USGA State Teams

On Saturday, I am headed to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the USGA State Teams tournament. I will be representing Colorado along with two other amateurs. We earned these spots from play throughout the year. It is an honor to represent your state against every other state including Puerto Rico. Here is a preview for the tournament:

Sycamore Hills Golf Club

Yardage: 6,095 yards

Par: 36-36—72

Defending champion: Arizona

Opened: 1989

Designer: Jack Nicklaus

USGA championships: This will be the first USGA championship for the club, but Sycamore Hills has hosted numerous state events, including three Indiana State Amateurs.

Designer notes: The course meanders through property first deeded by Andrew Jackson in 1835 that consists of mature trees, gentle hills and the Aboite River.

Nicklaus on Sycamore Hills: "Sycamore is one of the finest sites we’ve ever had the opportunity on which to design a golf course. [Owner] Jim Kelley says I tell all the owners that, but Sycamore Hills truly is a very, very fine site. It has gorgeous trees, great movement of property, and it had some existing lakes that really functioned quite well. The site had a little river moving through the property which really afforded a lot of opportunities to create different shots."

Indiana and USGA: This will be the 17th USGA event held in Indiana and the second of 2009, following the U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel. In seven previous Women’s State Team Championships, Indiana’s best finish was a tie for ninth in 2003 at Wellesley Country Club in Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Elite company: When Golf Digest named its top new private courses for 1990, Sycamore Hills fell just behind Shadow Creek in North Las Vegas, Nev.

WEBSITE FOR WOMEN'S USGA STATE TEAMS.

Colorado has never come in the top 10. With the team that we are taking, we hope to bring home a National Championship. We have a hall of famer - Kim Eaton and another decorated amateur in Janet Moore. I will be in great company on our team as well as our tournament. Many past US Amateur champions will be there as well as other accomplished amateurs.

I am excited.