TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Sea Best Invitational

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – The Texas A&M men's golf team begins the spring journey of the 2024-25 campaign Monday and Tuesday as the Aggies headline the Sea Best Invitational.

The 12-team field features a strong regional field from the southeast, including four squads from Florida. The Aggies are the lone SEC team.

Texas A&M's lineup is headed by Golf Channel Preseason All-American Phichaksn Maichon who enters the fray slotted No. 15 in the PGA TOUR University rankings. He is joined by Aaron Pounds, Wheaton Ennis, Michael Heidelbaugh and Vishnu Sadagopan in the five battling for the team title. Jaime Montojo joins the field as an individual.

The Aggies have traveled to the tournament a handful of times, but this marks the first time with Atlantic Beach Country Club as the venue. The Maroon & White have a strong history at the Sea Best Invitational, winning in 2020 led by Walker Lee (70-68-68). They were runner-up in 2013 and finished third in 2014.

In their most recent outing, the Maroon & White won the Furman Intercollegiate. The Aggies had three players finish in the top five. In addition to Maichon finishing the tournament runner up with an 8-under 205, Aaron Pounds tied for third place at 7-under 206 and Jacob Sosa, playing as an individual, tied for fifth at 6-under 207.

Saturday's action begins with a 7 a.m. shotgun start.

Participants are still waiting to receive live stat information from the host Jacksonville University.

THE FIELD (SCOREBOARD POWERED BY CLIPPD RANKING)
Texas A&M (28)
Kennesaw State (48)
Lipscomb (63)
North Alabama (78)
Florida Gulf Coast (93)
Florida Atlantic
Jacksonville
Louisiana Tech
Queens
UCF
UNC Wilmington
USC-Upstate

THE LINEUP
Team
Phichaksn Maichon – Senior – Bangkok, Thailand

Started 2025 by claiming the clinching match, leading Team Asia-Pacific to a Bonallack Trophy win in January
Slotted No. 15 in the PGA Tour University ranking
Earned spots on the Golf Channel Preseason All-America Second Team and Fred Haskins Award watch list
Owns two career titles – the 2023 Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational and the 2024 Louisiana Classics
Participated in the Palmer Cup and U.S. Amateur (advancing to the round of 16) in summer 2024
Claimed PING/GCAA Division I All-America Third Team in 2024 and Honorable Mention in 2023
Earned All-SEC Second Team in 2023-24
Last time out – finished runner at the Furman Intercollegiate, carding an 8-under 205 (65-70-70)

Aaron Pounds – Sophomore – The Woodlands, Texas

Finished the fall slotted No. 267 in the Scoreboard National Player Ranking powered by Clippd
Capped off the fall with back-to-back top-15 showings, including a t-3^rd effort at the Furman Intercollegiate, posting a 7-under 206 (68-68-70)
Twice named an AJGA Rolex Junior All-American and was slotted as No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class
Selected the 2021-22 All-USA Today National High School Boys Golfer of the Year
Ended 2022-23 ranked No. 2 in the PGA High School Golf Association Player Rankings after topping the list in 2021-22
Last time out – finished t-3^rd at the Furman Intercollegiate, carding a 7-under 206 (68-68-70)

Wheaton Ennis – Freshman – Eagle, Idaho

Ended 2024 by participating in the prestigious Patriot All-America Invitational
Earned SEC Freshman of the Week following the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational
Wrapped up fall slotted No. 118 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd with a 69.8 adjusted scoring average in 15 rounds
Best finish was a t-6^th effort at the Qubein Cup hosted at Sedgefield Country Club
Won the 100^th Arizona Amateur at Phoenix Country Club in June 2024, never trailing in the title match
Participated in the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine in August 2024, advancing to the round of 32
Won seven Junior Golf Association of Arizona events between 2020-24, including the Thunderbirds Invitational in March 2024
Last time out – finished 13th at the Furman Intercollegiate, carding a 2-under 205 (65-70-70)

Michael Heidelbaugh – Senior – Dallas, Texas

Finished the fall slotted No. 277 in the Scoreboard National Player Ranking powered by Clippd with a 70.8 adjusted scoring average in 12 rounds
Owned a 71.1 adjusted stroke average in 39 rounds, ending the year at No. 286 on the Scoreboard Ranking with a 628-482-62 W-L-T
Picked up Srixon/Cleveland All-American Scholar (2022) and GCAA All-America Scholar 2023 & '24) the last three years
Recorded five top-20 finishes in 2023-24, including a 14^th place showing at the SEC Championships
Father – Matthew – played golf at New Mexico State for legendary Coach Herb Wimberley
Last time out – finished t-28^th at the Furman Intercollegiate, carding a 2-over 215 (77-72-66)

Vishnu Sadagopan – Senior – The Woodlands, Texas

Earned PING All-Central Region recognition in 2023
Claimed GCAA All-America Scholar in 2023 and '24 and made the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll each year from 2023-24
Participated in the U.S. Amateur in 2022, coming up just two strokes shy of match play
Posted three top-10 finishes in 2022-23, including earning All-Tournament recognition at the Louisiana Classics with a t-4^th showing
Registered two top-20 results in 2023-24
Last time out – finished t-76^th at the Sahalee Players Championship, logging a 24-over 240 (78-79-83)

INDIVIDUAL
Jaime Montojo – Junior – Madrid, Spain

Earned NCAA Division I PING All-Central Region honors in 2023-24
Played in the 152^nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in June 2024
Claimed his first collegiate victory, sharing medalist honors at the 2024 Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club
Made his DP Word Tour debut October 2023 in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
Played a key role in Spain's 4-3 victory over Denmark to win the 2023 European Amateur Team Championship in Epilanges, Switzerland – winning the clinching match 2&1
Made a late charge to finish t-13^th at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Parnu, Estonia
Qualified for the match play portion of the 2023 Amateur Championship, bowing out in the round of 64
Last time out – finished t-28^th at the Furman Intercollegiate, carding a 2-over 215 (74-73-68)

COURSE
Sitting in the heart of Atlantic Beach, Florida, Atlantic Beach Country Club is surrounded by the area's distinctive landscape and warm climate. This 18-hole championship course is known for its pristine playing conditions, fast greens, and dynamic layout. Atlantic Beach Country Club remains a golf historical monument with Jack Nicklaus recording one of his two double-eagles in tournament play in 1966 when the then-Selva Marina Country Club hosted the Greater Jacksonville Open.

WEATHER FORECAST
Accuweather.com
Monday: 68/59, partly sunny; NE 8-10 mph with gusts to 13 mph; 1% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 70/58, sunny to partly cloudy and pleasant; SW 4-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph; 0% probability of precipitation.

Weather.com
Monday: 67/59, partly cloudy; NE 5-10 MPH; 9% probability of precipitation.
Tuesday: 73/58, considerable clouds early, winds light and variable; WNW 6 mph; 10% probability of precipitation.

For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M men's golf, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Schedule

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Wheaton Ennis

Michael Heidelbaugh

Phichaksn Maichon

Jaime Montojo

Aaron Pounds

Vishnu Sadagopan

Jacob Sosa

Footer

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at SeaBest Invitational on Feb. 2, 2026

Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at SeaBest Invitational on Feb. 3, 2026

Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at John A. Burns Intercollegiate on Feb. 12, 2026

Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at John A. Burns Intercollegiate on Feb. 13, 2026

Upcoming Event: Men's Golf at John A. Burns Intercollegiate on Feb. 14, 2026