Aggies Tackle the Links at NCAA Championships
May 28, 2026 | Men's Golf
CARLSBAD, Calif. – The No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies battle the best in search of their second national title at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship starting Friday.
The championship is being contested at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa for the third time. The North Course is a par-72 track measuring 7,538 yards. All 30 teams embark on stroke play the first three days. The field is cut to 15 teams for Monday's final round of stroke play. The top eight teams advance to the match play bracket with the quarterfinals and semifinals contested Tuesday and the national champion decided Wednesday.
The individual NCAA champion is crowned based on the four rounds of stroke play. The medalist earns a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open and the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
The Aggies won the national championship in 2009, besting Arkansas in the title bout.
The current NCAA Championship format of stroke play funneling into an eight-team match play bracket started in 2009. In addition to their 2009 title run, the Aggies also participated in the match play portion of the tournament in 2018, 2019. Ol' Sarge's charges also have top 5 finishes in 1961 (5th) and 1982 (4th) when the tournament was only stroke play.
Texas A&M made a deep run last year highlighted by All-American Phichaksn Maichon who fired a 9-under 207 to finish as the national runner-up. Maichon's performance officially marked the highest individual finish at an NCAA Championship in Texas A&M program history, surpassing Cameron Peck's third-place finish in 2011.
On the team side, Texas A&M entered the final round of stroke play sitting right on the bubble at the eighth-place cutoff line for match play. The Aggies carded a final-round 4-over 292 to finish the tournament in 11th place at 16-over par, missing match play by just five strokes.
Texas A&M fields a formidable lineup include Wheaton Ennis who last tournament fired a 16-under 200 to finish as the NCAA Bryan Regional Runner-Up. Ennis is joined by SEC All-Freshman Shiv Parmar, Aaron Pounds, Jaime Montojo and Kris Kuvaas. Alex Long travels to Omni La Costa as A&M's alternate. Ennis and Parmar are currently at their career highs in the Scoreboard National Player Ranking powered by Clippd, coming in at No. 21 and No. 74, respectively. Pounds is currently ranked No. 59.
THE FIELD
THE LINEUP
Aaron Pounds – Junior – The Woodlands, Texas
• Slotted No. 59 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Enters action with a 69.1 adjusted scoring average through 39 rounds and a 820-228-50 W-L-T
• Owns three top 5 finishes this season.
• Earned his first collegiate title at the season-opening 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
• Finished 2024-25 ranked No. 163 with a peak of No. 133
• Played in 14 tournaments as a sophomore, posting a 70.7 scoring average in 14 rounds
• Recorded four top 10 finishes in 2024-25, including third-place showings at the Furman Intercollegiate and Aggie Invitational and a seventh-place effort at the NCAA Auburn Regional
• Last time out – finished t-17th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 4-under 212 (68-72-72)
Wheaton Ennis – Sophomore – Eagle, Idaho
• Slotted No. 21 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Enters action with a 68.7 adjusted scoring average through 38 rounds and a 873-182-42 W-L-T
• Earned GCAA All-Freshman, SEC All-Freshman and PING All-Central Region in 2024-25
• Three-time SEC Freshman of the Week
• Participated in the Patriot All-America Invitational the last two years, finishing t-11th this year.
• Ended freshman campaign slotted No. 82 with a 69.8 adjusted scoring average in 47 rounds
• Won 100th Arizona Amateur at Phoenix Country Club in June '24, never trailing in the title match
• Participated in the U.S. Amateur the last two years, advancing to round of 32 in 2024
• Last time out –finished 2nd at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 16-under 200 (66-67-67)
Shiv Parmar – Freshman – Selma, Texas
• Currently slotted a career-best No. 74 in in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd.
• Owns an adjusted scoring average of 69.5 with a 545-168-27 W-L-T
• Opened career with consecutive top 10s - Gopher Invitational (t-9th) and Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (t-8th), earning SEC Freshman of the Week following the Ben Hogan
• Advanced to round of 32 at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas
• Won the 2025 Texas Cup Invitational at Rayburn Resort, firing a 9-under 201
• Fired birdies on four of his last holes to win the 98th Texas Junior Amateur in September 2024
• Claimed 2024 titles at the AJGA Mizuno Junior and LJT Winter Classic
• Last time out – finished t-8th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 9-under 207 (72-69-66)
Jaime Montojo – Senior – Madrid, Spain
• Slotted a season-best No. 279 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Owns a 70.9 adjusted scoring average in 33 rounds.
• Earned NCAA Division I PING All-Central Region honors in 2024
• Played in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon
• Finished sophomore year 146th in the Clippd College Player Rankings
• Claimed first collegiate win at the 2024 Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club
• Debuted on DP World Tour Oct. '23 at the Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters
• Keyed Spain's 2023 European Amateur Team Championship win – clinching the match 2&1
• Made late charge to finish t-13th at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Parnu, Estonia
• Last time out – finished t-31th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 1-under 215 (72-70-73)
Kris Kuvaas – Junior – Houston, Texas
• Slotted a season-best 244 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Owns a 70.7 adjusted scoring average in 30 rounds with a 490-279-37.
• Wrapped up 2024-25 campaign at Pepperdine slotted No. 265 on the Scoreboard National Player
• Ranking powered by Clippd, posting a 71.4 adjusted scoring average over 35 rounds
• Claimed All-West Coast Conference honorable mention for the 2024-25 season
• Finished runner-up at the 2025 WCC Tournament, tying for first after three rounds of stroke play at 15-under 201 (70-65-66), before losing the playoff to Pepperdine teammate Mahanth Chirravuri
• Registered two top 10 finishes as a freshman in 2023-24, including a win at the Saticoy Showdown and a sixth place showing at a talent-laden The Goodwin
• Last time out – finished t-8th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 9-under 207 (70-67-70)
Substitute
Alex Long – Sophomore – Lakewood Ranch, Florida
• Slotted No. 590 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Owns a 72.3 adjusted scoring average through 20 rounds
• Participated in four tournaments in 2024-25, logging a 73.1 adjusted scoring average in 13 rounds
• Finished t-6th at the All American Individual with a 6-over 222 (76-71-75)
• Earned three AJGA tournament titles, including two victories in 2023 - AJGA Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Open and the inaugural AJGA Panama Junior
• Claimed Florida State Golf Association Boys Junior Player of the Year and won the FJG Tour Championship in 2022
• Participated in the USGA Junior Amateur three times from 2021-23
• Last time out – finished t-53rd at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate with a 7-over 213 (70-72-75)
COURSE
The former Champions Course at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa underwent a 2023 renovation and was christened the North Course. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner orchestrated the dramatic redesign of the course in preparation for hosting the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Championships. The course changes included a par-5 18th hole playing over 600 yards, a drivable par-4 for the 11th hole and moving the green on the par-3 16th to resemble the iconic No. 12 at Augusta National. The new layout is aimed at increasing the risk-reward decisions for players in both stroke and match play. Opened in 1965, the course hosted the PGA Tour's Mercedes Championship from 1969-98 along with welcoming the WCC-Accenture Match Play Championships on eight occasions. The layout meanders through the placid wetlands of the La Costa Valley highlighting the rolling hills.
The championship is being contested at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa for the third time. The North Course is a par-72 track measuring 7,538 yards. All 30 teams embark on stroke play the first three days. The field is cut to 15 teams for Monday's final round of stroke play. The top eight teams advance to the match play bracket with the quarterfinals and semifinals contested Tuesday and the national champion decided Wednesday.
The individual NCAA champion is crowned based on the four rounds of stroke play. The medalist earns a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open and the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
The Aggies won the national championship in 2009, besting Arkansas in the title bout.
The current NCAA Championship format of stroke play funneling into an eight-team match play bracket started in 2009. In addition to their 2009 title run, the Aggies also participated in the match play portion of the tournament in 2018, 2019. Ol' Sarge's charges also have top 5 finishes in 1961 (5th) and 1982 (4th) when the tournament was only stroke play.
Texas A&M made a deep run last year highlighted by All-American Phichaksn Maichon who fired a 9-under 207 to finish as the national runner-up. Maichon's performance officially marked the highest individual finish at an NCAA Championship in Texas A&M program history, surpassing Cameron Peck's third-place finish in 2011.
On the team side, Texas A&M entered the final round of stroke play sitting right on the bubble at the eighth-place cutoff line for match play. The Aggies carded a final-round 4-over 292 to finish the tournament in 11th place at 16-over par, missing match play by just five strokes.
Texas A&M fields a formidable lineup include Wheaton Ennis who last tournament fired a 16-under 200 to finish as the NCAA Bryan Regional Runner-Up. Ennis is joined by SEC All-Freshman Shiv Parmar, Aaron Pounds, Jaime Montojo and Kris Kuvaas. Alex Long travels to Omni La Costa as A&M's alternate. Ennis and Parmar are currently at their career highs in the Scoreboard National Player Ranking powered by Clippd, coming in at No. 21 and No. 74, respectively. Pounds is currently ranked No. 59.
THE FIELD
| Auburn (1) | Arizona (12) | USC (28) |
| Florida (2) | Arizona State (13) | Duke (29) |
| Texas (3) | Pepperdine (14) | UCLA (30) |
| Virginia (4) | Stanford (15) | Louisville (33) |
| Oklahoma State (5) | Oklahoma (16) | Mississippi State (37) |
| Arkansas (6) | Tennessee (18) | Arkansas State (39) |
| LSU (7) | Texas A&M (20) | Purdue (40) |
| Ole Miss (9) | Brigham Young (22) | San Diego (42) |
| North Carolina (10) | Georgia (23) | Chattanooga (56) |
| Vanderbilt (11) | Florida State (26) | Memphis (57) |
Aaron Pounds – Junior – The Woodlands, Texas
• Slotted No. 59 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Enters action with a 69.1 adjusted scoring average through 39 rounds and a 820-228-50 W-L-T
• Owns three top 5 finishes this season.
• Earned his first collegiate title at the season-opening 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
• Finished 2024-25 ranked No. 163 with a peak of No. 133
• Played in 14 tournaments as a sophomore, posting a 70.7 scoring average in 14 rounds
• Recorded four top 10 finishes in 2024-25, including third-place showings at the Furman Intercollegiate and Aggie Invitational and a seventh-place effort at the NCAA Auburn Regional
• Last time out – finished t-17th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 4-under 212 (68-72-72)
Wheaton Ennis – Sophomore – Eagle, Idaho
• Slotted No. 21 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Enters action with a 68.7 adjusted scoring average through 38 rounds and a 873-182-42 W-L-T
• Earned GCAA All-Freshman, SEC All-Freshman and PING All-Central Region in 2024-25
• Three-time SEC Freshman of the Week
• Participated in the Patriot All-America Invitational the last two years, finishing t-11th this year.
• Ended freshman campaign slotted No. 82 with a 69.8 adjusted scoring average in 47 rounds
• Won 100th Arizona Amateur at Phoenix Country Club in June '24, never trailing in the title match
• Participated in the U.S. Amateur the last two years, advancing to round of 32 in 2024
• Last time out –finished 2nd at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 16-under 200 (66-67-67)
Shiv Parmar – Freshman – Selma, Texas
• Currently slotted a career-best No. 74 in in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd.
• Owns an adjusted scoring average of 69.5 with a 545-168-27 W-L-T
• Opened career with consecutive top 10s - Gopher Invitational (t-9th) and Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (t-8th), earning SEC Freshman of the Week following the Ben Hogan
• Advanced to round of 32 at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas
• Won the 2025 Texas Cup Invitational at Rayburn Resort, firing a 9-under 201
• Fired birdies on four of his last holes to win the 98th Texas Junior Amateur in September 2024
• Claimed 2024 titles at the AJGA Mizuno Junior and LJT Winter Classic
• Last time out – finished t-8th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 9-under 207 (72-69-66)
Jaime Montojo – Senior – Madrid, Spain
• Slotted a season-best No. 279 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Owns a 70.9 adjusted scoring average in 33 rounds.
• Earned NCAA Division I PING All-Central Region honors in 2024
• Played in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon
• Finished sophomore year 146th in the Clippd College Player Rankings
• Claimed first collegiate win at the 2024 Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club
• Debuted on DP World Tour Oct. '23 at the Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters
• Keyed Spain's 2023 European Amateur Team Championship win – clinching the match 2&1
• Made late charge to finish t-13th at the 2023 European Amateur Championship in Parnu, Estonia
• Last time out – finished t-31th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 1-under 215 (72-70-73)
Kris Kuvaas – Junior – Houston, Texas
• Slotted a season-best 244 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Owns a 70.7 adjusted scoring average in 30 rounds with a 490-279-37.
• Wrapped up 2024-25 campaign at Pepperdine slotted No. 265 on the Scoreboard National Player
• Ranking powered by Clippd, posting a 71.4 adjusted scoring average over 35 rounds
• Claimed All-West Coast Conference honorable mention for the 2024-25 season
• Finished runner-up at the 2025 WCC Tournament, tying for first after three rounds of stroke play at 15-under 201 (70-65-66), before losing the playoff to Pepperdine teammate Mahanth Chirravuri
• Registered two top 10 finishes as a freshman in 2023-24, including a win at the Saticoy Showdown and a sixth place showing at a talent-laden The Goodwin
• Last time out – finished t-8th at the NCAA Bryan Regional with a 9-under 207 (70-67-70)
Substitute
Alex Long – Sophomore – Lakewood Ranch, Florida
• Slotted No. 590 in the Scoreboard National Player Rankings powered by Clippd
• Owns a 72.3 adjusted scoring average through 20 rounds
• Participated in four tournaments in 2024-25, logging a 73.1 adjusted scoring average in 13 rounds
• Finished t-6th at the All American Individual with a 6-over 222 (76-71-75)
• Earned three AJGA tournament titles, including two victories in 2023 - AJGA Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Open and the inaugural AJGA Panama Junior
• Claimed Florida State Golf Association Boys Junior Player of the Year and won the FJG Tour Championship in 2022
• Participated in the USGA Junior Amateur three times from 2021-23
• Last time out – finished t-53rd at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate with a 7-over 213 (70-72-75)
COURSE
The former Champions Course at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa underwent a 2023 renovation and was christened the North Course. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner orchestrated the dramatic redesign of the course in preparation for hosting the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Championships. The course changes included a par-5 18th hole playing over 600 yards, a drivable par-4 for the 11th hole and moving the green on the par-3 16th to resemble the iconic No. 12 at Augusta National. The new layout is aimed at increasing the risk-reward decisions for players in both stroke and match play. Opened in 1965, the course hosted the PGA Tour's Mercedes Championship from 1969-98 along with welcoming the WCC-Accenture Match Play Championships on eight occasions. The layout meanders through the placid wetlands of the La Costa Valley highlighting the rolling hills.
Players Mentioned
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