40th Texas Mid-Amateur Set for Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Midland Country Club will be the host site for the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur, the last of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the TGA. The championship, which features the state’s top male amateur golfers aged 25 and older, is scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

This will be the second Texas Mid-Amateur and 12th overall TGA championship to be held at the venerable West Texas club. In total, Midland Country Club has played host to six different TGA championships in its 96-year history, including the Texas Amateur, Women’s Texas Amateur, Texas Senior Amateur, West Texas Amateur, and Women’s Four-Ball. In addition, the club was also the site of the Web.com Tour’s (now Korn Ferry Tour) WNB Golf Classic from 2002-14.

“We are very excited to return to Midland Country Club for the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur,” said Chris Untiedt, TGA Senior Tournament Director. “To have the opportunity to conduct one of our major championships at such a great venue is truly special and we know the membership and staff will provide an outstanding experience for the players.”

Founded in 1927, Midland Country Club began as a nine-hole course with sand greens. The club moved to its current location in the mid-1950s with an 18-hole course designed by Texas Golf Hall of Fame member Ralph Plummer. The course has undergone several modifications through the years, and in 2017 the architectural firm of Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design completed a comprehensive renovation in time for the club’s 90th anniversary.

The 11-month, multimillion-dollar project included building all new tees, greens, bunkers, and water features to enhance and fortify the strategic elements of Plummer’s original design. The par-72 layout, which can stretch to 7,450 yards from the back tees, is spread out across 350 acres and presents an exacting challenge to even the most accomplished players.

“Midland Country Club has proven over time to be a formidable test of golf and we are certain it will once again provide a spectacular setting for this year’s championship,” Untiedt said.

The starting field for the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur will be comprised of 132 players who earned entry into the championship through an exemption category or successfully advanced out of 18-hole qualifying held at 14 sites statewide from July 17-Sept. 19.

Format for the championship is 54 holes individual stoke play. All contestants will play 18 holes Sept. 29-30. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 scorers and ties heading into the final round. In addition to the prize awarded to the overall champion, there also will be special recognition for the mid-master (players aged 40 and older) returning the lowest 54-hole score.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted on the TGA website no later than Sept. 26. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Midland Country Club.

The list of decorated amateurs who will assemble in West Texas is headed by Ryan O’Rear of Georgetown, who captured his second Texas Mid-Amateur title last year at Abilene Country Club’s South Course. O’Rear, whose first victory came in 2020 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, carded rounds of 66-69-70 to finish at 11-under-par 205 and earned a one-stroke victory over runner-up Zach Atkinson of Colleyville. Atkinson, a two-time TGA state champion (2004 Texas Amateur, 2016 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play), also earned low mid-master honors.

Eight other past Texas Mid-Amateur champions will join O’Rear in the starting field. They are Frederick Janneck of Fort Worth (who won in 2021), Christopher Wheeler of Addison (2019), Colby Harwell of San Antonio (2017-18), Joshua Irving of Dallas (2016), Terence Begnel of Midland (2014), Clay Hodge of Tyler (2013), Rob Couture of Celina (2008), and Mike Booker of Houston (2003).

Among the other notable players competing are 2020 and 2023 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion Aaron Hickman of Tyler and 2023 South Mid-Amateur champion Logan Thomason of Montgomery, as well as top finishers returning from last year’s championship including Atkinson, Colby Amparan of Fort Worth (5th), Trey Todd of Abilene (T6), Ryan Zamorano of Dallas (T6), Dan Depasquale of Austin (T8), Josh Pasco of Midland (T8), and Cole Wiederkehr of Fort Worth (T8).

112th Texas Amateur Set for June 17-20

The state’s foremost amateur golfers are headed west and will gather at Midland Country Club from June 17-20 for the 112th Texas Amateur Championship.

“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to return to Midland Country Club,” said Chris Untiedt, TGA Tournament Director. “The club has a long history of supporting amateur golf and we are confident the course will rigorously test every facet of a player’s game and identify a worthy champion.”

This will be the fourth Texas Amateur and sixth TGA major championship to be contested at Midland Country Club.

The three previous Texas Amateurs were played in 1965 (won by Randy Petri), 1971 (won by Bruce Lietzke) and 1997 (won by Ed Brooks). Midland Country Club also hosted the 1963 and 2001 Women’s Texas Amateurs (won by Sandra Palmer and Denis Flores, respectively).

More recently, Midland Country Club hosted the 2020 TGA Women’s Four-Ball (won by Faith Delagarza and Amari Smith) and 2019 West Texas Amateur (won by Jackson Markham). The club also was the site of the Web.com Tour’s WNB Golf Classic from 2002-14.

“It is a huge honor to welcome the Texas Amateur back to Midland Country Club,” said Head Golf Professional Eric Dunkerson. “Midland Country Club is proud to have such a rich history of championship golf and we are excited to continue this legacy and showcase our club by once again hosting the state’s premier amateur championship.”

Midland Country Club was founded in 1927 and moved to its current location in the mid-1950s with an 18-hole course designed by Ralph Plummer. Over the years numerous upgrades have been made to course, and in 2017, Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design completed a comprehensive renovation in time for the club’s 90th anniversary. The $8.9 million dollar, 11-month-long project included building new greens, tees, bunkers and lakes, which has fortified the strategic elements of Plummer’s original design.

“The newly renovated course will provide a great stage for this year’s Texas Amateur,” Dunkerson said. “It’s a par-72 that can stretch to over 7,400 yards from the back tees. The course will be in excellent condition for the championship and when you factor in the West Texas winds it will present a true test of skill for the state’s best amateurs.”

The TGA accepted a record 985 entries for the 112th Texas Amateur at Midland Country Club, eclipsing the previous high of 883 for the 2019 championship at Dallas Athletic Club. A total of 33 players were fully exempt from qualifying based on past performance. To determine the remaining 111 spots in the 144-player starting field, 18-hole qualifiers were held at 14 sites across the state from April 6 – June 9.

The list of decorated amateurs who will assemble at Midland Country Club is headed by Baylor University sophomore Trey Bosco of Austin, who won last year’s championship at Boot Ranch Golf Club in Fredericksburg. Bosco carded rounds of 72-71-67-69 to finish at 5-under 279 and earned a one-stroke victory over runner-up Caleb Hicks of Arlington. He will look to defend his title and become the first player to win back-to-back championships in nearly 20 years.

A large contingent of elite players from the junior, collegiate and mid-amateur ranks will be looking to dethrone Bosco, including 2019 Texas Mid-Amateur champion Chris Wheeler of Addison, two-time Texas Junior Amateur champion Zach Heffernan of Fair Oaks Ranch, 2020 Texas Player of the Year Colby Harwell of San Antonio, reigning Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion Aaron Hickman of Tyler, 2020 LJT Player of the Year Matthew Comegys of Plano and 2020 West Texas Amateur champion J.T. Pittman of Monahans, to name a few.

Format for the championship is 72 holes individual stroke play. All contestants will play 18 holes June 17-18. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 players and ties heading into the final two rounds on the weekend.

Live scoring updates, daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available once the action gets underway from Midland Country Club. For more on the 112th Texas Amateur, click here.

Delagarza and Smith Win Back to Back Women’s Four-Ball Championships

Briefly: Faith Delagarza of Midland and Amari Smith of McKinney captured their second Women’s Four-Ball Championship with outstanding rounds of 65-66 for a 13-under-par finish.  With their win last year, and being teammates on the Dallas Baptist University Golf Team they have figured out a good strategy that lead them to success.  “It’s definitely nice because we’re already teammates,” Faith Delagarza said, “We already have that team boding so we can rely on each other.”

Leaderboard:

1 Delagarza/Smith                Midland, McKinney            -13  65  66      131
T2 Argulles/Harrison          Dallas, Plano                        -10  69  65      134
T2 Daleo/Bianchi                 Plano, Allen                          -10  69  65      134
4 Fox/Feldman                     Copperas Cove, Austin       -9   67  68      135
T5 Escamilla/Escamilla      Midland                                 E    78  66      144
T5 Reed/Reed                       Midland                                 E   73   71       144

Final Results

Golf Course: 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).

Weather: The temperature reached 100 degrees with steady winds at 17 mph out of the south-southeast.

In Contention: Hannah Harrison of Plano and Evelyn Arguelles of Dallas tied for second with Megan Daleo of Plano and Allie Bianchi with a two day total of 10-under-par 134.

What’s Next: The 2020 Women’s Senior Stroke Play at Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth September 28-30, 2020.

More Info: For more information on the 2019 Women’s Four-Ball Championship, click here.

Delagarza and Smith Looking to Repeat Title at the 2020 Women’s Four-Ball Championship

Delagarza and Smith Looking to Repeat Title at the 2020 Women’s Four-Ball Championship

Briefly: Faith Delagarza of Midland and Amari Smith of McKinney fired a 7-under-par 65 to take the lead in the opening round at the 2020 Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

Leaderboard:
1         Delagarza/Smith               Midland, McKinney                              65

2         Fox/Feldman                    Copperas Cove, Austin                         67

T3       Daleo/Bianchi                   Plano, Allen                                           69

T3       Arguelles/Harrison           Dallas, Plano                                        69

5          Crumley/Howarth            San Antonio                                          71

T6        Ray/Nichols                      San Antonio                                          73

T6         Reed/Reed                       Midland                                                 73

Round 1 Results | Round 2 Pairings

Golf Course: 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).

Weather: The temperature reached 100 degrees with steady winds at 16 mph out of the south.

In Contention: Elle Fox of Copperas Cove and her partner Jackie Feldman of Austin carded a 5-under-par 67 and sits two shots off the lead. The team of Megan Daleo of Plano and Allie Bianchi of Allen are tied for third with the team of Hanna Harrison of Plano and Evelyn Arguelles of Dallas after carding a 3-under-par 69.

What’s Next: Round 2 starts Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. at Midland Country Club.

More Info: For more information on the 2019 Women’s Four-Ball Championship, click here.

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.