Cedar Crest Golf Course First of Six Courses Hosting U.S. Adaptive Open Qualifier

Addison – Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, Texas is set to host their first U.S. Adaptive Open Qualifier. The qualifier will be one of only six sites across the United States between April 16 to May 7.  

In 2017, the USGA followed through with a pledge to establish a “championship for the adaptive golf community”. The U.S. Adaptive Open is the 15th and newest USGA Championship for men and women amateur golfers. The tournament is split into eight groups based on the player’s disability and features the widest age range of players with eligible players ranging from 16-80 years old. Modifications in the Rules of Golf were added by the USGA in 2023, permitting players to “compete using on-course aides, loosened club-anchoring rules, and adjusted drops” to accommodate carts. The players compete for two trophies that are given to the lowest-scoring players in the women’s and men’s divisions while copper medals are awarded to the lowest scorers in each of the divisions in the tournament.  

Blazing a path for the future of adaptive golf, you can say that more than a trophy is what is on the line for these players. This is a golf event unlike any other with an opportunity to grow the adaptive golf community year-by-year going into the future. Every golfer wants to uphold this great game and keep improving it and these players are no different. Some of the players shared with the USGA after last year’s event that they wouldn’t even think they could play a full 18 holes and now they are playing as part of a USGA championship.  

With the first two tournaments taking place at Pinehurst Country Club & Resort, this is the first year the tournament will head to a new site. That is not the only new part of the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open with this year’s event featuring a cut for the first time. Starting April 16, Adaptive players across the country will play in qualifiers to try and punch their ticket to Sand Creek Station.  

The Texas Golf Association is one of six AGAs (Allied Golf Associations) hosting a qualifier with Cedar Crest Golf Course hosting the first U.S Adaptive Open qualifier in the Lonestar State.  

“We are very excited to be a part of this growing initiative for adaptive golf. Cedar Crest is a great and historic course, and we couldn’t think of a better place for a USGA qualifier site,” said Managing Director of TGA Foundation/Outreach Kelly Kilgo “To be a part of six other AGAs hosting a qualifier is something special. We can’t wait to meet these players and not only see them play some great golf but also hear some of their incredible stories.” 

Cedar Crest Golf Course has a rich history of golf and is a favorite amongst metroplex golfers. Designed by A.W Tillinghast, the course held the 1927 PGA Championship, 1926 Dallas Open, 1954 USGA Negro National Open and USGA’s Public Links Championship. The country club was turned public in 1946 after the City of Dallas purchased it. In 2001 the club built a new clubhouse and renovated the course. 

“It means a great deal to Cedar Crest and our team to be able to host an event like this,” shared Cedar Crest’s PGA Professional Ira Molayo. “This provides an opportunity to promote golf in an inclusive way.”  

The Texas Golf Association will be working with the Texas Adaptive Golf Association and hosting its 3rd Texas Adaptive Golf Championship later this fall at Indian Creek Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas on October 7-9.  The TGA has supported the Texas Adaptive Golf Association to help with staff, volunteers, and rules officials for the tournament and this year the TGA will be more involved with the event. Based in Fort Worth, TAGA was founded by Bobby Bell, Randy Shack, and Josh Tankersley to bring the game of adaptive golf to Texas.  

For more information on the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open, click here. For more information on the Texas Golf Association Adaptive Open, click here.  

25th Women’s Partnership Match Play set for April 15-17

Addison – The 25^th Women’s Partnership Match Play is heading to River Crossing Club in Spring Branch, Texas for the first time. The three-day tournament is the second tournament on the Women’s Calendar for the 2024 season.

“We are excited to bring this event to River Crossing Club,” shared Director of Women’s Golf Kristi Knight. “River Crossing is a great course that is well known in the San Antonio and Hill Country area, and we think the Women are going to enjoy playing there. This is an event we are used to seeing a great turnout and we have a Titleist rep coming out for the event as part of a relationship we can’t wait to grow with the Texas Golf Association.”

River Crossing Club is set in Spring Branch, Texas just north of San Antonio. With panoramic views of the Hill Country, River Crossing Club is an 18-hole championship course designed by Larry Hawkins that opened in 2001. The course stretches just over 6,700 yards from the back tees and features a perfect balance of challenge and forgiveness that provides enjoyable play for all golfers.

The Women’s Partnership Match Play is a 45-hole Round Robin Net Four-Ball Match Play. Two competitors play as partners in a 9-hole match against two other competitors playing as partners, with each player playing her own ball. The lowest net score of the partners is the score for the hole. Each hole will be worth 2 points, and a tie will be worth 1 point. The team with the most points after the 45 holes will be the flight winner.

The 24^th Women’s Partnership Match Play took place at the Hideout Golf Club & Retreat in Brownwood, Texas. Karen Northcutt of The Woodlands and Lettia Collins of Midland won the first flight with 54 points. This was Northcutt’s and Collins’ second consecutive year to win the first flight. Mary Ann Knipe of Garland and Lindy Fox of Rockwall won the second flight with 51 points. Katherine Biggs of Houston and Lorraine Werner of The Woodlands claimed the third flight after finishing with 54 points. Cindy Campbell of Willow Park and Vicki Jordan of Lipan won the fourth flight after scoring 55 points.

The first round of the Women’s Partnership Match Play begins at 9 a.m. on April 15. For more information on the 25^th Women’s Partnership Match Play, click here.

16th Women’s Eclectic Set for Mar. 11-12

ADDISON – The Women’s Eclectic will head to Panorama Golf Club on March 11-12 for the first time in its 16-year history.

“This tournament is one of the more popular in the women’s season,” shared Women’s Director Kristi Knight. “It’s a fun change from your normal stroke play tournament and we are excited to bring the tournament to a great club. Panorama Golf Club has a great layout. It has everything you want for beginner and experienced golfers.”

The 112-player field will play a two-day, 36-hole individual Eclectic. Each player will take her better hole score over the two days. Gross and Net winners will be awarded.

Located North of The Woodlands, Texas – Panorama Golf Club sits as one of the more exciting golf clubs in the Houston Area. Opening in 1962, Panorama Golf Club has three different nine-hole layouts that each have their character. Rolling Hills, Winged Foot, and Thunderbird combine both old-style and modern golf to challenge every golfer.

This is the first multi-day event for the Women on the 2024 Schedule. “All the players are excited to get out there and play,” Knight said. “The last tournament we had was in the beginning of November so it’s exciting to be back.”

Last year’s Overall Gross winner of the Women’s Eclectic was Huntsville’s Grace Jin with a total of 11-under 130. The Overall Net winner of last year’s Women’s Eclectic was Arlington’s Sarah Farmer after finishing with a 10-under 131.

Round One of the 16^th Women’s Eclectic is set for 9:00 AM on Monday, March 11. For more info on the 16^th Women’s Eclectic, click here.

Ridglea Country Club to Host Women’s Senior Stroke Play Championship

FORT WORTH – The 2020 Women’s Senior Stroke Play Championship will be played Sept. 28-30 at Ridglea Country Club’s Family Course

The John Bredemus design was built in 1928 and features a traditional layout with narrow fairways and small greens. The 18-hole championship golf course was renovated by Ralph Plummer in 1954 and then redesigned by Jay Morrish in 1987. Despite its shorter length, the tree-lined fairways and sloped Tifeagle greens have withstood the test of time and demand accuracy over brute strength.

“We are very honored to be hosting this event,” Ridglea Head Golf Professional Scott Adams said. “As a father of two golfing girls, there is a special place in my heart for women’s competitions.”

Scheduled for 54 holes of individual stroke play, the 96-player field will be split into flights following Round 2 based on 36-hole scores. Though the entire field will compete for the overall Championship, there will be five separate divisions for the final round. Competitors between the ages of 65-70 will compete for the Women’s Super-Senior Stroke Play Championship, while players 71 and older will compete for the Women’s Super-Super-Senior Stroke Play Championship.

At the 2019 Women’s Senior Stroke Play, Anna Schultz of Heath claimed her third Women’s Senior Stroke Play title. The decorated amateur golfer carded rounds of 74-71-71 at Pebble Creek Country Club to hold off Marilyn Hard of Magnolia by three strokes. Marian Barker of Lubbock, who won the 2018 Women’s Senior Stroke Play, captured the Women’s Super-Senior Division with rounds of 74-74-75, while Pam Almandoz of Houston defended her title in the Women’s Super-Super-Senior Division.

Schultz, who was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2013, is among this year’s field and is looking to win her fourth title. But there will be plenty of other decorated players on hand determined to make their own history. The list includes 2019 runner-up Marilyn Hardy, decorated amateur golfer Jewell Malick, 2018 Super-Senior Champion Jan Rapp and TGA President Leslie Henry.

“We are fortunate to have a large group of talented senior women golfers in the state of Texas and the TGA is looking forward to showcasing one of the premier clubs in North Texas,” Director of Women’s Operations Amy Worthington said. “This year’s field includes some of our best players who love competing at a high level and we are excited for a safe and competitive championship.”

For more information about the Women’s Senior Stroke Play Championship, 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.