TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Louisiana Classics
Mar 12, 2023 | Men's Golf
LAFAYETTE, La. – The No. 15 Texas A&M men's golf team defends its title at the Louisiana Classics when the Aggies tackle the par-72, 6,898-yard Oakbourne Country Club on Monday and Tuesday.
Last year, Texas A&M set school and tournament records with a 54-hole tally of 47-under, 817, to win the event by 12 strokes.
Sam Bennett also defends his individual title. The Madisonville, Texas, native set a tournament record with an 18-under, 198, stringing together three consecutive 66 rounds. He matched a tournament record winning by six strokes. The Aggies had three other players in the top 10, including William Paysse (t-3rd, -11), Daniel Rodrigues (t-6th, -9) and Walker Lee (8th, -8).
Bennett, Paysse and Rodrigues return to participate in the 2023 Louisiana Classics. They are joined by Jaime Montojo and Vishnu Sadagopan. Phichaksn Maichon will compete as an individual.
The Aggies enter the fray slotted No. 14 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Collegiate Ranking presented by StrackaLine, 15 in the Golfstat Ranking and No. 10 in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division Coaches Poll.
The field includes three teams ranked in the Golfstat top 50 and eight teams in the top 100. Texas A&M is joined by LSU as one of two SEC teams in the tournament.
The Aggies have claimed the Louisiana Classics title twice – 2018 and 2022. Six Texas A&M players have earned medalist honors, including Jorge Coghlan (1986), Marco Gortana (1993), Anthony Rodriguez (1995), Ryan Palmer (1998), Dan Erickson (2018) and Bennett (2022).
Texas A&M has three victories in the 2022-23 campaign, including the Badger Invitational, the Blessings Collegiate Invitational and the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate.
Monday's action starts with an 8 a.m. shotgun start with the Aggies on holes 1, 2, 3 and 13. The teams play two rounds Monday and cap off the tournament with Tuesday's final round starting with tee times on holes 1 and 10 beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday's final round action will have coverage on ESPN+. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
THE FIELD (GOLFSTAT RANKINGS)
Texas A&M (15)
Little Rock (32)
LSU (47)
SMU (62)
New Mexico State (73)
Michigan (82)
Sam Houston (91)
Illinois State (99)
Louisiana Tech (110)
UTSA (121)
Texas State (126)
Louisiana (144)
Denver (157)
New Orleans (228)
THE LINEUP
Team
Sam Bennett – Senior – Madisonville, Texas
COURSE
Established in 1955, Oakbourne Country Club is renowned for its mature oak trees and beautiful water hazards. A claim to fame of the club is being the home of two former winners of PGA Championship, Lionel and Jay Hebert - the only brother duo to claim the title. Formerly swamp land, architect Dick Wilson laid out the course with future tweaks by Ken Dye and Joe Finger. The course is well-maintained by superintendent Jason Barras.
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 66/44, partly sunny and breezy, NNE 13-24 MPH, very windy, 8% probability of precipitation
Tuesday: 61/43, sunny and cool, NE 8-16 MPH, 21% probability of precipitation
Weather.com
Monday: 64/46, cloudy, NNE 10-30 MPH, 3% probability of precipitation
Tuesday: 64/45, mostly cloudy, NE 10-25 MPH, 5% probability of precipitation
For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M men's golf, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Last year, Texas A&M set school and tournament records with a 54-hole tally of 47-under, 817, to win the event by 12 strokes.
Sam Bennett also defends his individual title. The Madisonville, Texas, native set a tournament record with an 18-under, 198, stringing together three consecutive 66 rounds. He matched a tournament record winning by six strokes. The Aggies had three other players in the top 10, including William Paysse (t-3rd, -11), Daniel Rodrigues (t-6th, -9) and Walker Lee (8th, -8).
Bennett, Paysse and Rodrigues return to participate in the 2023 Louisiana Classics. They are joined by Jaime Montojo and Vishnu Sadagopan. Phichaksn Maichon will compete as an individual.
The Aggies enter the fray slotted No. 14 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Collegiate Ranking presented by StrackaLine, 15 in the Golfstat Ranking and No. 10 in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division Coaches Poll.
The field includes three teams ranked in the Golfstat top 50 and eight teams in the top 100. Texas A&M is joined by LSU as one of two SEC teams in the tournament.
The Aggies have claimed the Louisiana Classics title twice – 2018 and 2022. Six Texas A&M players have earned medalist honors, including Jorge Coghlan (1986), Marco Gortana (1993), Anthony Rodriguez (1995), Ryan Palmer (1998), Dan Erickson (2018) and Bennett (2022).
Texas A&M has three victories in the 2022-23 campaign, including the Badger Invitational, the Blessings Collegiate Invitational and the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate.
Monday's action starts with an 8 a.m. shotgun start with the Aggies on holes 1, 2, 3 and 13. The teams play two rounds Monday and cap off the tournament with Tuesday's final round starting with tee times on holes 1 and 10 beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday's final round action will have coverage on ESPN+. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
THE FIELD (GOLFSTAT RANKINGS)
Texas A&M (15)
Little Rock (32)
LSU (47)
SMU (62)
New Mexico State (73)
Michigan (82)
Sam Houston (91)
Illinois State (99)
Louisiana Tech (110)
UTSA (121)
Texas State (126)
Louisiana (144)
Denver (157)
New Orleans (228)
THE LINEUP
Team
Sam Bennett – Senior – Madisonville, Texas
- 122nd United States Amateur Champion – 2022.
- 2022 PING All-America First Team.
- 2022 SEC Golfer of the Year.
- Boasts a 69.95 stroke average in 2022-23, including -1.75 vs. par in 20 rounds.
- Owns five career collegiate titles, including the John A. Burns Intercollegiate earlier this spring.
- Last time out – tied for 28th at the talent-laden Southern Highlands Collegiate (even, 216).
- Earned All-SEC First Team and Freshman All-SEC, as well as PING All-America Honorable Mention and GCAA National All-Freshman in 2020.
- Owns a 71.00 stroke average over four tournaments in 2022-23, including earning co-medalist honors at the Badger Invitational.
- Played in 11 tournaments in 2021-22, registering a 72.09 stroke average and seven top-25 finishes.
- Last time out – finished 3rd at the talent-laden Southern Highlands Collegiate (9-under, 217), returning to the lineup after missing three months with an injury.
- SEC Golfer of the Week on Oct. 14 following his win at the Blessings Intercollegiate (11-under 205).
- Owns a 71.00 stroke average in 2022-23, including -0.70 vs. par over 20 rounds.
- Registered a 72.23 stroke average in 10 tournaments in 2021-22, including top 10 finishes at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate (t-4th) and the Louisiana Classics (t-6th).
- Last time out – tied for 54th at the talent-laden Southern Highlands Collegiate (6-over, 222).
- Owns a 71.07 stroke average over 14 rounds in 2022-23, including a -0.36 vs. par.
- In fall 2022, placed third in a field of 28 at the Badger Invitational individual tournament with a 1-over 143 at Pleasant View Golf Course.
- Earned SEC Freshman of the Week twice - after an 18th place finish at the Blessings Collegiate invitational and an 8th place finish at the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate.
- Last time out – tied for 35th at the talent-laden Southern Highlands Collegiate (1-over, 217).
- Boasts a 70.21 stroke average in five tournaments in 2022-23, recording top-10 finishes at the Badger Invitational (t-7th) and the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate (t-5th).
- Participated in the 2022 United States Amateur Championship.
- Played in three events in 2021-22, placing 13th at the Washington County Invitational in Hartford, Wisconsin.
- Last time out – tied for 38th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate (3-under, 213).
- Owns a 71.13 stroke average in 15 rounds in 2022-23, posting four sub-70 rounds.
- Competed in 10 tournaments as a freshman in 2021-22, registering a 73.37 stoke average.
- Held the day two lead at the 2022 SEC Championships.
- Last time out – tied for 67th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate (even, 216).
COURSE
Established in 1955, Oakbourne Country Club is renowned for its mature oak trees and beautiful water hazards. A claim to fame of the club is being the home of two former winners of PGA Championship, Lionel and Jay Hebert - the only brother duo to claim the title. Formerly swamp land, architect Dick Wilson laid out the course with future tweaks by Ken Dye and Joe Finger. The course is well-maintained by superintendent Jason Barras.
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 66/44, partly sunny and breezy, NNE 13-24 MPH, very windy, 8% probability of precipitation
Tuesday: 61/43, sunny and cool, NE 8-16 MPH, 21% probability of precipitation
Weather.com
Monday: 64/46, cloudy, NNE 10-30 MPH, 3% probability of precipitation
Tuesday: 64/45, mostly cloudy, NE 10-25 MPH, 5% probability of precipitation
For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M men's golf, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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