TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Aggie Invitational

Saturday, April 6

Bryan-College Station

Texas A&M

The Aggie Invitational

Daniel Rodrigues tees it off at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate

Photo by: Melissa Dupuis - Troon Golf

Apr 05, 2024 | Men's Golf

Aggie Invitational Info Pack & Course Map Notes - Aggie Invitational

Texas A&M defends its home turf Saturday and Sunday at Traditions Club.

By: Thomas Dick, Texas A&M Athletics Communications

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 22 Texas A&M men's golf team defends its home turf in the regular-season finale Saturday and Sunday when it hosts the Aggie Invitational at the par-72, 7,227-yard Traditions Club.

The event is free and open to the public. The 54-hole tournament features two rounds Saturday followed by Sunday's final 18 holes. Play commences with tee times between 7:20-9:20 a.m. both days.

The 12-team field, includes five teams from the Lone Star State, including Baylor, Lamar, Sam Houston and UTSA. LSU joins the Aggies as the two SEC teams in the tournament. Defending champion Louisville returns after edging out the Maroon & White by three strokes for the 2023 trophy.

The Aggies enter the fray slotted No. 22 in both the Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll and Scoreboard College Golf Rankings powered by Clippd. The Aggies are less than a month out from winning the team title at the Louisiana Classics.

Texas A&M fields a formidable lineup for the event led by a pair ranked in the top 75. Phichaksn Maichon, who enters the week ranked No. 12, finished second at last year's Aggie Invitational and won last month's Louisiana Classics with a tournament-record 18-under tally for three rounds. Daniel Rodrigues, ranked No. 77, has finished in the top 10 in five of his last seven tournaments, including three top 5 results. They are joined in the starting five by Jaime Montojo, Vishnu Sadagopan and Michael Heidelbaugh.

Freshmen Jake Maggert, Aaron Pounds, Joe Stover and Jack Usner join the field as individuals.

The Maroon & White are five-time Aggie Invitational champions and claiming titles in 2010, '11, '14, '21 and '22. Recent graduate Walker Lee is the only two-time individual medalist at the tournament, with wins in 2018 and '22. Sam Bennett won the Aggie Invitational in 2021. Jordan Russell (2010) and Chandler Phillips (2018) also claimed the crowns.

Live scoring is available at Golfstat.

THE FIELD (GOLFSTAT RANKINGS)
Texas A&M (22)
LSU (30)
Baylor (44)
Louisville (46)
FGCU (54)
Sam Houston (74)
Memphis (111)
UTSA (117)
Lamar (131)
Louisiana Tech (134)
Louisiana (139)
New Mexico State (149)

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

Has five top 10s in his last seven tournaments, including three top 5s.
Ranks 74th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 26.46 average weighted points.
Owns 69.4 adjusted stroke average and 595-154-31 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-32nd at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational with a 3-over 216 (70-77-69).

Phichaksn Maichon – Junior – Bangkok, Thailand

PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention and PING All-Central Region in 2023
Ranks 12th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 44.44 average weighted points.
Owns 69.1 adjusted stroke average and 628-192-30 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.
Last time out – finished t-51st at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational with a 6-over 219 (78-70-71).

Jaime Montojo – Sophomore – Madrid, Spain

Owns a 71.1 adjusted stroke average on the season in 28 rounds.
Has moved up 141 spots in the clipped ranking since they debuted on January 17.
Sports a 420-315-41 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.
Father - Matthew - played golf at New Mexico State for legendary coach Herb Wimberly.

Last time out – finished t-51st at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational, posting a 6-over 219 (72-70-75).

Vishnu Sadagopan – Junior – Pearland, Texas

Owns a 72.0 adjusted stroke average over 28 rounds 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 time out – finished t-46th at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational with a 5-over 218 (74-75-79).

Michael Heidelbaugh – Junior – Dallas, Texas

Owns a 71.1 adjusted stroke average on the season in 28 rounds.
Has moved up 141 spots in the clipped ranking since they debuted on January 17.
Sports a 420-315-41 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.
Father - Matthew - played golf at New Mexico State for legendary coach Herb Wimberly.
Last time out – finished t-51st at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational, posting a 6-over 219 (72-70-75).

Individual (Alphabetical)
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 6th out of 40 at the All-American Individual with a 5-over 221 (80-69-72).

Aaron Pounds – Freshman – The Woodlands, Texas

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; 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-38th at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational with a 4-over 217 (74-72-71).

Joe Stover – Redshirt Freshman – Dallas, Texas

Tied for eighth at the 2023 Texas Amateur, posting the final round's best score with a 68.
Finished runner-up at the Insperity Invitational / Patrick Reed AJGA Junior Championship in 2022, firing 11 birdies en route to a 1-under 215.
Paced Highland Park High School to a Texas Class 5A state runner-up finish in his senior season and its 22nd UIL Class 5A state title in 2021.
Recorded five top 7 finishes in nine events in summer 2021, including t-3 at the Stewart Cink Championship.
Last time out – finished 11th out of 40 at the All-American Individual with an 8-over 224 (74-71-79).

Jack Usner – Freshman – The Woodlands, Texas

Finished t-10th at the Southern Junior Championship in June 2023.
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 Jake Maggert and Aaron Pounds.
Ended school year ranked No. 49 in the PGA High School Golf Association Player Rankings in 2022-23.
Advanced to the Round of 32 at the USGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship teamed with Aaron Pounds in both 2022 and 2023...
Qualified for the 2022 USGA Junior Amateur.
Last time out – finished t-21st out of 40 at the All-American Individual with a 231 (77-74-80).

COURSE
The Traditions Club is not just another golf course. The terrain is unexpected, but a welcome surprise. Turkey Creek together with the rolling hills, make it a test from the tee box – so pick your tee carefully. This 7,227-yard championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II features stately hardwoods, many natural creeks and wetlands, and striking vistas of Kyle Field and the University skyline.

The generous fairways offer some relief, but the strategically placed bunkers let you know where the Nicklaus' intended your ball to land. Like many other Nicklaus Designs, Traditions provides golfers with a true championship golf experience. It's golf the way it was intended to be played – a fair test of skill that is sure to challenge and delight all who play it.

WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Saturday: 81/67, windy and not as warm with sunshine and patchy clouds, S 15-17 mph, gusts to up to 35 MPH, 5% probability of precipitation.
Sunday: 84/66, cloudy in the morning with a thunderstorm in spots, then intervals of clouds and sunshine in the afternoon, WSW 6-8 mph, gusts up to 14 MPH, 40% probability of precipitation and 24% probability of thunderstorms.

Weather.com
Saturday: 83/65, intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day, SSE 15-25 MPH with higher gusts possible, 9% probability of precipitation early and increasing.
Sunday: 83/67, a few showers in the morning, then clouds lingering in the afternoon, W 5-10 MPH, 32% probability of precipitation.

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