News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The No. 22 Texas A&M Aggies topped the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers in quarterfinal action, 3-2, before dropping a 3.5-1.5 decision to the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores in the semifinals during Saturday’s doubleheader of match play at the SEC Men’s Golf Championship.
Texas A&M advanced to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season when they dispatched of the Volunteers in the morning round at the par-70, 7,005-yard Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club.
Jaime Montojo recorded the Aggies’ first point, topping Tennessee’s Bruce Murphy 1UP. The pair was knotted thru seven holes, but Montojo strung together three consecutive birdies to go 3UP after 10 and he fought off a late charge.
Daniel Rodrigues put A&M up 2-0 over Tennessee, beating Jake Hall, 2&1. He never trailed in the match, but wasn’t able to extend the lead to two until the 14th hole, eventually going 3UP after 15 holes.
After the Volunteers closed the gap to 2-1, Phichaksn Maichon clinched the semifinal bid with a 4&2 triumph over Lance Simpson. Maichon claimed a three-hole advantage after eight holes and stretched it out to four holes after 14.
The afternoon match needed extra holes for Vanderbilt to prevail.
The Commodores claimed the first point with Cole Sherwood topping Maichon, 4&3. Maichon won the first point, but Sherwood tied it on the next green and won three consecutive holes from 8-10 to take command of the match.
Michael Heidelbaugh tied the contest at 1-1, defeating Matthew Riedel, 1UP. Although Heidelbaugh never trailed, the match was tied as late as the 15th hole.
After Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent earned his point against Rodrigues, 1UP, to take a 2-1 lead, it was up to Montojo and Aaron Pounds to fight off the match-ending point. Montojo stretched his match to the 20th hole where he came up short on a birdie putt after Jackson Van Paris sank a 20-footer. Pounds and Vanderbilt’s William Moll ended their match in a draw after 18 holes.
Vanderbilt faces Auburn in Sunday’s SEC Championship final match.
The Aggies await word on their NCAA Regional destination. The tournament field will be announced Wednesday, May 1 on the Golf Channel. Regional sites include The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin; University Club in Baton Rouge; Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; The Fams Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California; Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, California; and Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana.
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QUARTERFINAL
Texas A&M 3, Tennessee 2
Jaime Montojo (A&M) def. Bruce Murphy (UT), 1UP
Evan Woosley-Reed (UT) def. Michael Heidelbaugh (A&M), 1UP
Daniel Rodrigues (A&M) def. Jake Hall (UT), 2&1
Phichaksn Maichon (A&M) def. Lance Simpson (UT), 4&2
Bryce Lewis (UT) def. Aaron Pounds (UT), 3&3
SEMIFINAL
Vanderbilt 3.5, Texas A&M 1.5
Jackson Van Paris (VU) def. Jaime Montojo (A&M), 20 Holes
Michael Heidelbaugh (A&M) def. Matthew Riedel (VU), 1UP
Cole Sherwood (VU) def. Phichaksn Maichon (A&M), 4&3
Gordon Sargent (VU) def. Daniel Rodrigues (A&M), 1UP
Tied – Aaron Pounds (A&M) – William Moll (VU)