TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Southern Highlands Collegiate

Sunday, February 25

Las Vegas, Nev.

Texas A&M

Southern Highlands Collegiate

Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics

Feb 24, 2024 | Men's Golf

Notes - Southern Highlands Collegiate

By: Thomas Dick, Texas A&M Athletics Communications

LAS VEGAS – The Texas A&M men's golf team continues the spring slate Sunday at the Southern Highlands Collegiate. The famed, par-72, 7,510-yard Southern Highlands Golf Club is site of the three-day, 54-hole tournament.

Texas A&M trots out a formidable lineup headlined by senior Daniel Rodrigues who enters the fray with back-to-back four consecutive top 10 results. He is joined by Phichaksn Maichon, Jaime Montojo, Michael Heidelbaugh and Vishnu Sadagopan.

The Aggies are appearing in the tournament for the second consecutive season. Last year Texas A&M finished eighth at the tournament with a 4-under 860. William Paysse fired three rounds of 69 to finish tied for third with a 9-under 217. The Aggies' lone medalist at the event is Anthony Rodriguez who claimed the trophy in 1994. Ol' Sarge's charges best showings came in 2011 (second) and 2010 (third).

Played under various formats and names since 1974, the Southern Highlands Collegiate has consistently featured loads of talent. Jay Don Blake, Stewart Cink (1992), David Duval (1992), Ed Fryatt (1993), David Gossett (1999), Billy Mayfair (1987), Ryan Moore (2003), Phil Michelson (1989 & 91) and Camilo Villegas (2002) are all former winners who went on to enjoy PGA Tour success.

The individual medalist earns a PGA Tour exemption into the Shriners Children's Open slated for October 14-20 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

The meatgrinder of a tournament features a loaded field. All 15 teams are in the top 70 of the most recent Clippd National Golf Rankings, including eight teams in the top 25. Three of the top four ranked teams in the country are at the tournament including No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Auburn and No. 4 Arizona State.

The Aggies are ranked No. 29 in the Bushnell/Golfweek DI Coaches Poll and No. 30 in the Clippd Rankings.

Action starts at 11 a.m. all three days with tee times at the No. 1 and No. 10 holes.

THE FIELD (CLIPPD RANKING)
Texas A&M (30)
North Carolina (1)
Auburn (2)
Arizona State (4)
Oklahoma (15)
New Mexico (16)
Illinois (17)
Texas (21)
Florida (23)
Georgia (29)
Missouri (34)
San Diego State (35)
UNLV (50)
TCU (64)
Pepperdine (70)

THE LINEUP
Team
Daniel Rodrigues – Senior – Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Enters play with back-to-back top five finishes and three consecutive top 10 results.
PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention in 2023.
Finished t-4 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 7th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate with a 5-under 211 (71-71-69).

Phichaksn Maichon – Junior – Bangkok, Thailand

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-28th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate, posting an even 216 (70-71-75).

Jaime Montojo – Sophomore – Madrid, Spain

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-47^th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate with a 4-over 220 (71-74-75).

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-18^th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate with a 2-under 214 (71-74-69).

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-4 showing.
Carded a 71.03 scoring average, including -0.26 vs. par in 31 rounds over 11 tournaments.
Last time out – finished t-62nd at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate with a 7-over 223 (75-77-71).

COURSE
Southern Highlands Golf Club is one of only four courses co-designed by legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his son Robert Trent Jones Jr. The track features the rugged natural beauty of the desert with 225 acres of mountainous terrain providing elevation changes along with ponds, waterfalls and deep-faced bunkers.

WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Sunday: 69/49, times of clouds and sun, E 6-8 mph, 0% probability of precipitation.
Monday: 71/50, pleasant with times of clouds and sun, wind picking up in the afternoon, SSE 10-12 mph with gusts up to 32 mph, 1% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 68/42, partly sunny, NNE 8-10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, 4% probability of precipitation.

Weather.com
Sunday: 70/52, mostly cloudy, E, 4-7 MPH, 0% probability of precipitation.
Monday: 69/52, few clouds from time to time with wind increasing, SW 20-24 MPH, 0% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 62/40, sunshine and clouds mixed, NNW 12-15 MPH, 5% probability of precipitation.

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