SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Coming off a Big South Championship season, sophomore Ross Wright and the USC Upstate men’s golf team are aiming to build momentum after an up-and-down fall as a squad.

A native of Houston, Texas, by way of Thailand, Wright was a key contributor to the Spartans’ 2024 Big South title, finishing fifth overall as a freshman. His fall season provided more flashes of that same potential, highlighted by multiple rounds in the 60s that showed that there might not just be a “sophomore slump.”

“I shot multiple rounds of 68 and 69 that were really good for my confidence,” Wright said. “It showed me how I can play my best and what to keep building on this offseason heading into 2026.”

To tee off the 2026 season, Wright and the Spartans will open at the Sea Best Invitational on February 1, returning to the same course where he made his mark a season ago.

Wright’s breakout moment last spring came at the Sea Best Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville University at Atlantic Beach Country Club. Shining in the second round with six birdies, he tied his career-low with a 68, finishing the event at 75-68.

“I’m focused on tightening up my chipping and iron play right now,” he said. “It’s about staying consistent, trusting the process and making sure every rep counts.”

Wright’s drive extends beyond the course. As an industrial engineering major, he balances a demanding academic load that he says has helped him develop patience and focus, all traits that carry over into his game.

“Every day is a new opportunity to learn and get better,” he said. “Whether it’s on the course or in class, I’m just trying to keep improving.”

Beyond Wright, the Spartans’ fall campaign featured several bright spots as the team posted a pair of top-10 finishes at the Fripp Island Intercollegiate and The Carolina Cup. Senior Jackson Stone delivered back-to-back top-15 performances, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at The Carolina Cup, where he carded rounds of 70-74-72 (216). Junior Alec Prentice, the 2023–24 Big South Freshman of the Year, also showed well at the event, finishing fifth overall, while senior Nate Heller provided one of the season’s most memorable moments with a hole-in-one and several strong rounds throughout the fall.

After a described “rocky fall season,” Wright believes the team remains hungry to defend its conference title.

“We all know what we need to do to get better,” he said. “We’ve done it before, and now it’s about putting in the work every single day.”