University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Potgieter Set To Compete In Africa Amateur Championships
2/3/2026 11:09:00 AM | Golf
Senior to play in prestigious event in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – There's no question that Malan Potgieter has been the leader of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun golf team over the past two seasons.
Now, before he begins his final collegiate semester and aims at his third straight appearance in the postseason, he'll aim his sights at a much more international field. And, he'll do it in his home country.
The senior from Kirkwood, South Africa, received an invitation to play in the prestigious Africa Amateur Championship and will be in a 72-player field that begins competition Wednesday at Royal Johannesburg Golf Course.
Potgieter will represent his native country in the event that is in its third year under the R&A's world umbrella, and will include four rounds over the renowned 7,274-yard, par-72 Royal Johannesburg East Course – one that was granted "Royal" status by King George V in 1931 and has hosted 10 South African Open Championships.
"It's always been a prestigious event," said Potgieter, who made the 15-hour journey to South Africa over the weekend and had practice rounds Monday and Tuesday. "But when the R&A took it over it really became a world-class event. And there's definitely a bit more to play for now."
The winner of the Africa Amateur earns exemptions for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the British Amateur Championship this summer.
"This is a tremendous, amazing opportunity for our logo and our university to be exposed on a global scale, but more than anything else what an honor for Milan," said Cajun golf coach Theo Sliman. "Obviously, he's earned it with his incredible work ethic and the results that he's produced over these last couple of years."
Potgieter, currently ranked 149th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors last year and earned his second NCAA Championships outing as the top individual finisher in the NCAA's Tallahassee Regional.
He led the Cajuns with a 70.76 stroke average in 2024-25 with 23 of his 33 rounds at par or below and eight rounds in the 60's. He had three top-four finishes in his final four collegiate events and became the first Cajun player in the 40-year history of UL's own Louisiana Classics to win medalist honors (71-65-71—207, -9).
He also earned a spot last August in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championships at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, struggling in the opening round of stroke play but coming back to fire a three-under 69 in the final round.
"The U.S. Amateur is probably the most prestigious amateur event in the world, and there were definitely some nerves," Potgieter said. "I scrambled around a little bit the first day, but after that I got comfortable and I showed myself that I could play at that level and compete with anyone, so that's definitely a valuable experience.
"For the Africa Amateur, I know now what I'm capable of and I have a lot of confidence, and I know my game stacks up against some really good players."
Numbers-wise, Potgieter had huge success in the just-completed fall season with a 68.87 stroke average, a low round of 62 and top-four finishes in four out of five events including a tie for first in the Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek in Choudrant. He was UL's individual leader in all five fall events and led the Cajuns to three top-five team finishes.
"He's proud to represent South Africa, but he's also extremely proud to represent the Ragin' Cajuns," Sliman said. "He'll be wearing that logo with a lot of pride."
The Africa Amateur will be a definite change from his collegiate schedule, in large part because of conditions. It's summer in South Africa, and the Royal Johannesburg layout is located almost 5,700 feet above sea level. Potgieter's normally a long hitter, but he'll have to get used to his driver carrying around 10 percent further in the thin air.
"It's a tough course but I've played it before, probably six or seven times," he said, "and with the couple of practice rounds before I should be OK."
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Now, before he begins his final collegiate semester and aims at his third straight appearance in the postseason, he'll aim his sights at a much more international field. And, he'll do it in his home country.
The senior from Kirkwood, South Africa, received an invitation to play in the prestigious Africa Amateur Championship and will be in a 72-player field that begins competition Wednesday at Royal Johannesburg Golf Course.
Potgieter will represent his native country in the event that is in its third year under the R&A's world umbrella, and will include four rounds over the renowned 7,274-yard, par-72 Royal Johannesburg East Course – one that was granted "Royal" status by King George V in 1931 and has hosted 10 South African Open Championships.
"It's always been a prestigious event," said Potgieter, who made the 15-hour journey to South Africa over the weekend and had practice rounds Monday and Tuesday. "But when the R&A took it over it really became a world-class event. And there's definitely a bit more to play for now."
The winner of the Africa Amateur earns exemptions for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the British Amateur Championship this summer.
"This is a tremendous, amazing opportunity for our logo and our university to be exposed on a global scale, but more than anything else what an honor for Milan," said Cajun golf coach Theo Sliman. "Obviously, he's earned it with his incredible work ethic and the results that he's produced over these last couple of years."
Potgieter, currently ranked 149th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors last year and earned his second NCAA Championships outing as the top individual finisher in the NCAA's Tallahassee Regional.
He led the Cajuns with a 70.76 stroke average in 2024-25 with 23 of his 33 rounds at par or below and eight rounds in the 60's. He had three top-four finishes in his final four collegiate events and became the first Cajun player in the 40-year history of UL's own Louisiana Classics to win medalist honors (71-65-71—207, -9).
He also earned a spot last August in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championships at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, struggling in the opening round of stroke play but coming back to fire a three-under 69 in the final round.
"The U.S. Amateur is probably the most prestigious amateur event in the world, and there were definitely some nerves," Potgieter said. "I scrambled around a little bit the first day, but after that I got comfortable and I showed myself that I could play at that level and compete with anyone, so that's definitely a valuable experience.
"For the Africa Amateur, I know now what I'm capable of and I have a lot of confidence, and I know my game stacks up against some really good players."
Numbers-wise, Potgieter had huge success in the just-completed fall season with a 68.87 stroke average, a low round of 62 and top-four finishes in four out of five events including a tie for first in the Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek in Choudrant. He was UL's individual leader in all five fall events and led the Cajuns to three top-five team finishes.
"He's proud to represent South Africa, but he's also extremely proud to represent the Ragin' Cajuns," Sliman said. "He'll be wearing that logo with a lot of pride."
The Africa Amateur will be a definite change from his collegiate schedule, in large part because of conditions. It's summer in South Africa, and the Royal Johannesburg layout is located almost 5,700 feet above sea level. Potgieter's normally a long hitter, but he'll have to get used to his driver carrying around 10 percent further in the thin air.
"It's a tough course but I've played it before, probably six or seven times," he said, "and with the couple of practice rounds before I should be OK."
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Players Mentioned
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