MADISON, Miss. - Third-seeded Georgia Southern fought hard to the very end, but dropped a tight 3-2 decision to second-seeded Arkansas State Thursday morning in the semifinals of the 2025 Sun Belt Championship at Annandale Golf Club.

The Eagles finished stroke play at 8-under par to secure the #3 spot, but ran into a hot A-State squad on Thursday.

Brycen Jones and Jake Wallis led off things on the 10th hole and Jones took a quick lead after the first hole and stretched his lead to two after winning the 16th hole with a birdie. Wallis won the 18th hole and the second hole to tie the match up and then took the lead with a win at the sixth hole. Jones responded with a win on the seventh hole and won the eighth hole to take the lead, halving the final hole to win 1UP.

Playing in the four spot, Brantley Baker continued his strong play after finishing tied for third in stroke play with a 3&2 win over Jake Lile. Leading by one, Baker won the fourth and fifth holes with a pair of birdies to clinch the individual match.

Hogan Ingram trailed by as many as three holes on the opening nine and rallied to get within one hole after winning the fourth and fifth holes, but ran out of holes and fell 2&1 to Chris Somerfield. Parker Claxton dropped a 7&6 result to Thomas Schmidt to make it 2-2, but Jack Maxey, who won the individual stroke play title, halved the seventh hole with Edouard Cereto to clinch a 3&2 win, as well as the team victory for the Red Wolves.

Arkansas State and top-seeded Coastal Carolina (3-2 win over Troy) advanced to Thursday afternoon's final.

Words From Coach Carter Collins: "A strong week at Annandale came up one match short. This team played their best golf of the year when it mattered the most and that reveals the type of character and fight they have.

"This team also has been one of the best to coach and watch grow that I've been with. They are a great group of young men that became a team and fought until the end. I'm very proud of them and how they represent this University.

"I'm sorry I didn't help this team more to get the results that Eagle Nation expects, but we gave it our all.  Thank you for supporting us all year and I strongly believe this program is on the verge of great things."

Sun Belt Championship Match Play - April 24
Semifinals vs. Arkansas State
Annandale Golf Club • Madison, Miss.

Arkansas State wins 3-2
Match 1 - Brycen Jones vs. Jake Wallis – GS wins, 1UP
Match 2 - Hogan Ingram vs. Chris Somerfield – AST wins 2&1
Match 3 - Parker Claxton vs. Thomas Schmidt – AST wins 7&6
Match 4 - Brantley Baker vs. Jake Lile – GS wins 3&2
Match 5 - Edouard Cereto vs. Jack Maxey – AST wins 3&2

Up Next: The Eagles will now have to wait until Wednesday, April 30 to find out if the team or individual(s) are selected for the NCAA Championship.