University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Potgieter, Ortego Named To All-Sun Belt Conference Men's Golf Team
4/29/2025 3:00:00 PM | Golf
Duo helped lead Louisiana to top-70 national ranking
NEW ORLEANS – The tandem of Louisiana's Malan Potgieter and Eli Ortego was part of an 18-member squad named to the 2025 All-Sun Belt Conference Men's Golf Team, the league office announced on Tuesday.
The team was selected by a vote of the league's 14 head coaches.
Potgieter earned All-SBC honors for the third straight year for Louisiana, ranked No. 69 nationally in the Scoreboard.Clippd rankings, and was a first-team selection, while Ortego earned All-SBC honors for the second time in his career and was a second-team pick.
Potgieter, ranked No. 67 nationally in the Scoreboard.Clippd rankings, posted a scoring average of 70.76 in 33 rounds of play for the Ragin' Cajuns during the 2024-25 season. He appeared in all 11 events for Louisiana with six top-5 finishes, seven top-10's and 10 top-20 performances.
The Kirkwood, South Africa native recorded 23 of his 33 rounds were at par or below with eight rounds in the 60's. Potgieter recorded top-3 finishes in his last four events of the season beginning with medalist honors at the 40th annual Louisiana Classics (71-65-71-207), becoming the first Ragin' Cajuns golfer in the history of the tournament to claim top honors.
His 7-under-par 65 in the second round of Louisiana Classics was tied for the fifth-lowest in tournament history. The junior finished in a tie for third at both the Old Corkscrew Intercollegiate (71-73-70-214) and Sun Belt Conference Championships (70-71-70-211) and was second overall at the Aggie Invitational (73-72-70-215).
Ortego, the 2022 SBC Freshman of the Year and a third-team pick, finished second for Louisiana in scoring average (72.15).
The Lafayette native scored a pair of top-5 finishes for the Ragin' Cajuns, including tying with Arkansas State's Jack Maxey for first at last week's Sun Belt Conference Championships (70-69-71-210).
Ortego tied his 54-hole career low (5-under-208) and finished tied for fifth at the Git-R-Done Invitational (64-74-70) with his opening round 7-under-64 scored as the second-lowest of his career.
He recorded scores in 14 rounds during the season at par or below with four rounds in the 60's. Ortego produced seven top-20 finishes on the season, including three in the top-10.
Ortego finished in a tie for 11th at the Border Olympics (74-70-71-215) where he helped lead Louisiana to the team championship. He was tied for seventh overall at the Old Corkscrew Intercollegiate (73-73-71-217) and tied for 13th at the Aggie Invitational (73-73-76-222).
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsGolf) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana golf updates.
2024-25 ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S GOLF TEAM
Golfer of the Year – Thomas Schmidt, Arkansas State
Newcomer of the Year – Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina
Freshman of the Year – Jake Wallis, Arkansas State
Coach of the Year – Clay Bounds, Troy
All-Sun Belt Conference First Team
Louis Anceaux, ULM
Parker Claxton, Georgia Southern
Malan Potgieter, Louisiana
Thomas Schmidt, Arkansas State
Brantley Scott, Troy
Jake Springer, Troy
All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
Brantley Baker, Georgia Southern
Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina
Eli Ortego, Louisiana
Sakke Siltala, Texas State
Vaclav Tichy, James Madison
Hugo Thyr, South Alabama
All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team
Jack Burke, Texas State
Benjamin Fernandez, Southern Miss
Nick Fowlkes, Troy
Jack Maxey, Arkansas State
Drew Sykes, Coastal Carolina
Jake Wallis, Arkansas State
The team was selected by a vote of the league's 14 head coaches.
Potgieter earned All-SBC honors for the third straight year for Louisiana, ranked No. 69 nationally in the Scoreboard.Clippd rankings, and was a first-team selection, while Ortego earned All-SBC honors for the second time in his career and was a second-team pick.
Potgieter, ranked No. 67 nationally in the Scoreboard.Clippd rankings, posted a scoring average of 70.76 in 33 rounds of play for the Ragin' Cajuns during the 2024-25 season. He appeared in all 11 events for Louisiana with six top-5 finishes, seven top-10's and 10 top-20 performances.
The Kirkwood, South Africa native recorded 23 of his 33 rounds were at par or below with eight rounds in the 60's. Potgieter recorded top-3 finishes in his last four events of the season beginning with medalist honors at the 40th annual Louisiana Classics (71-65-71-207), becoming the first Ragin' Cajuns golfer in the history of the tournament to claim top honors.
His 7-under-par 65 in the second round of Louisiana Classics was tied for the fifth-lowest in tournament history. The junior finished in a tie for third at both the Old Corkscrew Intercollegiate (71-73-70-214) and Sun Belt Conference Championships (70-71-70-211) and was second overall at the Aggie Invitational (73-72-70-215).
Ortego, the 2022 SBC Freshman of the Year and a third-team pick, finished second for Louisiana in scoring average (72.15).
The Lafayette native scored a pair of top-5 finishes for the Ragin' Cajuns, including tying with Arkansas State's Jack Maxey for first at last week's Sun Belt Conference Championships (70-69-71-210).
Ortego tied his 54-hole career low (5-under-208) and finished tied for fifth at the Git-R-Done Invitational (64-74-70) with his opening round 7-under-64 scored as the second-lowest of his career.
He recorded scores in 14 rounds during the season at par or below with four rounds in the 60's. Ortego produced seven top-20 finishes on the season, including three in the top-10.
Ortego finished in a tie for 11th at the Border Olympics (74-70-71-215) where he helped lead Louisiana to the team championship. He was tied for seventh overall at the Old Corkscrew Intercollegiate (73-73-71-217) and tied for 13th at the Aggie Invitational (73-73-76-222).
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsGolf) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana golf updates.
2024-25 ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S GOLF TEAM
Golfer of the Year – Thomas Schmidt, Arkansas State
Newcomer of the Year – Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina
Freshman of the Year – Jake Wallis, Arkansas State
Coach of the Year – Clay Bounds, Troy
All-Sun Belt Conference First Team
Louis Anceaux, ULM
Parker Claxton, Georgia Southern
Malan Potgieter, Louisiana
Thomas Schmidt, Arkansas State
Brantley Scott, Troy
Jake Springer, Troy
All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
Brantley Baker, Georgia Southern
Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina
Eli Ortego, Louisiana
Sakke Siltala, Texas State
Vaclav Tichy, James Madison
Hugo Thyr, South Alabama
All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team
Jack Burke, Texas State
Benjamin Fernandez, Southern Miss
Nick Fowlkes, Troy
Jack Maxey, Arkansas State
Drew Sykes, Coastal Carolina
Jake Wallis, Arkansas State
Players Mentioned
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