In the 41-year history of the Louisiana Classics Golf Tournament, winners have included Ryder Cup players, one major champion and multiple PGA Tour winners.
But none of them accomplished what Malan Potgieter did Tuesday, when he etched his name into the UL golf record book once again.
One year ago, the Kirkwood, South Africa, native became the first Ragin’ Cajuns player to win the Louisiana Classics individual title. On Tuesday, he became the first player in tournament history to claim medalist honors in back-to-back years.
Potgieter carried a four-stroke lead into Tuesday’s final round over the 6,898-yard par-72 Oakbourne Country Club layout. His 3-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 State.
“With the mental fortitude and the golf IQ he has, he’s a professional golfer playing in a college field,” UL coach Theo Sliman said. “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 tournament 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.
“(Monday) 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 he 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.”
“It’s pretty cool to have your name up on that board twice,” Potgieter said while looking at the sign listing the 40 previous individual winners.
The UL team dropped two spots in Tuesday’s final round and finished ninth in the 16-team field, with a final-round 2-over 290 score that left the Cajuns at 5 under for the tournament. Freshman James Holtsclaw shot his third straight subpar round and finished tied for 19th at 71-71-71—213 for UL’s next-highest finisher.
Texas A&M, ranked 29th nationally, entered the final round with an eight-shot lead and was never caught, winning its fourth Louisiana Classics title in the last five years with a 24-under 840 total.
The Aggies did not have a player finish in the individual top seven, but they had four top-20 finishers. Jaime Montojo led the Aggies with an eighth-place finish at 6-under 210.