Potgieter Leads Louisiana On Opening Day of Border Olympics

LAREDO, Texas – Senior Malan Potgieter carded an opening-round four-under 71 and backed that up with an even-par 71 here Monday, claiming a tie for third individually to lead UL's Ragin' Cajun golf team on the opening day of the prestigious 75th annual Border Olympics.

Potgieter, the Cajuns' stroke leader with a 68.87 average in the fall season and a participant in last week's Africa Amateur Championship in his native South Africa, had five birdies including the par-four first hole in the opening round, and matched three birdies and three bogeys in the afternoon trip around the 7,257-yard par-71 Laredo Country Club course.

The Cajuns, looking to defend their team championship at last year's Border Olympics and in their spring opener, stand tied for eighth in the 14-team field with a 290-288-578 (+10) score. Host Houston, who UL beat by six shots to capture the 2025 Border title, posted a one-under 284-283-567 Monday and has a three-stroke team lead going into Tuesday's final round.

Lamar is second at two-over 570 after a five-under 279 in the afternoon round, while New Mexico State – who joined Houston in last year's runner-up slot, and North Texas are tied for third at three-under 571. Tarleton State (574) stands fifth and Wichita State (576), which shot the day's low round with an eight-under 276 in the afternoon, is in sixth place entering the final round.

Wichita State's Jose Ramirez provided much of that afternoon push with an eight-under 63, and is the individual leader at six-under 136, one shot ahead of Mitchell Maier of North Texas and two shots ahead of Potgieter and Houston's Hudson Weibel at 138.

Junior Carter Schmitt and freshman Nathan Schuldt stand in the top 25 individually after Monday's first two rounds, Schmidt coming back from a three-over 74 with an even-par 71 in the afternoon and Schuldt – who eagled the par-five ninth hole in his opening round, carded 73-72. Senior Jean Louis du Plessis is tied for 56th at 76-74-150 and freshman James Holtsclaw is 63rd at 76-75-151.

Sophomore Jay Brooks, playing as an individual, is tied with du Plessis for 56th at 78-72—150.

UL will be paired with Illinois State and UTRGV in Tuesday's 8 a.m. shotgun start final round.

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75th Border Olympics
Feb. 16-17, 2026
Laredo, Texas (Laredo Country Club)
7,257 yards, par 71

Team Standings: 1. Houston 284-283-567 (-1); 2. Lamar 291-279-570 (+2); T3. New Mexico State 286-285-571 (+3); T3. North Texas 281-290-571 (+3); 5. Tarleton State 292-282-574 (+6); 6. Wichita State 300-276-576 (+8); Illinois State 289-288-577 (+9); T8. Louisiana 290-288-578 (+10); T8. UTRGV 297-281-578 (+10); 10. Sam Houston 288-292-580 (+12); 11. Troy 292-290-582 (+14); 12. Houston Christian 292-292-584 (+16); 13. Wright State 293-304-597 (+29)

Individual Leaders: 1. Jose Ramirez, Wichita State 73-63-136 (-6); 2. Mitchell Maier, North Texas, 67-70-137 (-5); T3. Malan Potgieter, UL, 67-71-138 (-4); T3. Hudson Weibel, Houston, 70-68-138 (-4); T5. TJ Barger, Illinois State, 70-69-139 (-3); T5. Brendon Willey, Houston Christian, 71-68-139 (-3); T5. Arthit Kruaprhyong, UTRGV (IND), 70-69-139 (-3).

UL Scores: 1. Malan Potgieter 67-71-138 (-4); T25. Carter Schmitt 74-71-145 (+3); T25. Nathan Schuldt 73-72-145 (+3); T55. Jean Louis du Plessis 76-74-150 (+8); 63. James Holtsclaw 76-75-151 (+9); T55. Jay Brooks (IND), 78-72-150 (+8).

Potgieter Leads Louisiana On Opening Day of Border Olympics

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Players Mentioned

Jay Brooks

Jean Louis du Plessis

James Holtsclaw

Malan Potgieter

Carter Schmitt

Nathan Schuldt