Curtis Thompson
The weather may have turned frigid in many parts of the country, but the golf schedule rolls on!
The November and December schedules have a number of quality tournaments to keep an eye on with plenty of top-notch golfers teeing it up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Here's a breakdown of the Top 5 events to follow as 2012 comes to a close:
THE DIXIE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Dixie Amateur, remarkably in its 82nd year, is among the top amateur events regardless of the time of year. Looking at the jam-packed December, schedule, it's perhaps the season's top event.
The Dixie Amateur features three divisions:
Men's (Dec. 18-21),
Women's (Dec. 30-Jan. 2) and
Senior (Dec. 13-15). The fields in all three are growing by the day and feature some of the top names in amateur golf.
In the women's tournament, Meghan Stasi, who last month won her record fourth U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, is the favorite. She'll oppose a solid field of competitors, including: Doris Chen, the 10th-ranked golfer in the U.S.; Top 100 player Abby Newton; No. 28 Alex Stewart and No. 12 Kailey Walsh.
The men's tournament will feature defending champion and 9th-ranked Curtis Thompson of LSU; Porter Cup champion and No. 26 Richy Werenski of Georgia Tech and 2010 Southern Amateur winner Alex Carpenter in a highly-competitive field.
GOLFWEEK SENIOR TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Golfweek events are always played at fantastic courses and the Dec. 1-3
Senior Tour Championship is no exception. This year's event will be played at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando and utilize the Jack Nicklaus-designed New Course, which was made in homage to The Old Course at St. Andrews.
AMATEURGOLF.COM CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
While the weather outside is sure to be frightful and the fire so delightful this Christmas season, it'll likely be nothing but sun in Monterey, Calif. where the
amateurgolf.com 2012 Christmas Classic will be held Dec. 1 and 2.
The event was founded by two-time California State Amateur winner Casey Boyns more than 20 years ago and always attracts a top field of players from northern and southern California and beyond.
COUNTRY CLUB OF NORTH CAROLINA AMATEUR
The inaugural event, this collegiate and amateur event, is sure to draw a strong field. The event, scheduled for Dec. 18-20 will be a 54-hole stroke-play presented by the Tarheel Golf Foundation at the property's Dogwood Course. An added bonus for the CCNC Amateur winner is that he'll get to play Pinehurst No. 2 --- which will host the U.S. Open in 2014 --- free of charge.
JUNIOR EVENTS
The winter schedule is always full of key junior events. Be sure to keep an eye on the following events to see some of the up-and-coming juniors sure to be among the next wave of top collegiate and amateur golfers:
Donald Ross Junior,
Jones Cup Junior Invitational,
Junior Orange Bowl and
Doral-Publix Junior Golf Classic.
ABOUT THE
Dixie Men's Amateur
Historic Florida amateur golf tournament
that
is
open to former Dixie Amateur champions,
tournament committee invitees and
qualifiers for
major amateur championships.
The Dixie has a traditionally strong
field due to college break, and a
past-champions list that includes many PGA
Tour
players as well as top-ranked amateurs.
72-hole stroke play
championship with a 54 hole cut down to 66 players
and ties. The field
limit will be 108 players. Played
at Eagle Trace Golf Club. Apply for
an invitation at
www.dixieamateur.com.
View Complete Tournament Information