Marshall University’s men’s golf team returns to competition on Monday, October 19, for the 2026 Dayton Flyer Invitational at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.
The Thundering Herd is among 13 teams competing in the 54-hole tournament, which concludes Tuesday, October 20.
Marshall enters the event following encouraging individual performances earlier this month, with sophomore Jackson Woodburn and freshman Jackson Harris both recording top-15 finishes at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational.
The event provides Marshall with another opportunity to compete against a competitive NCAA Division I field before the conclusion of its fall schedule.
Jackson Woodburn Brings Strong Fall Form to Dayton
Woodburn has been one of Marshall’s leading performers during the 2026 fall season.
The sophomore finished tied for sixth at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational on October 6, posting a three-round total of one over par at Lakewood Country Club in Westlake, Ohio.
His opening-round 68 included five birdies and was the lowest score recorded by any competitor during the first round.
Despite a difficult start to his final round, Woodburn played his last 13 holes in three under par to secure another top-10 finish.
That result marked his third top-10 performance of the fall.
Earlier in September, Woodburn finished tied for second at the River Run Collegiate in Davidson, North Carolina.
He completed that tournament at three under par, giving Marshall another encouraging individual result during the early part of its season.
His recent consistency makes him an important player to watch as the Herd competes in Ohio.
Jackson Harris Continues Impressive Freshman Campaign
Freshman Jackson Harris has also made a strong early impression for Marshall.
At the October 6 Tom Tontimonia Invitational, Harris finished tied for 15th at four over par.
His best performance came during the final round, when he recorded four birdies on his way to a one-under-par 70.
Harris had previously finished tied for second at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational in September.
That performance helped Marshall secure fourth place in its home tournament, finishing only three shots behind champion Bellarmine.
With Woodburn and Harris both delivering competitive results, Marshall has demonstrated its potential to challenge for individual honors this season.
The Dayton event offers another opportunity for the program to build on those performances.
Dayton Flyer Invitational 2026: Course, Schedule and Teams
The tournament takes place on the South Course at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.
Designed by Dick Wilson, the course features wooded terrain, elevation changes and a layout that demands careful shot selection.
For this year’s competition, the South Course is listed as a par-71 layout measuring 7,055 yards.
Tournament Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Dayton Flyer Invitational |
| Dates | October 19–20, 2026 |
| Host | University of Dayton |
| Venue | NCR Country Club, South Course |
| Location | Kettering, Ohio |
| Course | Par 71, 7,055 yards |
| Format | 54-hole stroke play |
| Teams | 13 |
The opening 36 holes are scheduled for Monday, beginning with a 9 a.m. Eastern Time shotgun start.
The final 18 holes are scheduled for Tuesday, also beginning at 9 a.m.
In addition to Marshall and host Dayton, the field includes Ball State, Belmont, Butler, Cleveland State, DePaul, Illinois State, Miami (Ohio), Oakland, Ohio, St. Thomas and Wright State.
Competitive Field Awaits Marshall
The tournament features several programs with successful fall results.
Ball State enters after finishing third at the Purdue Fall Invitational, while Dayton won the Tom Tontimonia Invitational earlier this month.
Illinois State also returns to an event where it tied for the team title in 2025.
According to Illinois State’s October tournament preview, St. Thomas held the highest national ranking in the field at No. 64, while Marshall entered at No. 221.
Those rankings provide context for the competition, although tournament results will ultimately depend on how the teams perform over three rounds.
For Marshall, consistent team scoring will be especially important.
The Herd showed resilience at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational despite competing with only four counting players after a late withdrawal.
The challenge in Dayton will be turning individual scoring opportunities into a strong overall team finish.
What’s Next for Marshall Men’s Golf?
The Dayton Flyer Invitational is Marshall’s final scheduled competition of the fall season.
Following Tuesday’s final round, the program is scheduled to return to action at the Wexford Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on February 15–16, 2027.
With Woodburn and Harris having already delivered several notable individual finishes, Marshall will look to close the fall with another competitive performance.
The first two rounds in Dayton will establish the team’s position ahead of Tuesday’s championship finish.
For the Thundering Herd, the objective is to turn promising individual performances into a stronger collective result before the winter break.