Senior golfer Christiaan Maas’ locker is the tidiest of all the Texas men’s golfers.
“I think I annoy (the team) more than anything, trying to keep their stuff clean and keeping it somewhat decent in our locker room,” Maas said.
While locker room organization isn’t a responsibility most seniors take on, maybe they should. Maas’ game mimics his orderly habits. The precision of his swing and his patience on the green contribute to his early-season dominance on the amateur and collegiate stage.
The World Amateur Team Championship took place in Singapore last week, where Maas delivered a performance to remember, capturing the individual title by 10 strokes and leading the South Africa team to its first team win in this prestigious event’s history. His composure throughout the 72-hole tournament proves he is becoming the golfer to watch this season.
“I was hitting my driver good, and it was going a pretty long way, so I was in position on most of the holes,” Maas said. “I trusted my process on every shot.”
Maas has also demonstrated strength on the collegiate level this season. In late September, he tied for first at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, carding one under par at the historic Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, earning him Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Week. His steady play and clutch shots helped keep the Longhorns in contention throughout the two-day event, ultimately tying for first place.
Maas combines technical skill with a calm presence on the course. Instead of expecting every shot to be flawless, he focuses on staying patient and making small adjustments when learning from his mistakes.
“It’s just growing up and accepting the fact that I’m human and I’m not going to be perfect all the time,” Maas said. “There’s no point in trying to base your emotions off the results.”
That philosophy was on full display in Singapore, and it served him well. Maas acknowledged that he can be inconsistent off the tee, but rather than letting it shake him, he trusts his ability to recover and find the green even from tough lies.
Sophomore Daniel Bennett, another Longhorn from South Africa, looks for guidance wherever he can find it, often from teammates. He finds it easier to relate to Maas, whose calm approach reflects the lessons from their shared coaching background.
“We can relate to a few things a little easier because we’re from a similar place and we’ve known each other longer,” Bennett said. “I take advice from anyone. You can always learn from the people around you.”
For Maas, each accomplishment is another step in a bigger journey. The SEC announced Maas as the conference’s Golfer of the Week for a second time this year. Still, he remains focused on pushing himself to bigger goals like winning the PGA Tour University.
Even with international titles and collegiate honors, he’s already looking toward the future, focused on the next challenge and shot. For Maas, the pursuit of excellence never stops.
But even after a long day on the course, you’ll find him in the locker room picking up the trash his teammates have left.
