The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men’s Golf claims No. 1 spot in preseason Golf Channel rankings
08.29.2025 | Men's Golf
Maas, Morrison, Bennett and Potter named to Golf Channel’s preseason All-America teams.
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas Men's Golf team is tabbed No. 1 in Golf Channel's Preseason Top 30 rankings, the network announced Friday morning. In addition, a quartet of Longhorns were named to Golf Channel's preseason All-America teams.
Seniors Christiaan Maas and Tommy Morrison were picked to the 10-person first team, sophomore Daniel Bennett was chosen to the 10-person second team and senior Luke Potter was one of 10 players selected as honorable mention. The Longhorns return all five players from last year's NCAA Championship lineup that advanced to the quarterfinals, including Maas, Morrison, Bennett, Potter and junior Jack Gilbert.
Maas, No. 2 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2026 Preseason Ranking, was one of five finalists for the Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday and one of 10 finalists for the Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel in 2025. He was selected as a second-team All-America selection by PING/GCAA and third-team All-America pick by Golfweek last year. A first-team All-SEC selection and one of 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award, Maas registered a 70.40 stroke average and recorded one individual victory, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his 13 stroke-play appearances last season. The SEC Men's Co-Golfer of the Week (March 19), 29 of his 40 rounds last year were par or better, including 18 rounds in the 60s. He earned his second career collegiate win at the 2025 Pauma Valley Invitational (Mar. 17-18) with a 9-under 204 (68-70-66). Maas has made four cuts in seven starts on the DP World Tour, including a fourth-place tie at the 2025 Investec South African Open Championship (Feb. 27-Mar. 2).
Morrison, No. 4 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2026 Preseason Ranking, was one of 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award and was a second-team All-America selection by both PING/GCAA and Golfweek in 2025. A second-team All-SEC selection and a member of the 2025 SEC Community Service Team, he registered a 70.15 scoring average and placed in the top-25 in 11 of his 13 stroke-play appearances last season, including one victory, a runner-up finish and eight top-11 efforts. The SEC Men's Golfer of the Week (Feb. 12), 29 of his 40 rounds last year were par or better, including 17 rounds in the 60s. Morrison claimed his first career collegiate individual victory at the 2025 Amer Ari Invitational (Feb. 6-8), carding a 54-hole total of 21-under 195 (67-65-63) and winning the title on the first playoff hole. He is one of 10 players who will compete on the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team in early September. This summer, Morrison earned the No. 2 seed and advanced to the Round of 64 at the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. He also registered top-20 individual finishes at the European Amateur and The Amateur Championship at Royal St. George's in addition to reaching the Sweet 16 at the 2025 Western Amateur.
Bennett was named the recipient of the 2025 NCAA Division I Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine, an award that annually honors the National Freshman of the Year in men's collegiate golf. He became the fifth Longhorn in program history to win the prestigious honor, joining Cole Hammer (2019), Scottie Scheffler (2015), Brandon Stone (2013) and David Gossett (1999). A Division I PING First-Team All-American, Bennett was also recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year in addition to earning First-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team mention. He concluded the 2025 season with a team-best 70.00 scoring average and registered a pair of individual runner-up finishes, four top-three showings, five top-10 finishes and placed in the top-16 in eight of his 11 stroke-play events. The SEC Men's Freshman of the Week (April 16), 24 of his 34 rounds last year were par or better, including 15 rounds in the 60s. He also competed for the winning Team International squad at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup on June 5-7 at Congaree Golf Club (Ridgeland, S.C.).
Potter, No. 7 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2026 Preseason Ranking, registered a 70.95 scoring average and placed in the top-20 in seven of his 13 stroke-play appearances while earning PING All-Central Region accolades during his junior season in 2024-25. Twenty-five (25) of his 40 rounds last year were par or better, including 13 rounds in the 60s. A native of Encinitas, Calif., Potter claimed his first career collegiate victory at The Hayt (March 8-10) with a 10-under 206 (71-66-69). He also tied for third at the NCAA Reno Regional (May 12-14) with a 6-under 210 (71-71-68) and tied for sixth at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational (Sept. 20-21) with a 3-under 207 (68-68-71).
The Longhorns open the 2025-26 season with an appearance at the Sahalee Players Championship in Sammamish, Wash. on Sept. 6-7 (Saturday-Sunday). Tommy Morrison will miss the season-opening event, as he is one of 10 players selected to the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team who will compete in the 50th Walker Cup Match on Sept. 6-7 at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif.
Golf Channel Preseason Top 30 team rankings
|
Rank |
School |
|
1 |
TEXAS |
|
2 |
Oklahoma State |
|
3 |
Auburn |
|
4 |
Florida |
|
5 |
Oklahoma |
|
6 |
Virginia |
|
7 |
Ole Miss |
|
8 |
LSU |
|
9 |
Texas Tech |
|
10 |
Vanderbilt |
|
11 |
Illinois |
|
12 |
Arizona State |
|
13 |
Tennessee |
|
14 |
Arkansas |
|
15 |
Pepperdine |
|
16 |
Florida State |
|
17 |
Texas A&M |
|
18 |
North Carolina |
|
19 |
Arizona |
|
20 |
BYU |
|
21 |
Georgia Tech |
|
22 |
Utah |
|
23 |
Notre Dame |
|
24 |
Alabama |
|
25 |
Cal |
|
26 |
Stanford |
|
27 |
South Carolina |
|
28 |
UNLV |
|
29 |
Georgia |
|
30 |
Clemson |
Players Mentioned
