Pounds, Men's Golf Take Home Gopher Invitational Trophies
Sep 08, 2025 | Men's Golf
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – The No. 20 Texas A&M men's golf team claimed the first-place trophy at the season-opening 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational paced by individual tri-champion Aaron Pounds.
The Aggies bested second-place South Carolina by seven strokes to win the title. The Maroon & White completed three circuits at the par-71, 7,464-yard Windsong Farm Golf Club at even 852. Texas A&M used a final-round 1-over 285 to hold off the Gamecocks (+7) and leapfrog round two leader West Virginia (+9) who finished third.
The victory was the fourth for the Maroon & White in their last eight regular-season tournaments.
Pounds, who claimed his first career collegiate title, shared medalist honors with Iowa State's Paul Beauvy and South Carolina's Frankie Harris. The trio penciled in scores of 8-under 205. Pounds fell two strokes back as he neared the turn Monday, but he birdied five of six holes from No. 9-14 to make a late charge. He finished with a 2-under 69 in the final round.
Shiv Parmar was stellar in his collegiate debut. He finished tied for ninth at 1-under 212. He improved each round, following Sunday's 73 and 70, with a 2-under 69 Monday. He fired five birdies on the last loop, including three from No. 12-15.
Wheaton Ennis tied for 20th place at 4-over 217. He closed out with a 1-over 72. Jacob Sosa and Jack Usner closed out the fivesome with scores of 14-over 227.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Brian Kortan
On being competitive out of the gate in 2025-26...
"We had some new faces in the lineup at an event none of the guys had been to before at a really good golf course. It was not a great first round, but the guys battled back and they were the best team the next two rounds. They got their feet underneath them and played a great final 36. This afternoon they played a really good round of golf to finish off the tournament. These guys worked their tails off so any success we have I know is earned. I'm really proud of them for their effort."
On Aaron Pounds winning the title...
I've been doing this for a while. To see a guy who has worked as hard as he has and has gotten to where he is comfortable under the gun and in that kind of competition is fantastic to see. He carried us a little bit this week just by being so steady and near the top of the leaderboard. He strung together a really great stretch of holes in the middle of today's round with the wind howling – five birdies in six holes paired off with the leaders."
On Shiv Parmar's strong debut...
'It was a fantastic effort by Shiv. He goes out in his first collegiate tournament and plays three solid rounds of golf on a championship course. Shiv was right with Aaron in those middle holes today, making some birdies on some pretty difficult holes. They (Aaron and Shiv) kept us in a position of control down the stretch as far as the team leaderboard."
On the other strong performances...
"Wheaton's final 36 and Sosa's first 36 were just bigtime golf. It was great to see. It was a team effort and everybody contributed at this tournament. But we also know that it's early. There's a lot of golf ahead. We have to work to stay sharp in the areas we're strong in and there is no shortage of things we can work on improving."
TEAM STANDINGS
TEXAS A&M SCORES
UP NEXT...
The Aggies return to action Friday, September 19 when they travel to Illinois for the Olympia Fields Country Club Fighting Illini Invitational.
The Aggies bested second-place South Carolina by seven strokes to win the title. The Maroon & White completed three circuits at the par-71, 7,464-yard Windsong Farm Golf Club at even 852. Texas A&M used a final-round 1-over 285 to hold off the Gamecocks (+7) and leapfrog round two leader West Virginia (+9) who finished third.
The victory was the fourth for the Maroon & White in their last eight regular-season tournaments.
Pounds, who claimed his first career collegiate title, shared medalist honors with Iowa State's Paul Beauvy and South Carolina's Frankie Harris. The trio penciled in scores of 8-under 205. Pounds fell two strokes back as he neared the turn Monday, but he birdied five of six holes from No. 9-14 to make a late charge. He finished with a 2-under 69 in the final round.
Shiv Parmar was stellar in his collegiate debut. He finished tied for ninth at 1-under 212. He improved each round, following Sunday's 73 and 70, with a 2-under 69 Monday. He fired five birdies on the last loop, including three from No. 12-15.
Wheaton Ennis tied for 20th place at 4-over 217. He closed out with a 1-over 72. Jacob Sosa and Jack Usner closed out the fivesome with scores of 14-over 227.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Brian Kortan
On being competitive out of the gate in 2025-26...
"We had some new faces in the lineup at an event none of the guys had been to before at a really good golf course. It was not a great first round, but the guys battled back and they were the best team the next two rounds. They got their feet underneath them and played a great final 36. This afternoon they played a really good round of golf to finish off the tournament. These guys worked their tails off so any success we have I know is earned. I'm really proud of them for their effort."
On Aaron Pounds winning the title...
I've been doing this for a while. To see a guy who has worked as hard as he has and has gotten to where he is comfortable under the gun and in that kind of competition is fantastic to see. He carried us a little bit this week just by being so steady and near the top of the leaderboard. He strung together a really great stretch of holes in the middle of today's round with the wind howling – five birdies in six holes paired off with the leaders."
On Shiv Parmar's strong debut...
'It was a fantastic effort by Shiv. He goes out in his first collegiate tournament and plays three solid rounds of golf on a championship course. Shiv was right with Aaron in those middle holes today, making some birdies on some pretty difficult holes. They (Aaron and Shiv) kept us in a position of control down the stretch as far as the team leaderboard."
On the other strong performances...
"Wheaton's final 36 and Sosa's first 36 were just bigtime golf. It was great to see. It was a team effort and everybody contributed at this tournament. But we also know that it's early. There's a lot of golf ahead. We have to work to stay sharp in the areas we're strong in and there is no shortage of things we can work on improving."
TEAM STANDINGS
| 1 | Texas A&M | E | 291-276-285=852 |
| 2 | South Carolina | +7 | 292-278-289=859 |
| 3 | West Virginia | +9 | 285-278-298=861 |
| t-4 | Iowa State | +11 | 293-284-286=863 |
| t-4 | Louisville | +11 | 290-281-292=863 |
| 6 | Miami (Ohio) | +13 | 287-285-293=865 |
| 7 | Minnesota | +16 | 288-292-288=868 |
| t-8 | Furman | +17 | 295-290-284=869 |
| t-8 | Little Rock | +17 | 290-293-286=869 |
| 10 | Nebraska | +18 | 288-292-290=870 |
| t-11 | Marquette | +19 | 285-288-298=871 |
| t-11 | Wisconsin | +19 | 288-291-292=871 |
| 13 | Rutgers | +20 | 294-285-293=872 |
| 14 | St. Thomas (Minn.) | +32 | 285-299-300=884 |
| 15 | Northern Illinois | +44 | 300-294-302=896 |
TEXAS A&M SCORES
| t-1 | Aaron Pounds | -8 | 69-67-69=205 |
| t-9 | Shiv Parmar | -1 | 73-70-69=212 |
| t-20 | Wheaton Ennis | +4 | 77-68-72=217 |
| t-68 | Jacob Sosa | +14 | 72-71-84=227 |
| t-68 | Jack Usner | +14 | 77-75-75=227 |
UP NEXT...
The Aggies return to action Friday, September 19 when they travel to Illinois for the Olympia Fields Country Club Fighting Illini Invitational.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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