Ryder Cup-style Texas Shootout tees off Saturday

DALLAS, Tx. (Oct. 21, 2013) -- The 2013 Texas Shootout will be held Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27, at the Northwood Club in Dallas. It will be the first time for the historic club to host the season-ending, invitation-only event.

The Shootout features the top twelve players (8 mid-amateurs and 4 seniors) from North Texas squaring off against their counterparts from South Texas in a Ryder Cup-style competition.

Players earn their way onto their respective teams by accumulating points throughout the year in designated TGA regional and statewide tournaments, as well as USGA national championships. North and South regions are defined as either being above or below the 31’ parallel (Salado, Texas).

Of the eight mid-amateurs selected from each region, five come from the TGA Statewide Player of the Year point standings and three from the Regional Player of the Year point standings. The top four North and South senior players are chosen based on the Statewide Senior Player of the Year point standings.

The format for the Shootout includes foursome, four-ball, and singles matches. A total of twenty-four matches will be played over the two days. Each match is worth 3 points – 1 point each for front nine, back nine, and 18 – making for 72 available points. The first team to accumulate 36½ points is the winner.

For those players who have earned a spot on their respective Shootout team, having the chance to play the Northwood Club will certainly be a reward for having a successful season. Originally designed by William H. Diddel in 1946, the course was renovated in 1990 by the respected architectural team of Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf.

One of the highlights of the club’s distinguished history is serving as host for the 1952 U.S. Open won by Julius Boros. It is one of the very few courses in Texas to have staged one of golf’s Major Championships.

The 6,868-yard, par-71 layout is and always has been a true shotmaker’s delight. With majestic tree-lined fairways, well-protected green complexes and natural water features, Northwood is sure to provide a great stage for the state’s best amateurs vying for the Shootout title.

2013 TEXAS SHOOTOUT NOTES:

North Team: Zach Atkinson (Hurst), John Bearrie (Arlington), Colby Harwell (Robinson), Aaron Hickman (Tyler), *Bill Holstead (Wichita Falls), *Jerry Hudgins (Tyler), Doug Manor (Dallas), Scott Maurer (Richardson), *Mike Peck (Irving), Michael Pruitt (Lubbock), *Lee Sandlin (Dallas), and Brandon Scott (Justin).

South Team: James Bartell (Houston), Jess Bonneau (Houston), *Mike Booker (The Woodlands), Clay Hodge (Bryan), John Hunter (Houston), *Bob Kearney (Houston), *Ron Kilby (McAllen), *Tom McGraw (Montgomery), Brian Noonan (Austin), John Perez (San Antonio), David Pocknall (Katy), and Tony Soerries (Spring).

*Indicates senior player representative

Captains: Carey Schulten of Dallas, current Secretary/Treasurer of the TGA, will captain the North team, while Loren Singletary, a past president of the TGA, will lead the South team.

2012 Results: At the 2012 Shootout, played at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, the South Team won its third title in a row. Captained by Woody Fail, the South steamrolled to a 44-28 victory over the North and now have an overall lead in the series, 6-4, heading into Northwood.