Jackie Burke Cup Set for Nov. 11-12
BULLARD – The Legends Junior Tour’s Jackie Burke Cup heads to East Texas this year for its’ 19th edition. Eagle’s Bluff Country Club is set to host the match play event on Nov. 11-12. Modeled after the Ryder Cup, this two-day event features the 24 best junior golfers of the 2023 season who will compete in Four-Ball, Foursome, and Singles match play.
“The Legends Junior Tour is extremely excited to bring the Jackie Burke Cup to Eagle’s Bluff,” LJT Tournament Director Scott Davidson said. “This is the first LJT event that they have hosted, and they were a fantastic venue for the Women’s Texas Amateur earlier this year.”
Opened in 1999, Eagle’s Bluff Country Club is a 462-acre master-planned community bordering the eastern shoreline of Lake Palestine. The golf course was designed by Carlton Gibson and is set on a rolling piece of property highlighted by stately pines, dogwoods, azaleas, and picturesque views of the lake. The strategic par-71 layout, which measures close to 6,400 yards from the middle set of tees, features holes that play in a variety of directions, with contoured fairways and greens, and numerous water hazards.
“Players will need to have their full skill sets ready to go at Eagle’s Bluff,” Davidson said. “The course offers the kind of risk-reward opportunities that require strategy and discipline off the tee, on approach shots, and around the greens. It’s a great venue for this style of event where smart decision making will be important.”
First conducted in 2005, the season-ending Jackie Burke Cup is an invitation-only event that features the top 12 players from North Texas squaring off against their counterparts from South Texas in a Ryder Cup-style competition. Each team consists of eight players from the Boys 15-18 Division, two from the Girls 12-18 Division and two from the Boys 14 & Under Division.
The teams will face off in Four-Ball, Foursome, and Singles matches over the two days. Matches are worth two points each. A tied match is split: one point for each team. The matches start with six Four-Ball matches Saturday morning followed by six Foursome matches in the afternoon. On Sunday, players are selected for 12 Singles matches, leaving 48 possible points to be earned throughout the weekend. The South Team will need 24 points to retain the cup, while the North Team will need 25 points to win the cup.
Players earned their way onto their respective teams by accumulating points throughout the year in designated LJT and Texas Junior Golf Alliance tournaments. North and South regions are defined as either being above or below the 31’ parallel (Salado, Texas).
“This is one of the best events of the year when you combine the top players in the state with a fun team format,” Schulte said. “It’s fun to see the comradery between the players after competing against each other all season long. It’ll be a great way to end what has been a phenomenal 2022 LJT season.”
The South has won two years in a row to even up the all-time series. Last year they defeated the North 27-21 at The Hideout Golf Club & Resort in Brownwood.
Tee times for the Jackie Burke Cup will be published on the TGA website Friday, Nov. 10. View the field by clicking here. For more information on the Jackie Burke Cup click here.