News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
STANFORD – The No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies battle for a spot in the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship as they head to the Stanford Regional contested Monday to Wednesday in the foothills of the California’s Santa Cruz Mountains.
The regional site is Stanford Golf Course, a par-70, 6,727-yard circuit. The top five teams at each of the NCAA’s six regionals advance to the championships slated for May 24-29 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
The Aggies are making their 49th NCAA postseason appearance, including the 20th time in the last 21 seasons. The NCAA has hosted regionals since 1989 and the Maroon & White have earned 31 trips in that span.
Texas A&M fields a formidable lineup including All-SEC Second Team selection Phichaksn Maichon. Daniel Rodrigues enters the tournament fresh of a runner-up performance at the SEC Championship. Michael Heidelbaugh, Jaime Montojo and Aaron Pounds round out the Aggie fivesome. Vishnu Sadagopan travels to Stanford as A&M’s alternate.
The 14-team field includes four teams ranked in the top 25, including No. 6 Florida State, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 18 Illinois and the Aggies. The Maroon & White are looking to claim their fourth regional crown, winning in 1996, 2018 and 2019.
Monday’s action starts at 11 a.m. with the Aggies teeing off from the 10th hole paired with Stanford and UCLA.
Live scoring is available at Golfstat.
THE FIELD
1. Florida State (6)
2. Ole Miss (7)
3. Illinois (18)
4. Texas A&M (19)
5. Stanford (27)
6. UCLA (31)
7. SMU (42)
8. Missouri (43)
9. Fresno State (55)
10. UNLV (56)
11. Augusta (74)
12. Liberty (84)
13. Sacramento State (167)
14. Siena (224)
THE LINEUP
Team
Daniel Rodrigues – Senior – Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Logged a string of five top 10s in six tournaments, including three top 5s.
Ranks 58th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 28.34 average weighted points.
Owns 69.4 adjusted stroke average and 720-175-36 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.
Won the 2022 Blessings Collegiate with a three-round tally of 11-under 206, earning SEC Golfer of the Week.
Last time out – tied as runner-up at the SEC Championships scoring 6-under 204 (67-68-69) before going 1-1-0 in match play.
Phichaksn Maichon – Junior – Bangkok, Thailand
Earned All-SEC Second Team in 2023-24.
PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention and PING All-Central Region in 2023.
Ranks 15th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 41.64 average weighted points.
Owns 69.1 adjusted stroke average and 761-208-32 W-L-T on the season.
Claimed the title at the 2024 Louisiana Classics with a tournament record 18-under 198 to win by eight strokes.
Won the 2023 Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational with an 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 Championship.
Last time out – finished t-14th at the SEC Championships scoring 2-under 208 (70-67-71) before going 1-1-0 in match play.
Jaime Montojo – Sophomore – Madrid, Spain
Owns a 69.8 adjusted scoring average with a 613-277-27 head-to-head W-L-T in 2023-24.
Ranks 120th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 22.23 average weighted points.
Made DP World Tour debut October at the Estrella Damm 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-36th at the SEC Championships scoring 2-over 212 (70-70-72) before going 1-1-0 in match play.
Michael Heidelbaugh – Junior – Dallas, Texas
Owns a 71.0 adjusted stroke average on the season in 36 rounds.
Has moved up 218 spots in the clipped ranking since they debuted on January 17.
Sports a 528-353-46 head-to-head W-L-T in 2023-24.
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-14th at the SEC Championships scoring 2-under 208 (70-67-71) before going 1-1-0 in match play.
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 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 Rankings after topping list in 2021-22.
Advanced to Round of 32 at the USGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship teamed with Jack Usner in 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-50th at the SEC Championships with a 9-over 219 (74-73-72) before going 0-1-1 in match play.
Alternate
Vishnu Sadagopan – Junior – Pearland, Texas
Owns a 72.4 adjusted stroke average over 31 rounds for 2023-24.
Named to the SEC Community Service Team in 2024.
Claimed PING All-Central Region in 2023.
Earned GCAA All-America Scholar in 2023 and made the SEC Spring Academc Honor Roll in 2022 and ’23.
Participated in the U.S. Amateur in 2022 coming up two strokes shy of match play.
Posted three top 10 finishes in 2022-23, including earning All-Tournament recognition at the Louisiana Classics with 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-66th at the Aggie Invitational.
COURSE
Stanford Golf Course is situated in the foothills above the campus. The circuit has hosted myriad prestigious events including U.S. Open qualifying, Women’s NCAA Championships, NCAA Regionals, Pac-12 Championships and USGA Junior Amateur qualifying. The course was designed by famed architects George Thomas and Billy Bell in 1930. A renovation was directed by John Harbottle in 2008. All the bunkers were rebuilt and several holes were modified in 2018. Surrounding mountains offer scenic vistas and on the elevated 18th hole golfers can see San Francisco, 30 miles to the north.