderbilt – 273, 267, 282 = 822 (-18)
3. TCU – 280, 275, 275 = 830 (-10)
4. Florida State – 276, 277, 278 = 831 (-9)
5. Ole Miss – 270, 278, 285 = 833 (-7)
6. Michigan State – 282, 278, 274 = 834 (-6)
7. Kentucky – 281, 272, 282 = 835 (-5)
8. Alabama – 285, 278, 274 = 837 (-3)
9. Mississippi State – 276, 285, 278 = 839 (-1)
10. Ohio State – 286, 282, 280 = 848 (+8)
11. Connecticut – 287, 281, 282 = 850 (+10)
12. Navy – 281, 298, 292 = 871 (+31)
Final State Player Results
6. Jackson Skinner – 64, 70, 70 = 204 (-6)
T14. Garrett Endicott – 67, 72, 69 = 208 (-1)
T45. Dain Richie – 72, 72, 70 = 214 (+4)
T56. Drew Wilson – 73, 71, 73 = 217 (+7)
T62. Ugo Malcor – 77, 72, 69 = 218 (+8)
Day Two State Individual Results
T38. Ben Kelling – 69, 73, 70 = 212 (+2)
For more information on the Bulldog golf program, follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching "HailStateMG."
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