University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Monday, May 18
Athens, Ga.
8 a.m. ET
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
NCAA Athens Regional
Potgieter Posts Bogey-Free Round at NCAA Athens Regional
5/18/2026 9:49:00 PM | Golf
UL senior sits one stroke off individual lead heading into second round
ATHENS, Ga. – Malan Potgieter had three bogey-free rounds during his 10-tournament regular season, and he picked a good time to turn in his fourth bogey-free scorecard Monday.
The UL senior posted five birdies in a five-under 66 in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships Athens (Ga.) Regional and is tied for second in the 75-player field going into Tuesday's second round. The next-closest individual is Coastal Carolina's Max Bengtsson, the Sun Belt Conference champion who is tied for 12th at two-under 69.
The Kirkwood, South Africa, native was the top finisher among the individuals taking part over the 7,258-yard par-71 University of Georgia layout, and is tied with Warren Thomis of Louisville and Ethan Tseng of Northwestern. Auburn's Josiah Gilbert carded a six-under 65 and is the leader entering the second of three rounds.
Pogieter, ranked 54th nationally, birdied the par-five seventh hole Monday to make the turn at one-under 34, and had four birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the back nine. He birdied the par-five 12th and 17th holes, giving him a birdie sweep of the course's three par-fives and added birdies at the par-four 11th and 15th holes.
Louisville holds the team lead a 10-under 274 after the first round, three shots ahead of Auburn and Vanderbilt at seven-under 277. The top five teams and the low individual after the three regional rounds will qualify for the NCAA Championships May 29-June 3 at Omni La Cosa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Potgieter, the top-ranked individual in the field and playing one day after his 23rd birthday, is making his third NCAA appearance. He was a freshman in 2023 when the Ragin' Cajuns won the Sun Belt title and qualified as a team at the Norman (Okla.) Regional, and made the field as an individual last season when he finished tied for 11th and led the individuals in the Tallahassee (Fla.) Regional.
Potgieter will begin his second round Tuesday with a 9:34 a.m. (CDT) start off the No. 1 tee, in a pairing with Bengtsson and Michael Perusse of Howard. Live scoring is available online at scoreboard.clippd.com.
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.
The UL senior posted five birdies in a five-under 66 in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships Athens (Ga.) Regional and is tied for second in the 75-player field going into Tuesday's second round. The next-closest individual is Coastal Carolina's Max Bengtsson, the Sun Belt Conference champion who is tied for 12th at two-under 69.
The Kirkwood, South Africa, native was the top finisher among the individuals taking part over the 7,258-yard par-71 University of Georgia layout, and is tied with Warren Thomis of Louisville and Ethan Tseng of Northwestern. Auburn's Josiah Gilbert carded a six-under 65 and is the leader entering the second of three rounds.
Pogieter, ranked 54th nationally, birdied the par-five seventh hole Monday to make the turn at one-under 34, and had four birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the back nine. He birdied the par-five 12th and 17th holes, giving him a birdie sweep of the course's three par-fives and added birdies at the par-four 11th and 15th holes.
Louisville holds the team lead a 10-under 274 after the first round, three shots ahead of Auburn and Vanderbilt at seven-under 277. The top five teams and the low individual after the three regional rounds will qualify for the NCAA Championships May 29-June 3 at Omni La Cosa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Potgieter, the top-ranked individual in the field and playing one day after his 23rd birthday, is making his third NCAA appearance. He was a freshman in 2023 when the Ragin' Cajuns won the Sun Belt title and qualified as a team at the Norman (Okla.) Regional, and made the field as an individual last season when he finished tied for 11th and led the individuals in the Tallahassee (Fla.) Regional.
Potgieter will begin his second round Tuesday with a 9:34 a.m. (CDT) start off the No. 1 tee, in a pairing with Bengtsson and Michael Perusse of Howard. Live scoring is available online at scoreboard.clippd.com.
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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/ Golf
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