Around the Green

Teams Set for 13th Annual Jackie Burke Cup Matches

TYLER – The 13^th annual Jackie Burke Cup Matches are set for The Cascades Club on Nov. 11-12. The matches pit the top 12 players from North Texas versus the top 12 players from South Texas against each other in Four-ball, Foursome and Singles matches.

Both teams are built off the LJT Player of the Year Points list. Players earned points through their play in LJT events and Alliance Partner tournaments. This year’s teams are captained by former LJT players and Jackie Burke Cup veterans. Blaine Hale Jr. will captain the north team, while Cooper Dossey captains the south team.

Hale Jr. competed in four Jackie Burke Cup Matches (2011-14) during his junior golf career and is now a member of the Oklahoma Men’s Golf Team. The Dallas-native was on the National Championship winning team in 2017 and brings his match-play experience along with him. Hale Jr. played in 40 LJT events throughout his career with one victory.

Dossey played in two Jackie Burke Cup Matches (2012 & 2014). The Austin-native is a member of the Baylor Men’s Golf Team and was on the squad that made it to the match play portion on the NCAA National Championship in 2017. Dossey was named the 2017 Big XII Newcomer of the Year and as a sophomore won the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate. Dossey played in 25 LJT events throughout his career with three victories.

This year’s matches see 18 first timers among the 24-player field. The teams consist of 12 total players, eight from the Boys 15-18 Division, two from the Boys 14 & Under Division and two from the Girls 12-18 Division.

Leading the way for the north team is Boys 15-18 Player of the Year Jansen Smith. The San Angelo-native won three times on tour this season and is playing in his first Jackie Burke Cup. Along with Smith as a first-time participant in this event on the north team is Dallas’ Holden Wisener, Mansfield’s Brendan Powers, Granbury’s Jake Holbrook, Temple’s William Paysse, Argyle’s Gaven Lane, Plano’s Matthew Comegys and Richardson’s Libby Winans. Granbury’s Tucker Allen will be playing in his second Jackie Burke Cup along with McKinney’s Jake Kuwitzky, while Richardson’s Tommy Boone is competing in his third and three-time Girls 12-18 Player of the Year Hailey Jones makes her fourth appearance.

The south team is built up of 10 players making their first appearance in the matches. Austin’s Trey Bosco and San Antonio’s Garrett Martin are the two players with experience on the team. Bosco is making his third appearance in the Jackie Burke Cup matches, while Garrett Martin returns for his second year. Luke Dossey leads the first-time players from the south after winning the Byron Nelson Junior Championship in June. San Antonio’s John Keefer, Kingwood’s Damin Strydom, Austin’s Brandon Hoff and League City’s Francois and Andre Jacobs are the other first timers from the Boys 15-18 Division. Spring’s Andrew Spaulding and Sugarland’s Shaheen Momin represent the Boys 14 & Under Division, while Houston’s Zoe Slaughter and Katy’s Elina Sinz represent the Girls 12-18 Division.

Last year’s cup was played to a 24-24 draw, which allowed the north team to retain the cup after winning in 2015, 26-22. The last three years have seen the north team win the Jackie Burke Cup, but the south team leads the all-time series 7-5.

The Cascades joins an impressive list of clubs that have hosted the Jackie Burke Cup matches. Escondido Golf & Lake Club hosted last year and Brook Hollow Golf Club hosted in 2015. Champions Golf Club, Whispering Pines Golf Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club and Miramont Golf Club have all hosted as well.

The matches begin on Saturday, Nov. 11 with four-ball matches starting at 7:20 am. Foursome matches follow immediately after around 12:55 pm, while singles matches will be on Sunday, Nov. 12 starting at 8:00 am. For more information about the Jackie Burke Cup matches, click here.