Texas A&M Men’s Golf Wraps up Fall at Furman Intercollegiate

October 18, 2024 Sean Burnett

News release from Texas A&M Athletics:

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The No. 18. Texas A&M men’s golf team wraps up the fall portion of the 2024-25 campaign Saturday and Sunday as the Aggies headline the 54th Furman Intercollegiate.

The 15-team field is predominantly from the Atlantic coastal region, including three teams from the Southern Conference and two each from the Atlantic 10, Big South and Sun Belt.

Texas A&M’s lineup is headed by Golf Channel Preseason All-American Phichaksn Maichon who enters the fray slotted No. 16 in the PGA TOUR University rankings. He is joined by Wheaton Ennis, Michael Heidelbaugh, Aaron Pounds and Jack Usner. Jaime Montojo and Jacob Sosa are entered in the tournament as individuals.

This marks the Aggies’ second appearance in the historic tournament. The list of former winners includes a cavalcade of golfers who have gone on to storied PGA careers, including Curtis Strange (1974), Jay Haas (1976), Mark Calcavecchia (1979), Brad Faxon (1983), Billy Andrade (1985), David Duval (1991) and Matt Kuchar (1997).

In their most recent outing, the Maroon & White finished second at the inaugural Qubein Cup. Ennis posted his first career top 10 with a sixth-place showing as all five Aggies finished in the top 20.

The competitors are slated to play 54 holes on the par-71, 7,131-yard Furman University Golf Club. The course honed the skills of future PGA Tour winners Bruce Fleischer and Faxon, as well as a trio of women’s golf legends, including Beth Daniel, Betsy King and Dottie Pepper who combined to win 84 LPGA tour events and nine majors.

Saturday’s action begins with a 7:30 shotgun start. The Aggies are paired with host Furman and XX Wake Forest, starting from hole No. 1. The teams will effort to finish two rounds Saturday and Sunday is slated for tee times from No. 1 and No. 10, starting at 7:20 a.m.

Live stats are available at Scoreboard powered by Clippd.

 

THE FIELD (SCOREBOARD POWERED BY CLIPPD RANKING)

Texas A&M (27)

Campbell (81)

Davidson

Francis Marion

Furman (60)

Gardner Webb

Georgia State

High Point

James Madison

Richmond

USC-Aiken

Wake Forest (34)

Western Carolina

Western Kentucky

Wofford                                               

 

THE LINEUP

Team

Phichaksn Maichon – Senior – Bangkok, Thailand

  • Slotted No. 15 in the PGA TOUR University ranking.
  • Earned spots on Golf Channel Preseason All-America Second Team and Fred Haskins Award watch list.
  • Participated in the Palmer Cup and U.S. Amateur (advancing to round of 16) over the summer.
  • PING/GCAA Division I All-America Third Team in 2024 and Honorable Mention in 2023.
  • Earned All-SEC Second Team in 2023-24.
  • Finished junior year 15th in the Clippd College Player Rankings.
  • Owns two career titles, including the 2023 Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational and 2024 Louisiana Classics.
  • Ended 2023-24 season with five top-10 finishes, including three top-5.
  • Last time out – finished t-11th at the Qubein Cup, carding a 17-over 217 (72-75-70).

 

Wheaton Ennis – Freshman – Eagle, Idaho

  • Earned SEC Freshman of the Week following the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational.
  • Won the Arizona Amateur at Phoenix Country Club in June ‘24, never trailing in the title match.
  • Participated in the U.S. Amateur (advancing to round of 32) over the summer.
  • Arrived in Aggieland slotted No. 2 on the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
  • Won 7 Junior Golf Association of Arizona events between 2020-24, including the Thunderbird Invitational in March ‘24.
  • Claimed three consecutive Idaho Golf Association Junior State Championships from 2020-22.
  • Last time out – finished t-6th at the Qubein Cup, carding a 5-over 215 (73-70-72).

 

Michael Heidelbaugh – Senior – Dallas, Texas

  • Owned a 71.1 adjusted stroke average in 45 rounds last season.
  • Finished 2023-24 ranked No. 286 in the Scoreboard Rankings powered by Clippd.
  • Sported a 628-482-62 head-to-head W-L-T in 2023-24.
  • Picked up Srixon/Cleveland All-America Scholar (2022) and GCAA All-America Scholar (2023 & 2024) recognition.
  • Earned a spot on the 2023 SEC Community Service Team.
  • Recorded five top 20 finishes in 2023-24, including a 14th place showing at the SEC Championships.
  • Father – Matthew – played golf at New Mexico State for legendary coach Herb Wimberly.
  • Last time out – finished t-20th at the Qubein Cup, carding an 11-over 221 (76-71-74).

 

Aaron Pounds – Sophomore – 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 Prep Boys Golfer of the Year; finalist for the award in 2022-23.
  • Ended 2022-23 ranked No. 2 in PGA High School Golf Association Player Rankings after topping list in 2021-22.
  • Advanced to Round of 32 at 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 in her fifth season on the Texas A&M soccer team.
  • Last time out – Aggies’ top performer at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational with a 5-over 215 (70-73-72) to finish 28th.
  • Last time out – finished t-13th at the Qubein Cup, carding an 8-over 218 (75-70-73).

 

Jack Usner – Sophomore – The Woodlands, Texas

  • Making his fourth career appearance in the team lineup.
  • 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 Four-Ball Championship paired with Aaron Pounds in both 2022 and 2023.
  • Qualified for the 2022 USGA Junior Amateur Championship.
  • Last time out – finished t-31st at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic, carding an even 216 (76-67-73).
  • Selected the 2021-22 All-USA Today National Prep Boys Golfer of the Year; finalist for the award in 2022-23.
  • Ended 2022-23 ranked No. 2 in PGA High School Golf Association Player Rankings after topping list in 2021-22.
  • Advanced to Round of 32 at 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 in her fifth season on the Texas A&M soccer team.
  • Last time out – finished t-17th at the Qubein Cup, carding a 10-over 220 (77-69-74).

 

Individuals

Jaime Montojo – Junior – Madrid, Spain

  • Earned NCAA Division I PING All-Central Region honors in 2024.
  • Played in The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.
  • Finished sophomore year 146th in the Clippd College Player Rankings.
  • Claimed his first collegiate victory sharing medalist honors at the 2024 Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club.
  • Made DP World Tour debut October ‘23 in the Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
  • Keyed Spain’s 2023 European Amateur Team Championship victory – 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-53rd at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational at 10-over 220 (73-71-76).

Jacob Sosa – Junior – Austin, Texas

  • Making his second appearance as an Aggie.
  • Participated in nine tournaments for Texas in the 2023-24 campaign, registering a 72.50 scoring average.
  • Ten of his 20 rounds in 2023-24 were par or better, including seven rounds in the 60s.
  • Played in 10 tournaments as a freshman posting a 72.28 stroke average.
  • Participating in his first collegiate tournament since March 25-26 – the 2024 Valspar Collegiate Invitational.
  • Opened the 2023-24 season with a seventh-place finish at the Sahalee Players Championship and added a fourth-place showing at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational.
  • Rated No. 3 in the state and No. 14 nationally by the AJGA in the class of 2022.
  • Last time out – finished t-32nd at the Qubein Cup, carding a 13-over 233 (75-74-74).

 

COURSE

Furman University Golf Club underwent a major renovation in 2008 with all 18 greens reconstructed under USGA specifications and reseeded with Champion UltraDwarf Bermudagrass. The circuit is a challenge from tee to green, but the big tests come at the undulating greens. The course was ranked No. 16 in Golfweek’s ‘Best Campus Courses.’

 

WEATHER FORECAST

Accuweather.com

Monday: 73/44, plenty of sun; NE 6-8 mph with gusts to 16 mph; 0% probability of precipitation.

Tuesday: 75/44, plenty of sun; NE 4-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph; 0% probability of precipitation.

Weather.com     

Monday: 73/45, mostly sunny; NE 5-10 MPH; 2% probability of precipitation.

Tuesday: 78/48, sunny skies with light and variable winds; NE 5-8 mph; 4% probability of precipitation.

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