University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Monday, March 16
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
7 a.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
The Michael A. Marino Classic
Potgieter In Contention After 9-Under-63 at Marino Classic
3/16/2026 5:21:00 PM | Golf
Louisiana in 15th heading to final round
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – UL's Malan Potgieter finished his second round with birdies on five of his final nine holes Monday, carding a nine-under-par 63 to move into a tie for second place entering Tuesday's final round of the Michael A. Marino Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina.
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The senior from Kirkwood, South Africa, who has finished in the top four in seven of the Ragin' Cajuns' eight tournaments this season, rallied back from a one-over 73 – one off his highest round of the year – with a Monday round that included eight birdies and an eagle on the 370-yard par-four 16th hole. Potgieter, who won UL's Louisiana Classics individual title last Tuesday, drove into a greenside bunker on the driveable 16th and holed his bunker shot for his eighth eagle of the season.
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Potgieter, the highest-ranked individual player in the 16-team Marino field at No. 48, is gunning for his seventh top-three finish. His six top-threes this year are the most in the country in Division I. He is tied with Cooper Claycomb of Louisville at eight-under 136, one stroke back of second-round leader Max Bengtsson of Coastal Carolina, who matched Potgieter's nine-under 63 on Monday over the 7,370-yard par-72 Dunes Golf and Beach Club layout.
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"That 63 today, he has the school record at 62 at Trinity Forest, but I think this one goes down as one of the best rounds of golf this program has ever experienced," said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. "With the magnitude and difficulty of this golf course and the weather we've had, it's beyond impressive to say the least."
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The Cajuns were last in the 16-team field after Sunday's first round after an opening 306, but made up some ground in a rescheduled nine more holes Sunday when tournament officials tried to avoid anticipated bad weather. UL completed that round along with the rest of the field on Monday with a four-under 284 score that was the eighth-best in a strong field and moved them into 15th place at 14-over 306-284-590.
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North Carolina State and Liberty are tied at 12-under 564 entering the final round against a field that includes four of the nation's top-50 and 11 of the top-100-ranaked teams. Louisville, the highest-ranked team at No. 33 in the field, is tied with Charleston for third, one stroke back at 565, and tournament host Coastal Carolina is two more shots back in fifth at nine-under 567.
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Freshman James Holtsclaw rallied back from an opening 77 with a two-under 70 in the second round and is tied for 45th individually to stand second for UL entering the final round. Junior Carter Schmitt improved by five strokes and is tied for 70th at 78-73-151 (+7), while freshman Drew Sliman is 85th at 78-78-156 (+12) and senior Jean Louis du Plessis is tied for 87th at 80-78-158 (+14).
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"I was really impressed with James' grit and determination to post an under-par score on this course and in these conditions," Sliman said of Holtsclaw, who had a top-20 finish at last week's Louisiana Classics. "That says a lot for him. It shows how much confidence he's building in himself."
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The final round is set for Tuesday, weather permitting, with UL scheduled to tee off at 10 a.m. (EDT) and live scoring available at Scoreboard.clippd.com.
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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.
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Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsGolf) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana golf updates.
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The Michael A. Marino Classic
March 15-17, 2026
Dunes Golf and Beach Club (7,370 yards, par 72), Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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Team Standings: T1. N.C. State 284-280-564 (-12); T1. Liberty 284-280-564 (-12); T3. Louisville 282-283-565 (-11); T3. Charleston 289-276-565 (-11); 5. Coastal Carolina 290-277-567 (-9); 6. Little Rock 291-282-573 (-3); T7. Baylor 290-286-576 (even); T7. Florida Gulf Coast 288-288-576 (even); 9. Michigan 287-290-577 (+1); 10. Kansas State 298-282-580 (+4); T11. Missouri 296-289-585 (+9); T11. North Florida 296-289-585 (+9); T13. Kent State 295-293-588 (+12); T13. Furman 300-288-588 (+12); 15. Louisiana 306-284-590 (+14); 16. UNLV 301-294-595 (+19).
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Individual Leaders:Â T1. Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina, 72-63-135 (-9); T2. Malan Potgieter, Louisiana, 73-63-136 (-8); T2. Cooper Claycomb, Louisville, 68-68-136 (-8); T4. Nolan Harper, Florida Gulf Coast, 66-71-137 (-7); T4. Ike Joy, Liberty, 71-66-137 (-7); T4. Xander Goboy, N.C. State, 70-67-137 (-7); T4. Brady Smith, Louisville, 71-66-137 (-7).
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UL Scores: T2. Malan Potgieter 73-63-136 (-8); T45. James Holtsclaw 77-70-147 (+3); T70. Carter Schmitt 78-73-151 (+7); 85. Drew Sliman 78-78-156 (+12); T87. Jean Louis du Plessis 80-78-158 (+14).
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The senior from Kirkwood, South Africa, who has finished in the top four in seven of the Ragin' Cajuns' eight tournaments this season, rallied back from a one-over 73 – one off his highest round of the year – with a Monday round that included eight birdies and an eagle on the 370-yard par-four 16th hole. Potgieter, who won UL's Louisiana Classics individual title last Tuesday, drove into a greenside bunker on the driveable 16th and holed his bunker shot for his eighth eagle of the season.
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Potgieter, the highest-ranked individual player in the 16-team Marino field at No. 48, is gunning for his seventh top-three finish. His six top-threes this year are the most in the country in Division I. He is tied with Cooper Claycomb of Louisville at eight-under 136, one stroke back of second-round leader Max Bengtsson of Coastal Carolina, who matched Potgieter's nine-under 63 on Monday over the 7,370-yard par-72 Dunes Golf and Beach Club layout.
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"That 63 today, he has the school record at 62 at Trinity Forest, but I think this one goes down as one of the best rounds of golf this program has ever experienced," said Cajun coach Theo Sliman. "With the magnitude and difficulty of this golf course and the weather we've had, it's beyond impressive to say the least."
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The Cajuns were last in the 16-team field after Sunday's first round after an opening 306, but made up some ground in a rescheduled nine more holes Sunday when tournament officials tried to avoid anticipated bad weather. UL completed that round along with the rest of the field on Monday with a four-under 284 score that was the eighth-best in a strong field and moved them into 15th place at 14-over 306-284-590.
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North Carolina State and Liberty are tied at 12-under 564 entering the final round against a field that includes four of the nation's top-50 and 11 of the top-100-ranaked teams. Louisville, the highest-ranked team at No. 33 in the field, is tied with Charleston for third, one stroke back at 565, and tournament host Coastal Carolina is two more shots back in fifth at nine-under 567.
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Freshman James Holtsclaw rallied back from an opening 77 with a two-under 70 in the second round and is tied for 45th individually to stand second for UL entering the final round. Junior Carter Schmitt improved by five strokes and is tied for 70th at 78-73-151 (+7), while freshman Drew Sliman is 85th at 78-78-156 (+12) and senior Jean Louis du Plessis is tied for 87th at 80-78-158 (+14).
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"I was really impressed with James' grit and determination to post an under-par score on this course and in these conditions," Sliman said of Holtsclaw, who had a top-20 finish at last week's Louisiana Classics. "That says a lot for him. It shows how much confidence he's building in himself."
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The final round is set for Tuesday, weather permitting, with UL scheduled to tee off at 10 a.m. (EDT) and live scoring available at Scoreboard.clippd.com.
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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.
Â
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsGolf) or check RaginCajuns.com for Louisiana golf updates.
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The Michael A. Marino Classic
March 15-17, 2026
Dunes Golf and Beach Club (7,370 yards, par 72), Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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Team Standings: T1. N.C. State 284-280-564 (-12); T1. Liberty 284-280-564 (-12); T3. Louisville 282-283-565 (-11); T3. Charleston 289-276-565 (-11); 5. Coastal Carolina 290-277-567 (-9); 6. Little Rock 291-282-573 (-3); T7. Baylor 290-286-576 (even); T7. Florida Gulf Coast 288-288-576 (even); 9. Michigan 287-290-577 (+1); 10. Kansas State 298-282-580 (+4); T11. Missouri 296-289-585 (+9); T11. North Florida 296-289-585 (+9); T13. Kent State 295-293-588 (+12); T13. Furman 300-288-588 (+12); 15. Louisiana 306-284-590 (+14); 16. UNLV 301-294-595 (+19).
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Individual Leaders:Â T1. Max Bengtsson, Coastal Carolina, 72-63-135 (-9); T2. Malan Potgieter, Louisiana, 73-63-136 (-8); T2. Cooper Claycomb, Louisville, 68-68-136 (-8); T4. Nolan Harper, Florida Gulf Coast, 66-71-137 (-7); T4. Ike Joy, Liberty, 71-66-137 (-7); T4. Xander Goboy, N.C. State, 70-67-137 (-7); T4. Brady Smith, Louisville, 71-66-137 (-7).
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UL Scores: T2. Malan Potgieter 73-63-136 (-8); T45. James Holtsclaw 77-70-147 (+3); T70. Carter Schmitt 78-73-151 (+7); 85. Drew Sliman 78-78-156 (+12); T87. Jean Louis du Plessis 80-78-158 (+14).
Players Mentioned
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