The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship Explained

The Spirit International
Location:Trinity, Texas
Establishment:2001
Course:Whispering Pines Golf Club
Par:72
Yardage:7473yd
Field:80 (4 for each team)
Format:Best ball

The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is a biennial amateur golf tournament which takes place in alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championships. The competition consists 20 countries represented by teams of four (two men and two women) and takes place at the Whispering Pines Golf Club, located 80 miles outside of Houston in Trinity, Texas.[1]

Added in 2013, the winner of the individual men's competition receives a sponsor exemption to the PGA Tour’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.[2]

Format

Teammates compete in a 72-hole best ball competition in which medals are awarded to the top three places in each of the five following categories; International Team (combined men's and women's teams), men's team, women's team, men's individual, and women's individual. The winners of the men's and women's individual competitions are determined by the player with the most birdies and eagles.[3]

Team selection

The majority of the participating countries are invited based on the previous year's World Amateur Team Championship combined results. Each nation then establishes its own selection criteria to determine the best individual participants available. In 2009, the field consisted of 76 National Champions.[4] Notable past champions who have gone on to become established professionals include; Brandt Snedeker, Martin Kaymer, Jordan Spieth, Paula Creamer, and Lorena Ochoa.

Results

Source:[5]

Year Winning team Score Runner(s)-up Score Winning team members
2021−28−7Sam Bennett, Rachel Heck, James Piot, Rose Zhang
2019−37
−35Adrien Pendaries, Julien Sale, Candice Mahe, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard
2017 Not held – club hosted charity events for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts instead[6]
2015−38−37Philip Barbaree, Will Zalatoris, Mariel Galdiano, Hannah O'Sullivan
2013−33−27Jordan Niebrugge, Scottie Scheffler, Ally McDonald, Ashlan Ramsey
2011−31
−21Kelly Kraft, Nathan Smith, Austin Ernst, Emily Tubert
2009−45−41Jordan Spieth, Ben Martin, Jennifer Johnson, Lexi Thompson
2007−32
−30Gary Boyd, Daniel Willett, Liz Bennett, Naomi Edwards
2005−43
−35Oliver Fisher, Jamie Moul, Sophie Walker, Felicity Johnson
2003−53−37Brandt Snedeker, Matt Rosenfeld, Paula Creamer, Jane Park
2001−51−44Alberto Valenzuela, Maruricio Mendez, Lorena Ochoa, Violeta Retamoza

USA has won 6 matches, England 2, and France and Mexico 1 each.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Fay to Captain USA Spirit International Team . Spirit International . USGA . September 28, 2011 . January 10, 2014.
  2. Web site: Brun earns Crowne Plaza invitation . Sean . Martin . PGA Tour . November 4, 2013 . January 10, 2014.
  3. News: U.S. turns strong finish into Spirit International golf title . Mike . Bailey . Houston Chronicle . November 2, 2013 . January 10, 2014.
  4. Web site: The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship Preview . Global Golf Post . January 10, 2014.
  5. Web site: Spirit International Amateur Championship Final Results . The Spirit International . January 10, 2014.
  6. Web site: The Spirit & Harvey . The Spirit International.