After No. 31 Texas A&M men’s golf got the ball rolling in its spring campaign, it notched a third-place finish at the Sea Best Invitational on Feb. 2-3. No. 20 junior Aaron Pounds stood apart from the rest, as he found himself amongst the top of the leaderboard at the conclusion of the last hole. 

A first-place tie for Pounds brought him more than one distinction in just 24 hours. Granted SEC Player of the Week on Wednesday, Feb. 4, it marked his second honor of the season. 

Pounds carded a 7-under, two-round total while recording a tournament-best, 65 on Day 2. Not only was it a tournament best, but it marked a personal record for The Woodlands native by two strokes. He shared the tie with UCF senior Chase Haygood, leading them to a sudden-death playoff match. Haygood outlasted Pounds, taking home the trophy but the title of first still remained split. 

This time last season in the fall kickoff tournament, Pounds found himself in a similar rhythm. At the Swing Gopher Invitational, where the Aggies claimed a first-place victory, Pounds also took lead of the pack as he took home the first-place individual title with a 8-under final score. 

Now, Pounds has climbed the national ranks, jumping 10 spots en route to secure a career-best No. 20 spot. As the Aggies get back to action at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate for a three-day stretch on Thursday, Feb. 12, Pounds will certainly be a swing to reckon with as the Aggies head into the depths of their season.