USC’s men’s golf team had the lead heading into the final day at Trinity Forest, but East Tennessee State had the closing kick.
The Trojans finished second in the 17-team Trinity Forest Invitational on Oct. 6 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, carding a 283 (-5) in the final round for an 835 (-29) total. That left USC three shots behind No.
19 East Tennessee State, which surged with a 275 (-13) to win the title at 832 (-32). Chattanooga’s Evan Rogers took medalist honors at 200 (-16) after posting a tournament-best 63 (-9) in the last round.
Graduate student Deitrek Gill gave USC the top individual finish, tying his career best and setting a new personal best as a Trojan with a second-place 204 (-12). Gill was right in the hunt early, but a front nine that included three bogeys and only one birdie pushed him off the pace. He steadied things on the back nine with three birdies and a bogey to finish at par for the round.
"It felt good to finally be in the lineup and I felt really good about my game," Gill said. "I came out and played well at the start.
I think anytime you're in contention to win shows a lot about where your game's at and how you handle it mentally. I'll take it as a learning experience and hopefully get the job done next time"
Gill also said the group believes more good results are coming.
"We wanted to come away with a win, but I think everybody is just happy enough with how we played," Gill said. "We all have a lot of trust and faith in each other to get the job done and we can keep improving as the season goes on. We're still expecting to have a fantastic season."
Senior Nicolas Dominguez was next for USC, breaking into the top 10 with an eighth-place 208 (-8). His 68 (-4) in the final round was his best of the week, and he played bogey-free golf until the final hole. Dominguez finished with two birdies on the front and three more on the back, giving him the sixth top-10 result of his career.
USC also got matching 21st-place finishes from sophomore Joshua Hong and junior Jack Buchanan, both at 213 (-3). Hong closed with a 70 (-2), while Buchanan posted a 73 (+1).
Hong started clean on the front nine with three birdies and added another at No. 10 before three bogeys and a lone birdie on the back nine. His 213 was a nine-stroke improvement from his previous Trinity Forest Invitational appearance as a freshman at UTSA.
Buchanan opened with back-to-back birdies, but the front nine turned rough after that, including two bogeys and a double-bogey on No. 7. He settled in somewhat on the back with three birdies and three bogeys.
Junior Jaden Dumdumaya rounded out USC’s lineup in a tie for 39th at 217 (+1) after a final-round 76 (+4).
USC now closes its fall schedule at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate from Oct. 16-18.
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley's USC Future Comes With A Massive Catch
Lincoln Rileys long-term future at USC has come with the kind of contract language that makes any coaching discussion feel more complicated than usual. He signed a 10-year deal in 2022 worth around $110 million, and while the school clearly made a massive commitment to him, the numbers around that pact have also helped frame every conversation about where the program goes next.
The catch is the buyout, which is believed to land somewhere in the $50 million to $60 million range, even if the exact figure is not public. With Rileys record sitting at 40-19 and attendance issues hanging over the season, USC is in the familiar spot of balancing patience, expectations and the reality of how expensive a coaching change would be. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Maiava Just Gave USC Fans A New Reason To Watch Saturday
Jayden Maiava has become one of the more intriguing names on USCs radar this fall, not just because of what hes doing for the Trojans, but because of what it could mean beyond college. As he moves through his final season, the NFL is already taking notice, and ESPN analyst Field Yates recently put Maiava in a conversation that should catch USC fans attention by comparing his throwing ability to former Trojan Sam Darnold.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, with USC heading into a pivotal game against Penn State that carries real weight for bowl eligibility and the postseason picture. For a team still trying to sort out where this season can go, Maiavas rise gives the Trojans another layer of stakes to watch, and another reason the next stretch matters well beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
USC Walks Into A White Out Scene Trojans Fans Will Notice
More than 200 Penn State students were already set up outside Beaver Stadium at Gate A, turning the White Out buildup into a familiar college-football scene even with the Nittany Lions coming in off a two-game skid. The student-run tent city known as Nittanyville got its campout rolling Tuesday, giving the USC trip a backdrop that says plenty about how seriously Penn State treats these nights, and how quickly the atmosphere can go from concern to full-throttle optimism.
Theres also a bigger feeling around the place under new head coach Matt Campbell, with the students talking openly about a season turnaround and hoping this game can help spark it. If Penn State takes care of business, the group plans to be part of the on-field celebrations, which is exactly the kind of detail Trojan fans should clock as they walk into one of the sports loudest road environments. [Read more 🡒]