Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

Women’s Four-Ball Set for Aug. 10-11

MIDLAND – The 2020 Women’s Four-Ball  will be played Aug. 10-11 at Midland Country Club.

“The TGA is very excited to return to Midland Country Club,” TGA Director of Women’s Operations Amy Worthington said. “Since the event was started, the field has continued to get stronger and stronger and showcase some of the most talented players in the state.”

Founded in 1927, Midland Country Club opened as a nine-hole course with sand greens. From these modest beginnings, the championship golf course has evolved into one of the premier private clubs in West Texas. At its center is a classic parkland course that was designed in 1951 by Texas Golf Hall of Famer Ralph Plummer. In the fall of 2015, the club hired Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design to oversee a major renovation of the golf course and practice facility. The $8.9 million project finished in 2017 and includes a modernized 7,354-yard, par-72 championship course to better test the skills of today’s players.

Over the years, Midland Country Club has played host to many elite amateur tournaments, including eight TGA Major Championships (the 1965, 1971 and 1997 Texas Amateur, 1995 Texas Mid-Amateur, 1970 and 1979 Texas Senior Amateur and the 1963 and 2001 Women’s Texas Amateur). Midland Country Club Head Golf Professional Evan Dunkerson says the membership and staff is excited to welcome some of the top female amateur golfers back to West Texas.

“To be selected to host any TGA event is an honor,” Dunkerson said. “But to be selected to host an event as unique as the Women’s Four-Ball is special.  We look forward to hosting a great field of talented and competitive women from all over the state of Texas.”

Scheduled for 36 holes of four-ball stroke play, the Women’s Four-Ball will feature two sets of tees for the second consecutive year. The TGA wants to encourage women’s participation at every stage, from juniors to collegiate players to senior amateurs of all skill levels. The 10 teams with the lowest combined WHS handicap indexes will be required to play in the Championship Flight. All other teams have the choice to select which flight they would prefer to compete in.

“The separate tees will allow for a better playing experience for all of our players and makes this championship more competitive,” Worthington said.

The first Women’s Four-Ball was held in 2007 at Redstone Golf Club. Now in its 14th playing, the Women’s Four-Ball continues to attract some of the state’s best female amateur golfers.

Last year, Faith Delagarza of Midland and Amari Smith of McKinney fired a closing 9-under-par 63 at Bentwater Yacht & Country Club’s Miller Course. Delagarza and Smith, who are teammates at Dallas Baptist University, will look to defend their title this year at Midland Country Club.

For more information about the Women’s Four-Ball, click here.

ABOUT THE TGA: Founded in 1906 as the governing body of amateur golf in Texas, the TGA is an official representative of the United States Golf Association and the only licensed distributor of USGA GHIN Handicaps. We serve all golfers across Texas with elite competitive championships and recreational playing opportunities for men, women, seniors and juniors. The TGA is represented by hundreds of public and private facility Member Clubs throughout the state. It is our honor and responsibility to promote, protect and grow the game of golf on all levels. To learn more, click here.