University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Tuesday, March 10
Lafayette, La.
7:30 a.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
41st Louisiana Classics
Potgieter Makes History With Win at 41st Louisiana Classics
3/10/2026 10:19:00 PM | Golf
Senior becomes first player in 41-year history of event to win back-to-back titles
LAFAYETTE – Malan Potgieter etched his name into the UL golf record book Tuesday – again.
One year ago, the Kirkwood, South Africa, native became the first Ragin' Cajun to win the Louisiana Classics individual title. On Tuesday, he became the first player in the 41-year history to claim medalist honors back-to-back.
Potgieter carried a four-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round over the 6,898-yard par-72 Oakbourne Country Club layout, and nobody ever caught up. His three-under 69 in the final round left him at 15-under 201 for a three-stroke advantage over runner-up Carter Maneth of Middle Tennessee.
"With the mental fortitude and the golf IQ he has, he's a professional golfer playing in a college field," said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. "It's something special to watch. I'm really proud of the grit he showed over the last two days, because it's not easy to win at home."
Potgieter won last year's Classics title in a three-hole playoff. In Monday's opening round, he birdied the first three holes he played to take the lead from the opening tee shot. On Tuesday, he birdied his first two holes.
"That gave me a lot of confidence, settled some of the nerves," said Potgieter, who has now finished in the individual top four in seven of UL's eight tournaments this year. "It's always nice to start hot, and I was able to take it from there.
"Yesterday I was coasting, and everything went well. Today I had a few bumps in the road, but I held it together and finished strong."
Potgieter had 14 birdies and two bogeys in Monday's 36-hole opening day. He added six more birdies on Tuesday but had three bogeys along with a double-bogey at the par-five 13th hole (his fourth hole of the day after starting on No. 10) that temporarily dropped his lead to one shot when playing partner Maneth birdied that same hole.
But Potgieter came back with two birdies in a four-hole stretch, and put away the individual title when he birdied the par-four sixth and eagled the par-five seventh for a four-shot lead going into the final two holes.
"I had planted a little seed this morning, knowing how fickle this game can be," Sliman said, "and he knew the message I was giving him. He doesn't need a lot of speeches, he just goes out and gets locked in."
The Cajun team dropped two spots in Tuesday's final round and finished ninth in the 16-team field, with a final-round two-over 290 score that left them at five-under for the tournament. Texas A&M, ranked 29th nationally, entered the final round with an eight-shot lead and was never headed, winning its fourth Louisiana Classics title in the last five years with a 24-under-par 840 total.
A&M won its fifth all-time Classics title with balance. The Aggies did not have a player finish in the individual top seven, but had four top-20 finishes – five counting individual entry Shiv Parmer who tied with teammates Aaron Pounds and Kris Kuvaas for 15th at four-under 212. Jaime Montojo led the Aggies with an eighth-place finish at six-under 210.
Little Rock, the other top-50-ranked team in the field at No. 48, finished seven shots back of A&M at 17-under 847, edging Middle Tennessee (-16, 846) by one shot for runner-up honors.
Maneth finished as individual runner-up at 12-under 204, three clear of Jaeseung Na of Southern Illinois and Ed Featherstone of Little Rock in a tie for third at nine-under. Featherstone shot a five-under 67 Tuesday for the day's lowest round.
Freshman James Holtsclaw shot his third straight sub-par round and finished tied for 19th at 791-71-71—213 for UL's next-highest finisher. Junior Carter Schmitt had a 73 Tuesday and finished at five-over 221, while senior Jean Louis du Plessis and freshman Drew Sliman carded five-over 77 scores Tuesday to finish at eight-over and 15-over for the tournament.
Sophomore Jay Brooks, playing as an individual, had a one-under 71 and finished at two-over for the tournament, while freshman individual Nathan Schuldt posted a 74 Tuesday and finished at six-over.
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.
One year ago, the Kirkwood, South Africa, native became the first Ragin' Cajun to win the Louisiana Classics individual title. On Tuesday, he became the first player in the 41-year history to claim medalist honors back-to-back.
Potgieter carried a four-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round over the 6,898-yard par-72 Oakbourne Country Club layout, and nobody ever caught up. His three-under 69 in the final round left him at 15-under 201 for a three-stroke advantage over runner-up Carter Maneth of Middle Tennessee.
"With the mental fortitude and the golf IQ he has, he's a professional golfer playing in a college field," said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. "It's something special to watch. I'm really proud of the grit he showed over the last two days, because it's not easy to win at home."
Potgieter won last year's Classics title in a three-hole playoff. In Monday's opening round, he birdied the first three holes he played to take the lead from the opening tee shot. On Tuesday, he birdied his first two holes.
"That gave me a lot of confidence, settled some of the nerves," said Potgieter, who has now finished in the individual top four in seven of UL's eight tournaments this year. "It's always nice to start hot, and I was able to take it from there.
"Yesterday I was coasting, and everything went well. Today I had a few bumps in the road, but I held it together and finished strong."
Potgieter had 14 birdies and two bogeys in Monday's 36-hole opening day. He added six more birdies on Tuesday but had three bogeys along with a double-bogey at the par-five 13th hole (his fourth hole of the day after starting on No. 10) that temporarily dropped his lead to one shot when playing partner Maneth birdied that same hole.
But Potgieter came back with two birdies in a four-hole stretch, and put away the individual title when he birdied the par-four sixth and eagled the par-five seventh for a four-shot lead going into the final two holes.
"I had planted a little seed this morning, knowing how fickle this game can be," Sliman said, "and he knew the message I was giving him. He doesn't need a lot of speeches, he just goes out and gets locked in."
The Cajun team dropped two spots in Tuesday's final round and finished ninth in the 16-team field, with a final-round two-over 290 score that left them at five-under for the tournament. Texas A&M, ranked 29th nationally, entered the final round with an eight-shot lead and was never headed, winning its fourth Louisiana Classics title in the last five years with a 24-under-par 840 total.
A&M won its fifth all-time Classics title with balance. The Aggies did not have a player finish in the individual top seven, but had four top-20 finishes – five counting individual entry Shiv Parmer who tied with teammates Aaron Pounds and Kris Kuvaas for 15th at four-under 212. Jaime Montojo led the Aggies with an eighth-place finish at six-under 210.
Little Rock, the other top-50-ranked team in the field at No. 48, finished seven shots back of A&M at 17-under 847, edging Middle Tennessee (-16, 846) by one shot for runner-up honors.
Maneth finished as individual runner-up at 12-under 204, three clear of Jaeseung Na of Southern Illinois and Ed Featherstone of Little Rock in a tie for third at nine-under. Featherstone shot a five-under 67 Tuesday for the day's lowest round.
Freshman James Holtsclaw shot his third straight sub-par round and finished tied for 19th at 791-71-71—213 for UL's next-highest finisher. Junior Carter Schmitt had a 73 Tuesday and finished at five-over 221, while senior Jean Louis du Plessis and freshman Drew Sliman carded five-over 77 scores Tuesday to finish at eight-over and 15-over for the tournament.
Sophomore Jay Brooks, playing as an individual, had a one-under 71 and finished at two-over for the tournament, while freshman individual Nathan Schuldt posted a 74 Tuesday and finished at six-over.
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.
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