News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The No. 22 Texas A&M Aggies battle for conference bragging rights at the SEC Men’s Golf Championship starting Wednesday at Sea Island Golf Club.
This marks the seventh consecutive time the SEC Championship features both stroke and match play on Sea Island Golf Club’s par-70, 7,005-yard Seaside Course. The tournament opens with three rounds of stroke play Wednesday-Friday. The top eight teams advance to match play with the quarterfinals and semifinals contested Saturday and the championship round played Sunday.
For the sixth straight year, the final match play round will be televised on SEC Network. The semifinal round streams on SEC Network +.
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.
The field is loaded with nine teams slotted in the top 25 of the Clippd rankings, including five of the top 10 teams. Twelve of the 14 teams are ranked in the top 40.
Texas A&M sports a formidable lineup, including a pair of tournament winners from the 2023-24 campaign. Phichaksn Maichon smashed the field at the Louisiana Classics to win by eight strokes and most recently Jaime Montojo made a late charge at the Aggie Invitational to earn co-medalist distinction. They are joined by Daniel Rodrigues, Michael Heidelbaugh and Aaron Pounds in Wednesday’s starting lineup. Jake Maggert is also at the tournament available as a reserve.
The Aggies are looking for their first SEC Championship, finishing as runner-up in both 2016 – the last year of stroke play determining the champion – and 2017 – the first year of match play deciding the victor. Texas A&M has advanced to the bracket all six years the tournament has included match play, including making the semifinal round in each of the last four championships.
Wednesday’s tee times for the Aggies start at 7:50 a.m. Ol’ Sarge’s charges are paired with Florida and Georgia for the first round.
Live scoring is available at Golfstat.
THE FIELD (GOLFSTAT RANKINGS)
Texas A&M (22)
Auburn (1)
Vanderbilt (2)
Ole Miss (5)
Tennessee (7)
Alabama (9)
Arkansas (11)
Florida (15)
Georgia (23)
LSU (35)
Missouri (37)
Mississippi State (38)
South Carolina (62)
Kentucky (86)
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 90th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 26.82 average weighted points.
Owns 69.4 adjusted stroke average and 649-173-33 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 – finished t-20th at the Aggie Invitational with a 9-over 225 (78-75-72).
Phichaksn Maichon – Junior – Bangkok, Thailand
PING/GCAA Division I All-America Honorable Mention and PING All-Central Region in 2023
Ranks 13th in the Clippd College Player Rankings with a 43.21 average weighted points.
Owns 69.0 adjusted stroke average and 701-194-30 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 3rd at the Aggie Invitational with a 2-over 218 (75-69-74).
Jaime Montojo – Sophomore – Madrid, Spain
Owns a 69.7 adjusted scoring average with a 578-240-23 head-to-head W-L-T in 2023-24
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 – claimed first career title with a t-1st at the Aggie Invitational, posting a 1-over 217 (71-77-69).
Michael Heidelbaugh – Junior – Dallas, Texas
Owns a 71.2 adjusted stroke average on the season in 31 rounds.
Has moved up 138 spots in the clipped ranking since they debuted on January 17.
Sports a 468-339-44 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-25th at the Aggie Invitational, posting an 11-over 227 (76-76-75).
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-12th at the Aggie Invitational with a 6-over 222 (74-74-74).
Alternate
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 t-29th at the Aggie Invitational with a 12-over 228 (76-75-77).
COURSE
The SEC Championship has been contested on the Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course from 2001-07, 2010-23.
Since 1927, the Sea Island has enjoyed a legacy as one of America’s premier golf clubs. Rated No. 1 in the U.S. among the “World’s 50 Best Golf Hotels” by Golf Digest Index, Sea Island Golf Club offers three exceptional 18-hole championship courses. The Seaside Course, home of the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic, is a links course graced by majestic ocean vistas in the tradition of St. Andrews.
The Seaside Course was totally reconfigured by Tom Fazio and reopened in October 1999. The new Seaside Course is the brilliant blending of Colt & Allison’s original nine-hole Seaside and Joe Lee’s Marshside nine into one seamless, contemporary 18-hole golf course. Tidal creeks, dunes, saltmarshes, and St. Simons Sound frame the course which plays fast, firm and fun in the tradition of legendary Scottish links.
WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Wednesday: 79/63, pleasant with plenty of sun, SSW 10-12 mph, gusts to up to 23 mph, 2% probability of precipitation.
Thursday: 81/68, mostly sunny and comfortable, SSE 6-8 mph, gusts up to 17 mph, 13% probability of precipitation.
Friday: 80/69, pleasant with times of clouds and sun, ESE 10-12 mph, gusts up to 27 mph, 25% probability of precipitation and 3% probability of thunderstorms.
Saturday: 81/71, sunny to partly cloudy and pleasant, ESE 12-14 mph, gusts up to 24 mph, 19% probability of precipitation and 2% probability of thunderstorms.
Sunday: 80/70, pleasant with times of clouds and sun, SE 12-14 mph, gusts up to 24 mph, 17% probability of precipitation and 1% probability of thunderstorms.
Weather.com
Wednesday: 78/60, mainly sunny, SSW 10-15 mph, 6% probability of precipitation.
Thursday: 80/68, partly cloudy skies, ESE 10-15 mph, 5% probability of precipitation.
Friday: 77/69, partly cloudy skies, E 10-20 mph, 12% probability of precipitation.
Saturday: 78/68, partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon, ESE 10-20 mph, 22% probability of precipitation.
Sunday: 77/67, partly cloudy skies, SE 10-20 mph, 6% probability of precipitation.