University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Sunday, March 15
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
7 a.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
The Michael A. Marino Classic
Cajuns Struggle Early, Regroup at Michael A. Marino Classic
3/15/2026 10:14:00 PM | Golf
Teams played 27 holes on Sunday; weather cuts into Monday schedule
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The opening round was a struggle, but UL's Ragin' Cajun golf team rallied in a rescheduled final nine holes Sunday at the Michael A. Marino Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina.
The Cajuns were last in the 16-team field after Sunday's scheduled opening 18, shooting a team 306 (+18) total. However, with anticipated bad weather on Monday for the scheduled second round, tournament officials decided to play nine extra holes on Sunday with hopes of possibly getting in nine holes Monday and the final 18 on Tuesday as scheduled. If no play is possible Monday, teams may play another 27-hole day on Tuesday.
UL posted a much-improved score in Sunday's back nine of the 7,370-yard par-72 Dunes Golf and Beach Club, shooting four-under-par 140, to move them up one notch with a 27-hole 446 (+14) score that was one shot ahead of 37th-ranked UNLV (447, +15).
The field for the Marino meet includes four of the nation's top 50 and 11 of the top-100 ranked teams. North Carolina State, ranked 72nd, holds a one-shot lead over Liberty with a 13-under 419 score for 27 holes while Louisville, the highest-ranked team in the field at No. 33, is third at 421 (-11).
"This is a real golf course, a big-time course," said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. "It was definitely a learning experience for us today, but I am pleased that we came back in those final nine holes and played well. We just have to learn to play collectively as a team."
The Cajuns, whose 140 final-nine score ranked eighth of the 16 teams, were led by senior Malan Potgieter, who claimed individual honors at UL's Louisiana Classics for the second straight year on Tuesday. He had a one-over 73 in the opening round – only his fourth over-par round in 25 rounds this year – but came back to shoot four-under in the final nine holes and is 11th individually at three-over 105.
Potgieter has finished in the top four individually in seven of UL's eight tournaments this season, and is the only player in Division I with six top-three finishes.
Freshman James Holtsclaw came back from an opening 77 to shoot two-under 34 over the final nine and is at three-over 111, while junior Carter Schmitt is at seven-over 115, senior Jean Louis du Plessis is at nine-over 117 and freshman Drew Sliman is at 10-over 118.
Nolan Harper of Florida Gulf Coast had the day's low round with a six-under 66 and shares the individual lead after 27 holes with Cooper Claycomb of Louisville at seven-under 101.
The Michael A. Marino Classic
March 15-17, 2026
Dunes Golf and Beach Club (7,370 yards, par 72), Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Team Standings: 1. N.C. State 284-135—419 (-13); 2. Liberty 284-136—420 (-12); 3. Louisville 282-139—421 (-11); 4. Baylor 290-133—423 (-9); 5. Coastal Carolina 290-135—425 (-7); 6. Florida Gulf Coast 288-141—429 (-3); 7. Charleston 289-141—430 (-2); 8. Michigan 287-144—431 (-1); 9. Little Rock 291-141—432 (even); 10. Kansas State 298-138—436 (+4); 11. Furman 300-138—438 (+6); 12. North Florida 296-145—441 (+9); T13. Kent State 295-150—445 (+13); T13. Missouri 296-149—445 (+13); 15. Louisiana 306-140—446 (+14); 16. UNLV 301-146—447 (+15).
Individual Leaders: T1. Nolan Harper, Florida Gulf Coast, 66-35—101 (-7); T1. Cooper Claycomb, Louisville, 68-33—101 (-7); T3. RJ Arone, Michigan, 67-35—102 (-6); T3. Fionn Dobbin, Kansas State, 71-31—102 (-6); T5. Ike Joy, Liberty, 71-32—103 (-5); T5. Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina, 71-31—103 (-5); T5. Xander Goboy, N.C. State, 70-33—103 (-5).
UL Scores: 11. Malan Potgieter 73-32—105 (-3); 51. James Holtsclaw 77-34—111 (+3); 74. Carter Schmitt 78-37—115 (+7); 83. Jean Louis du Plessis 80-37—117 (+9); 85. Drew Sliman 78-40—118 (+10).
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The Cajuns were last in the 16-team field after Sunday's scheduled opening 18, shooting a team 306 (+18) total. However, with anticipated bad weather on Monday for the scheduled second round, tournament officials decided to play nine extra holes on Sunday with hopes of possibly getting in nine holes Monday and the final 18 on Tuesday as scheduled. If no play is possible Monday, teams may play another 27-hole day on Tuesday.
UL posted a much-improved score in Sunday's back nine of the 7,370-yard par-72 Dunes Golf and Beach Club, shooting four-under-par 140, to move them up one notch with a 27-hole 446 (+14) score that was one shot ahead of 37th-ranked UNLV (447, +15).
The field for the Marino meet includes four of the nation's top 50 and 11 of the top-100 ranked teams. North Carolina State, ranked 72nd, holds a one-shot lead over Liberty with a 13-under 419 score for 27 holes while Louisville, the highest-ranked team in the field at No. 33, is third at 421 (-11).
"This is a real golf course, a big-time course," said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. "It was definitely a learning experience for us today, but I am pleased that we came back in those final nine holes and played well. We just have to learn to play collectively as a team."
The Cajuns, whose 140 final-nine score ranked eighth of the 16 teams, were led by senior Malan Potgieter, who claimed individual honors at UL's Louisiana Classics for the second straight year on Tuesday. He had a one-over 73 in the opening round – only his fourth over-par round in 25 rounds this year – but came back to shoot four-under in the final nine holes and is 11th individually at three-over 105.
Potgieter has finished in the top four individually in seven of UL's eight tournaments this season, and is the only player in Division I with six top-three finishes.
Freshman James Holtsclaw came back from an opening 77 to shoot two-under 34 over the final nine and is at three-over 111, while junior Carter Schmitt is at seven-over 115, senior Jean Louis du Plessis is at nine-over 117 and freshman Drew Sliman is at 10-over 118.
Nolan Harper of Florida Gulf Coast had the day's low round with a six-under 66 and shares the individual lead after 27 holes with Cooper Claycomb of Louisville at seven-under 101.
The Michael A. Marino Classic
March 15-17, 2026
Dunes Golf and Beach Club (7,370 yards, par 72), Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Team Standings: 1. N.C. State 284-135—419 (-13); 2. Liberty 284-136—420 (-12); 3. Louisville 282-139—421 (-11); 4. Baylor 290-133—423 (-9); 5. Coastal Carolina 290-135—425 (-7); 6. Florida Gulf Coast 288-141—429 (-3); 7. Charleston 289-141—430 (-2); 8. Michigan 287-144—431 (-1); 9. Little Rock 291-141—432 (even); 10. Kansas State 298-138—436 (+4); 11. Furman 300-138—438 (+6); 12. North Florida 296-145—441 (+9); T13. Kent State 295-150—445 (+13); T13. Missouri 296-149—445 (+13); 15. Louisiana 306-140—446 (+14); 16. UNLV 301-146—447 (+15).
Individual Leaders: T1. Nolan Harper, Florida Gulf Coast, 66-35—101 (-7); T1. Cooper Claycomb, Louisville, 68-33—101 (-7); T3. RJ Arone, Michigan, 67-35—102 (-6); T3. Fionn Dobbin, Kansas State, 71-31—102 (-6); T5. Ike Joy, Liberty, 71-32—103 (-5); T5. Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina, 71-31—103 (-5); T5. Xander Goboy, N.C. State, 70-33—103 (-5).
UL Scores: 11. Malan Potgieter 73-32—105 (-3); 51. James Holtsclaw 77-34—111 (+3); 74. Carter Schmitt 78-37—115 (+7); 83. Jean Louis du Plessis 80-37—117 (+9); 85. Drew Sliman 78-40—118 (+10).
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Players Mentioned
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