LAFAYETTE – The Texas A&M men's golf makes the drive east to play in the 39th annual Louisiana Classics, a two-day, 54-hole tournament starting Monday.
The Aggies are two-time defending champions at the tournament held at the par-72, 6,898-yard Oakbourne Country Club.
Last season, Texas A&M won the tournament by 11 strokes over second-place Little Rock. Jaime Montojo and Vishnu Sadagopan earned All-Tournament recognition with fourth place efforts.
In 2022, the Aggies set a school-record with a three-round tally of 47-under 817. Sam Bennet won the individual title at 18-under 198, a tournament record, with three rounds of 66.
Texas A&M also won the team trophy in 2018. In addition to Bennett, Aggies winning individual medalist honors include Jorge Coghlan (1986), Marco Gortana (1993), Anthony Rodriguez (1995), Ryan Palmer (1998) ad Dan Erickson (2018).
Sadagopan and Montojo return to the tournament with Daniel Rodrigues, Phichaksn Maichon and Michael Heidelbaugh rounding out the five-man lineup. Freshmen Jake Maggert and Aaron Pounds are entered in the tournament as individual combatants.
The 14-team field features a strong regional flavor with nine schools from Louisiana and Texas, including top 40 squads Texas A&M (28), SMU (34) and LSU (36). Other top team in the tournament include Wake Forest (33), Illinois State (61) and Michigan (80).
Ol' Sarge's charges are ranked No. 26 in the Bushnell/Golfweek DI Coaches Poll and No. 28 in the Clippd Rankings.
The teams play 36 holes Monday with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The final round starts with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. from holes No. 1 and 10.
Tuesday's final round action will have final hole coverage on ESPN+. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
THE FIELD (CLIPPD RANKING – March 6)
Texas A&M (28)
Wake Forest (33)
SMU (34)
LSU (36)
Illinois State (61)
TCU (71)
Michigan (80)
Little Rock (81)
Texas State (110)
Sam Houston (115)
Louisiana (124)
Louisiana Tech (134)
South Alabama (141)
Rice (146)
THE LINEUP
Team
Daniel Rodrigues – Senior – Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
INDIVIDUALS
Jake Maggert – Freshman – The Woodlands, Texas
Aaron Pounds – Freshman – The Woodlands, 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 the PGA Championship – Lionel and Jay Hebert – the only brother duo to claim the title. Formerly swampland, architect Dick Wilson laid out the course with future tweaks by Ken Dye and Joe Finger. The course is well-maintained by superintendent Jason Barra.
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 70/50, mostly sunny and nice, SE 6-10 mph, 2% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 75/59, partly sunny, SE 6-13 mph, 8% probability of precipitation.
Weather.com
Monday: 73/49, mostly cloudy skies early becoming partly cloudy later, ESE 5-10 MPH, 0% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 78/60, partly cloudy skies, SE 10-15 MPH, 8% 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.
The Aggies are two-time defending champions at the tournament held at the par-72, 6,898-yard Oakbourne Country Club.
Last season, Texas A&M won the tournament by 11 strokes over second-place Little Rock. Jaime Montojo and Vishnu Sadagopan earned All-Tournament recognition with fourth place efforts.
In 2022, the Aggies set a school-record with a three-round tally of 47-under 817. Sam Bennet won the individual title at 18-under 198, a tournament record, with three rounds of 66.
Texas A&M also won the team trophy in 2018. In addition to Bennett, Aggies winning individual medalist honors include Jorge Coghlan (1986), Marco Gortana (1993), Anthony Rodriguez (1995), Ryan Palmer (1998) ad Dan Erickson (2018).
Sadagopan and Montojo return to the tournament with Daniel Rodrigues, Phichaksn Maichon and Michael Heidelbaugh rounding out the five-man lineup. Freshmen Jake Maggert and Aaron Pounds are entered in the tournament as individual combatants.
The 14-team field features a strong regional flavor with nine schools from Louisiana and Texas, including top 40 squads Texas A&M (28), SMU (34) and LSU (36). Other top team in the tournament include Wake Forest (33), Illinois State (61) and Michigan (80).
Ol' Sarge's charges are ranked No. 26 in the Bushnell/Golfweek DI Coaches Poll and No. 28 in the Clippd Rankings.
The teams play 36 holes Monday with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The final round starts with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. from holes No. 1 and 10.
Tuesday's final round action will have final hole coverage on ESPN+. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
THE FIELD (CLIPPD RANKING – March 6)
Texas A&M (28)
Wake Forest (33)
SMU (34)
LSU (36)
Illinois State (61)
TCU (71)
Michigan (80)
Little Rock (81)
Texas State (110)
Sam Houston (115)
Louisiana (124)
Louisiana Tech (134)
South Alabama (141)
Rice (146)
THE LINEUP
Team
Daniel Rodrigues – Senior – Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
- Ranks 82nd in the Clippd Collegiate Player Rankings with a 25.93 average weighted points.
- Owns 69.2 adjusted stroke average and 466-118-24 W-L-T on the season.
- PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention in 2023.
- Finished t-4th at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Parnu, Estonia.
- Advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2023 Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club in Southport, England.
- Owned a 71.13 stroke average in a team-high 39 rounds over 13 tournaments in 2022-23, including -0.21 versus par.
- Won the 2022 Blessings Collegiate with a three-round tally of 11-under 206, earning SEC Golfer of the Week.
- Last time out – finished t-21st at the Southern Highlands Collegiate with a 2-over 218 (71-73-74).
- PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention and PING All-Central Region in 2023
- Ranks 77th in the Clippd Collegiate Player Rankings with a 26.35 average weighted points.
- Owns 69.2 adjusted stroke average and 513-140-25 W-L-T on the season.
- Won the 2023 Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational with an 11-under 205, including a 67 in the final round.
- Carded an average score of 70.29, including -1.03 vs. par, in 34 rounds over 11 tournaments in 2022-23.
- Finished t-11th at the NCAA Championships and t-14th at the NCAA Salem Regional.
- Capped off string of three consecutive top-three finishes with a third-place showing at the 2023 SEC Championships.
- Finished 6th at last year's Louisiana Classics with a 5-over 218 (74-70-74).
- Last time out – finished t-34th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, posting a 4-over 220 (73-74-73).
- Owns a 70.9 adjusted stroke average on the season in 21 rounds.
- Has moved up 143 spots in the clipped ranking since they debuted on January 17.
- Sports a 329-246-29 head-to-head W-L-T in 2023-24.
- Registered a 71.36 scoring average, including -0.43 vs. par in 2022-23.
- Earned a spot on the 2023 SEC Community Service Team.
- Picked up Srixon/Cleveland All-America Scholar (2022) and GCAA All-America Scholar (2023) the last two years.
- Recorded top 12 finishes at the Badger Invitational and Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate in 2022-23.
- Last time out – finished t-47th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, posting a 7-over 223 (72-79-72).
- Owns a 69.7 adjusted scoring average with a 373-205-16 head-to-head W-L-T in 2023-24
- Made DP World Tour debut Oct. 19-22 at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
- Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week in 2022-23, registering a 71.93 scoring average, including 0.57 vs. par in 28 rounds.
- Played a key role in Spain's 4-3 victory over Denmark to win the 2023 European Amateur Team Championship in Epilanges, Switzerland – winning the clinching match 2&1.
- Made a late charge to finish t-13th at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Parnu, Estonia.
- Qualified for the match play portion of the 2023 Amateur Championship, bowing out in the round of 64.
- Last year he earned All-Tournament at the Louisiana Classics with a t-4th finish – 4-over 217 (76-71-70).
- Last time out – finished t-44th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, posting a 6-over 222 (69-77-76).
- Owns a 72.1 adjusted stroke average for 2023-24.
- 2023 PING All-Central Region in 2023
- Earned GCAA All-America Scholar in 2023 and made the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and '23.
- Participated in the U.S. Amateur in 2022, coming up just two strokes shy of match play.
- Posted three top 10 finishes in 2022-23, including earning All-Tournament recognition at the Louisiana Classics with a t-4 showing.
- Carded a 71.03 scoring average in 2022-23, including -0.26 vs. par in 31 rounds over 11 tournaments.
- Last year he earned All-Tournament at the Louisiana Classics with a t-4th finish – 4-over 217 (72-74-71).
- Last time out – finished t-47th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, posting a 7-over 223 (70-78-75).
INDIVIDUALS
Jake Maggert – Freshman – The Woodlands, Texas
- Entered college slotted No. 35 in the American Junior Golf Association ranking.
- Finished 12th in the PGA National High School Golf Association 2022-23 Player Rankings.
- Boasted a stellar career at The Woodlands Christian Academy where he won three consecutive TAPPS 5A state titles from 2021-23 along with fellow Aggies Aaron Pounds and Jack Usner.
- Finished third individually at the 2023 TAPPS 5A state tournament.
- Father Jeff Maggert is a former Texas A&M golfer who earned All-America honors and has played professionally since 1986, winning three PGA Tour events along with claiming a pair of majors on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
- Last time out – finished t-57th at the Marquette Intercollegiate.
Aaron Pounds – Freshman – The Woodlands, Texas
- Twice named an AJGA Rolex Junior All-American and was slotted No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class.
- Selected the 2021-22 All-USA Today National High School Boys Golfer of the Year; finalist for the award in 2022-23.
- Ended 2022-23 ranked No. 2 in the PGA High School Golf Association Player Rankings after topping list in 2021-22.
- Advanced to Round of 32 at the USGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship teamed with Jack Usner in both 2022 & 2023.
- Qualified for the 2022 USGA Junior Amateur.
- Sister - Haley Pounds was a two-time All-SEC Second Team soccer player at Texas A&M; Sister - Taylor Pounds is entering her fifth season on the Texas A&M soccer team, having started 69 matches in the first four.
- Last time out – finished t-93rd at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate.
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 the PGA Championship – Lionel and Jay Hebert – the only brother duo to claim the title. Formerly swampland, architect Dick Wilson laid out the course with future tweaks by Ken Dye and Joe Finger. The course is well-maintained by superintendent Jason Barra.
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 70/50, mostly sunny and nice, SE 6-10 mph, 2% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 75/59, partly sunny, SE 6-13 mph, 8% probability of precipitation.
Weather.com
Monday: 73/49, mostly cloudy skies early becoming partly cloudy later, ESE 5-10 MPH, 0% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 78/60, partly cloudy skies, SE 10-15 MPH, 8% 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.