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see also: Malan Potgieter, View results for Louisiana Classics, Oakbourne Country Club
The top ten ranked Tigers hold off late push from Texas A&M, while Potgieter won in dramatic fashion
The 40th edition of the Louisiana Classics turned into a two-horse race, with LSU holding off Texas A&M to secure the title. The Tigers set the tone with a blistering opening round and maintained their edge with steady play in the final two rounds, posting scores of 279-282-284 to finish at 19-under par—two shots clear of the Aggies. Texas A&M, the only other team to record three rounds under par, finished runner-up at 17-under. Host school Louisiana rounded out the top three at 7-under, finishing 10 shots behind Texas A&M.
LSU’s title run was led by junior Alfons Bondesson of Sweden, who delivered a consistent performance with rounds of 70-69-68 to tie for medalist honors. He shared the top spot with Louisiana junior Malan Potgieter, who dropped a scorching second-round 65 between a pair of 71s. Texas A&M senior Phichaksn Maichon secured solo third at 7-under, while his freshman teammate Wheaton Ennis finished tied for fourth at 5-under alongside Little Rock’s Freddie Turnell.
LSU received a strong boost from star freshman Arni Sveinsson, the highest-ranked player in the field, who finished sixth at 4-under par. Dylan Kayne, Jay Mendell, and Noah McWilliams rounded out the Tigers' scoring effort.
Texas A&M leaned on its senior-freshman duo of Phichaksn Maichon and Wheaton Ennis, but also got key contributions from sophomore Aaron Pounds, who finished 10th, and senior Michael Heidelbaugh, who placed 14th.
LSU separated itself from the field with dominant par-4 play, finishing just one-over for the week—11 shots better than any other team. Texas A&M, meanwhile, overpowered the par 5s, leading the field at 28-under, 10 shots clear of the next-best team. Little Rock posted the best par-3 scoring at one-over, with LSU close behind.
According to LSU Athletics, Bondesson and Potgieter went to a playoff after finishing tied in regulation. The duel extended to a third extra hole, where Potgieter secured the win with a bogey on the par-3 9th. Both players found trouble off the tee after two clean playoff holes, but Potgieter ultimately emerged victorious.
The win marks the first collegiate victory for Malan Potgieter. His previous top finishes include third place at the 2025 Border Olympics, a T4 at the 2024 Aggie Invitational, and a top-10 showing at the Southern Cape Amateur in his native South Africa. According to Lousiana Athletics, this is the first Ragin’ Cajun to win this home event in tournament history.
Despite the playoff result, Bondesson will still receive first-place points for his share of the lead in regulation. The LSU junior boasts an impressive résumé, including a T8 finish at the 2024 European Amateur, a 12th-place finish at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate, and top performances in 2023 at the SEC Championship (T8) and Regionals (T11).
This victory marks the 3rd win for 1st-year head coach Jake Amos.
“Everything we do is setting us up for winning,” the first-year Tiger head coach told LSU Athletics. “We are trying to make winning a habit and are guys are buying into that. But we know we have to get tougher when we get ready for the postseason.”
LSU will look to continue it’s success at the Pauma Valley Invitational next week in Pauma Valley, California and at the Calusa Cup in Naples, Florida, at the beginning of April.
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | , Sweden | 600 | 70-69-68=207 | |
| 1 | , South Africa | 600 | 71-65-71=207 | |
| 3 | Beverly Hills, CA | 300 | 70-69-70=209 | |
| 4 | Eagle, ID | 300 | 72-69-70=211 | |
| 4 | , England | 300 | 72-71-68=211 |
54-hole men's college tournament hosted by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Team (best four scores of five players each day) and individual competitions.
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