DALLAS, TX (October 13, 2006)--The fourth annual Texas Shoot Out, conducted by the
Texas Golf Association, will be played from October 28-29 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas. The season-ending “Ryder Cup-style” competition, in which the top eight players from North Texas take on their counterparts from South Texas, is by invitation only and has quickly become one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the TGA schedule.
Players earn their way onto their respective teams by accumulating points throughout the year in designated TGA regional tournaments and statewide championships, as well as USGA national championships. North and South regions are defined as either being above or below the 31’ parallel – with Salado, Texas, being the dividing line.
Representing the North team, listed in alphabetical order with hometown in parenthesis: John Bearrie (Arlington), Alan Clark (Ennis), Rob Couture (Dallas), Dan Dunkelberg (Fort Worth), Dru Fenimore (Dallas), David Leachman (Dallas), John McClure (Dallas), and Darin Newhouse (Flint). Ryan Finn, Director of Rules and Competitions for the TGA, will serve as Captain for the North Team.
Those playing for the South are: John Dowdall (Houston), Kip Guidry (Missouri City), Alan Hill (Spring Branch), Randy Lance (Conroe), David Leiss (Houston), Jonathan Mathias (San Antonio), John Pierce (San Antonio), and Ron Schroeder (Montgomery). Jeff Morton, Regional Director for the TGA, is the Captain for the South Team.
Of the eight players selected from each region, five (5) come from the TGA Statewide Player of the Year point standings, and three (3) from the TGA Regional Player of the Year point standings. If a player qualifies by both criteria, he will be selected based on the higher rank, and the next highest ranked player from within the Regional or Statewide points list will be added to ensure that five players from the statewide rankings and three players from the Regional rankings will be on the team.
Format for the Shoot Out is match play, including foursomes (two-man teams in alternate shot), fourball (two-man teams in better ball) and singles. Sixteen matches will be played over the two days of competition. Each match is worth 3 points – 1 point for front nine, back nine, and total – making for a total of 48 available points. The first team to accumulate 24½ points is the winner.
The North team will be the defending champion as they pulled off a come from behind victory last year at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. The South leads the series 2-1.
Whispering Pines, a Jack Nicklaus design, hosted the Texas Shoot Out in 2004 and will be the site of the 2007 Texas State Amateur. Ranked as the No.1 course in the state by Texas Golf 2006, an annual publication of the Dallas Morning News, Whispering Pines is also home to The Spirit International Amateur Championship, a biennial event featuring the world’s best amateur men and amateur women golfers, who represent their respective country in team and individual competitions.
ABOUT THE Texas Shootout
This Ryder Cup-style team event is the final
tournament of the Texas Golf Association
competitive amateur golf season. Each team
consists of 8 players who qualify for their
respective teams via TGA State and Regional
Player of the Year points accumulated
throughout the TGA season.
Eligibility: The field will be made up of 16
competitors, 8 players from each region
(North
/ South). Of the 8 players chosen from each
region, 5 players will be selected from the
TGA
Statewide Player of the Year point standings,
and 3 players will be selected from the TGA
Regional Player of the Year point standings.
All
statewide players will have up to the
completion of the current year USGA Mid
Amateur Championship to earn points toward
the event. All Regional players will have up to
the completion of the Regional Mid Amateur
Championship to earn points towards the
event. If a player qualifies by both criteria,
he
will be selected based on the higher rank.
The
next highest ranked player from within the
Regional or Statewide points will be added to
ensure 5 players from the statewide rankings
and three players from the Regional rankings
will be chosen.
Format: Ryder Cup format: Four-ball
Matches, Foursome (Alternate shot) Matches,
and Singles Matches. 3 point system, 1 point
for the winner of each nine holes, and 1 point
for the overall match winner
View Complete Tournament Information