The 40th Annual Louisiana Classics were hosted at Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette, Louisiana on Monday and Tuesday. The LSU Tigers won the team portion of the event while Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun Malan Potgieter took home the individual title.
Rounds one and two took place on Monday, and it was LSU taking advantage in the team portion. Their team shot -9 total in the first and -6 in the second to post a day one score of -15. That led the way by three shots over Texas A&M, who had a -12 team score after two rounds. The Aggies entered this year’s event as the three-time defending champions. The Cajuns were within striking distance as well, sitting in third place at -7 out of the 12 teams competing.
In the individual portion of the competition, Texas State’s Sakke Siltala posted the low score of the first round, shooting -5. However, he was just even in the second so his day one total was -5. After shooting just -1 in the first round, Potgieter fired the low round of the day with a -7 65, vaulting him to the lead at -8 after day one. LSU’s Alfons Bondesson and Texas A&M’s Phichaksn Maichon both sat tied for second at -5.
In the final round, LSU and A&M went shot for shot in the team competition. At a couple of different points, the lead exchanged hands. Fittingly, it came down to the final hole with both teams entering tied with one group to play. Bondesson made birdie while Maichon made bogey, giving LSU the team title.
Bondesson’s birdie also impacted the individual competition. After Siltala struggled in the final round, it came down to Potgieter, Maichon, and Bondesson. Potgieter had a three-shot lead going into the last hole. However, Bondesson’s birdie out the pressure in. Potgieter three-putted, making double-bogey and sending the tournament into a playoff between he and Bondesson.
After both made pars on the first playoff hole and both made birdies on the second, it came down to the third. Both golfers found trouble on the tee shot, but Bondesson found the water. Potgieter was able to convert a putt to take the win. He becomes the first ever winner of the Louisiana Classics to come from UL.