Brady Exber (Back of the Range Photo)
Nathan Smith and Brady Exber have been named as the captains for the 2024 East West Matches at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Tex.
Smith, a six-time USGA champion and the USA Walker Cup captain for the 2025 Match at Cypress Point, will lead the East Team against Exber, a former R&A Senior Amateur champion and long-time fixture in mid- and senior amateur golf, who will captain the West Team.
“The East West Matches are truly fortunate to have Nathan and Brady serve as our captains because they are two of the most well-respected guys out there,” said lead organizer and founder Scott Harvey, who has two USGA titles to his credit.
“We believe that many great players will work hard over the next year to earn a spot at Maridoe in November of 2024.”
Smith, of Pittsburgh, Pa, has won four U.S. Mid-Amateurs, one U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (with Todd White), and one USGA State team. He played on three USA Walker Cup Teams as well.
“I am pumped to be able to serve as a captain in the East West Matches with my old pal Brady,” Smith said. “This event is like going to a family barbeque but with great golf from great players at a great venue. The competition will be intense but fun. I am honored to help make it another memorable event.”
Exber, of Las Vegas, Nev., served as the assistant captain for Kevin Marsh and the West Team in 2022 and was the president of the Southern Nevada Golf Association from 2006-2010.
He won the 2014 R&A Senior Amateur as well as the Arizona Senior Open in 2009. He was also the runner-up at the 2014 Canadian Senior Amateur and the 2016 R&A Senior Amateur. At the age of 52, he advanced to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst No.2.
“To serve as the captain of the West Team is a privilege,” said Exber, a minority partner of the Houston Astros. “The East West Matches are a highlight event for great players across the country because they combine friendship and great competition. Maridoe is an awesome golf course and I’m glad I’ll be a captain alongside Nathan.”
The teams will be announced after the U.S. Senior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships in August and September of 2024, respectively.
"The East West Matches are indebted to Albert Huddleston who is one of the nation’s most prominent supporters of amateur golf,” Harvey said. “Maridoe Golf Club is a world-class test of golf, and the staff assures that the players, captains and volunteers are treated with the best service, hospitality and food. The best players from the USA are very interested in qualifying and we are sure we’ll have another competition with the highest-level golf.”
Nine members of each team are decided on a points system, with the nine chosen by the tournament committee. Each team consists of 18 players: six seniors, at least 10 mid-amateurs and up to two amateurs who have not yet reached the age of 25.
In the three days of competitions, there are eight 18-hole four-ball matches on Day 1, eight 18-hole foursomes matches in the morning of Day 2 and eight 18-hole foursomes in the afternoon of Day 3 with 18 18-hole singles matches on Day 3.
About the East West MatchesThe East West Matches started in 2020 and played every two years, is a three-day amateur golf competition that features a Ryder Cup-style team format for American mid-amateur and senior competitors.
The motto of the Matches states that the vision of the competition is “promoting the amateur game by bringing the best amateurs in the United States together for highly competitive matches and camaraderie in its purest form."
The Mississippi River is the dividing line between East and West teams, each of which is made up of 18 players: six seniors, at least 10 mid-amateurs, and up to two amateurs who have not yet reached the age of 25.
Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas hosted the inaugural competition in 2020.
ABOUT THE East West Cup
Started in 2020 and played every other year, the
East West Matches feature
Ryder
Cup-style team matches for American mid-amateurs
and seniors. The Mississippi River is the dividing line
between East and West teams, each of which is
comprised of 18 players: 6 seniors, at least 10 mid-
amateurs, and up to 2 amateurs
who haven't yet
reached the age of 25.
A points system will be utilized to select 50% of each
team, with the other 50% chosen by the tournament
committee. Teams will be selected at the conclusion
of the US Mid and US Senior Amateur
Championships.
The schedule of play is 18 holes of four-ball on
Friday, 36 holes of foursomes on Saturday, and 18
holes of singles on Sunday.
View Complete Tournament Information