Around the Green

Schultz Wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Argyle – Jason Schultz of Allen wins 3 & 1 to claim the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship. This is Schultz’s second Texas Golf Association win of the year, previously winning the North Mid-Amateur at Paris Golf and Country Club in late March.

Championship Match: In Sunday morning’s Championship Match, No. 4 seed Rob Couture of Celina went head-to-head against No. 7 seed Jason Schultz of Allen. Couture struck first with a par on the par-4 first to go 1-up through early. The two tied the 2^nd hole with a pair of pars keeping the match at Couture 1-up. On the 187-yard par-3 3^rd hole, Couture made birdie from 30-feet to go 2-up in the match. Both players stuck it close on the 4^th hole and made birdie three and then another pair of pars on the 5^th to keep the match status at 2-up in favor of Couture through 4 holes. A bridie on the par-4 6^th hole for Schultz to get to 1-down was what he needed to shift the momentum in the match. He would go on to make three more birdies on the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th, making it four consecutive birdies. Schultz’s birdies on the 7^th and 9^th matched Couture’s birdies, but his birdie on the par-3 8^th hole was enough to get the match to all tied up.

Tied at the turn, both players made pars on the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th to keep the match tied through 12 holes. Schultz made birdie on the par-4 13^th hole to take his first lead of the match. On the 14^th hole, the pair each made birdie three to keep the match status Schultz 1-up. Both players made par on the par-4 15^th before Schultz made a birdie two on the 16^th going 2-up and dormie in the match. Schultz found the fairway on the par-5 17^th and hit a near perfect shot reach the green in two, 11-feet short of the flag. Couture missed his birdie putt and conceded the eagle putt to Schultz, giving him a 3 & 1 match victory.

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Course: Denton Country Club is hosting the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play while celebrating the club’s centennial 100^th anniversary. The member-owned club opened in 1922 as a 9-hole course and later expanded to 18 holes in 1969. It was originally designed by Texas Golf Hall of Fame architect Ralph Plummer. The course has undergone several modifications through the years, most notably in the mid-1980s when Dick Nugent oversaw an extensive renovation and modernization project.

Tournament History: The Mid-Amateur Match Play is open to players 25 years of age or older and hold a handicap index of 5.4 or less. The unique format starts with 90 players competing in an 18-hole stroke play qualifying. From there, the low 32 players will advance to the match play portion of the championship. Matches will take place over three days, with a champion being crowned on Sunday morning.

POY Points Race: By winning, Schultz was awarded 750 points towards Statewide Player of the Year standings.

What’s Next: The TGA will conducting their North and South Amateurs to close out the regional series. The regional amateurs are schedule to be played simultaneously, August 5-7. Next on the state championship schedule is the Texas Four-Ball. With registration closed, the Four-Ball will be contested August 19-21 at Comanche Trace in Kerrville. Texas Mid-Amateur qualifying is underway for the TGA with sites scattered across the state for the next two months. The Texas Mid-Amateur will be hosted Abilene Country Club September 23-25.

About the TGA: The Texas Golf Association was established in 1906 with a mission to promote the playing and advancement of the royal and ancient game of golf in Texas. The association is one of the most respected in the country with an ongoing commitment to its members, contestants, volunteers and all who strive to preserve the great traditions of the game.

For more information about the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, click here. To see all the scores from Denton Country Club, click here.