Monday, January 29
Tucson, Ariz.
9:30 AM
Texas A&M
at
National Invitational Tournament
Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Arizona N.I.T.
Jan 28, 2024 | Men's Golf
TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 25 Texas A&M men's golf team commences the spring slate with an appearance at the Arizona National Invitational Tournament Monday and Tuesday.
The Aggies look to tackle the par-72, 7,200-yard Catalina Course at OMNI Tucson National. The course is currently home of the PGA Champions tour Cologuard Classic.
This marks the Aggies first appearance at the tournament since 2014. Texas A&M produced a fifth-place finish at the tournament in 2013, equaling its best showing at the event. The Maroon & White also landed in fifth place in 2007. Ol' Sarge's have made four trips to Tucson since 2017, all for the Arizona Thunderbirds Collegiate. Last season, Texas A&M won that tournament played at Tucson Country Club.
The Arizona N.I.T. has been played every year since 2003 except for 2020. Host Arizona's two wins came in the first and the most recent edition. Arizona State and TCU, both in this year's field, have the most wins with three apiece.
Texas A&M's lineup features senior Daniel Rodrigues along with juniors Phichaksn Maichon and Michael Heidelbaugh, sophomore Jaime Montojo and freshman Aaron Pounds. Junior Vishnu Sadagopan battles the field as an individual.
The 18-team field has a strong Power Five flavor, including teams from the Big 12 (BYU, Iowa State, TCU and West Virginia), Pac 12 (Arizona, Arizona State and Stanford. Texas A&M joins Missouri as representatives of the SEC in the field. The Mountain West Conference (Fresno State, New Mexico, Wyoming) and West Coast Conference (Loyola Marymount, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Santa Clara) also have multiple teams in the field. The tournament features seven teams in the top 40 of the NCAA golf rankings.
In their most recent outing, the Maroon & White wrapped up the fall portion of the season with a third-place showing at the Furman Intercollegiate. The Aggies also posted a runner-up finish at the season-opening Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills.
Monday's action begins with an 9:30 a.m. shotgun start with continuous playing into the second round. The tournament wraps up with an 9:30 a.m. shotgun start Tuesday.
THE FIELD
Texas A&M (25)
Arizona State (6)
Arizona (16)
New Mexico (28)
Missouri (35)
SMU (36)
Loyola Marymount (38)
BYU
Fresno State
Iowa State
New Mexico State
Saint Mary's
San Diego
Santa Clara
Stanford
TCU
West Virginia
Wyoming
THE LINEUP
Team
Michael Heidelbaugh – Junior – Dallas, Texas
INDIVIDUAL
Vishnu Sadagopan – Junior – Pearland, Texas
COURSE
The Catalina Course is world renowned and has hosted over 30 PGA Tour events, including the Chrysler Classic of Tucson and the PGA Champions' Cologuard Classic. The tree-lined fairways feature Tifway Bermuda while Champion Bermuda carpets the greens. The track is sprinkled with eight lakes and 80 bunkers giving the course spectacular views. Produced by designers Robert Van Hagge and Bruce Devlin, the course has been bestowed numerous honors, including Golf Digest's 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 76/49, partly sunny and pleasantly warm, E 6-8 mph with gusts up to 16 mph, 0% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 76/50, pleasantly warm with plenty of sunshine, SSW 6-8 mph with gusts up to 10 mph, 1% probability of precipitation.
Weather.com
Sunday: 76/50, partly cloudy skies, E 4-7 MPH, 0% probability of precipitation.
Monday: 78/50, sunshine and clouds mixed, SE 4-7 MPH, 0% 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 look to tackle the par-72, 7,200-yard Catalina Course at OMNI Tucson National. The course is currently home of the PGA Champions tour Cologuard Classic.
This marks the Aggies first appearance at the tournament since 2014. Texas A&M produced a fifth-place finish at the tournament in 2013, equaling its best showing at the event. The Maroon & White also landed in fifth place in 2007. Ol' Sarge's have made four trips to Tucson since 2017, all for the Arizona Thunderbirds Collegiate. Last season, Texas A&M won that tournament played at Tucson Country Club.
The Arizona N.I.T. has been played every year since 2003 except for 2020. Host Arizona's two wins came in the first and the most recent edition. Arizona State and TCU, both in this year's field, have the most wins with three apiece.
Texas A&M's lineup features senior Daniel Rodrigues along with juniors Phichaksn Maichon and Michael Heidelbaugh, sophomore Jaime Montojo and freshman Aaron Pounds. Junior Vishnu Sadagopan battles the field as an individual.
The 18-team field has a strong Power Five flavor, including teams from the Big 12 (BYU, Iowa State, TCU and West Virginia), Pac 12 (Arizona, Arizona State and Stanford. Texas A&M joins Missouri as representatives of the SEC in the field. The Mountain West Conference (Fresno State, New Mexico, Wyoming) and West Coast Conference (Loyola Marymount, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Santa Clara) also have multiple teams in the field. The tournament features seven teams in the top 40 of the NCAA golf rankings.
In their most recent outing, the Maroon & White wrapped up the fall portion of the season with a third-place showing at the Furman Intercollegiate. The Aggies also posted a runner-up finish at the season-opening Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills.
Monday's action begins with an 9:30 a.m. shotgun start with continuous playing into the second round. The tournament wraps up with an 9:30 a.m. shotgun start Tuesday.
THE FIELD
Texas A&M (25)
Arizona State (6)
Arizona (16)
New Mexico (28)
Missouri (35)
SMU (36)
Loyola Marymount (38)
BYU
Fresno State
Iowa State
New Mexico State
Saint Mary's
San Diego
Santa Clara
Stanford
TCU
West Virginia
Wyoming
THE LINEUP
Team
Michael Heidelbaugh – Junior – Dallas, Texas
- Registered a 71.36 scoring average, including a -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-16th at the Furman Intercollegiate with an even 213 (68-71-714)
- 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
- Claimed medalist honors at the 2022 Blessings Collegiate Invitational with a three-round tally of 11-under 206, earning SEC Golfer of the Week
- Earned SEC All-Freshman Team in 2020-21
- Last time out – finished t-3rd at the Furman Intercollegiate with a 5-under 208 (70-65-73)
- Made his DP World Tour debut last October in 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 time out – finished t-30th at The Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate with an even 216 (69-73-74)
- PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention in 2023
- PING All-Central Region in 2023
- Won the 2023 Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational with a three-round tally of 11-under 205, including a 67 in the final round
- 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
- Last time out – finished t-16th at the Furman Intercollegiate with an even 213 (69-77-67)
- Twice named an AJGA Rolex Junior All-American and was slotted as No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class
- Selected the 2021-22 All-USA Today National High School Boys Golfer of the Year and was finalist for the award in 2022-23
- Ended 2022-23 ranked No. 2 in the PGA High School Golf Association Player Rankings after topping the list in 2021-22
- Advanced to the Round of 32 at the USGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship teamed with Jack Usner in 2022 and 2023
- Qualified for the 2022 USGA Junior Amateur
- Last time out – finished t-47th at Furman Intercollegiate with a 5-over 218 (70-76-72)
INDIVIDUAL
Vishnu Sadagopan – Junior – Pearland, Texas
- 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 2023
- 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-4th showing
- Carded a 71.03 scoring average, including -0.26 vs. par in 31 rounds over 11 tournaments
- Last time out – finished t-12th at the Furman Intercollegiate with a 1-under 212 (71-68-73)
COURSE
The Catalina Course is world renowned and has hosted over 30 PGA Tour events, including the Chrysler Classic of Tucson and the PGA Champions' Cologuard Classic. The tree-lined fairways feature Tifway Bermuda while Champion Bermuda carpets the greens. The track is sprinkled with eight lakes and 80 bunkers giving the course spectacular views. Produced by designers Robert Van Hagge and Bruce Devlin, the course has been bestowed numerous honors, including Golf Digest's 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 76/49, partly sunny and pleasantly warm, E 6-8 mph with gusts up to 16 mph, 0% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 76/50, pleasantly warm with plenty of sunshine, SSW 6-8 mph with gusts up to 10 mph, 1% probability of precipitation.
Weather.com
Sunday: 76/50, partly cloudy skies, E 4-7 MPH, 0% probability of precipitation.
Monday: 78/50, sunshine and clouds mixed, SE 4-7 MPH, 0% 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.
Players Mentioned
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