Pride, unity, passion, pressure, and pageantry. If you were watching the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone just a couple weeks ago then you saw all of these things on display. They are what make the Ryder Cup so captivating to watch.
The aspect of playing for more than yourself is priceless and creates a team dynamic that is incredibly fun to witness or be a part of. When you make a big putt it’s not just for you but your team and your country.
Another aspect that is tantalizing is the makeup of the teams. For months people will debate about who deserves to be playing and who the captain’s picks should be. In the end though, regardless of the lineup, from the moment when the team is finalized your country will get behind you with its full support.
All of these things aren’t so dissimilar to the Legends Junior Tour’s Jackie Burke Cup. Since 2005, this end-of-year event has been a staple on the LJT schedule.
Players compete all year long to earn enough points to capture a spot on one of the coveted Jackie Burke Cup teams. The event is invite-only featuring the top 12 players from North Texas versus the top 12 players from South Texas in a Ryder-Cup style competition.
Players are invited based on the LJT Player of the Year Standings after the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational. Teams will be made up of eight players from the Boys 15-18 Division, two from the Girls 12-18 Division and two from the Boys 14 & Under Division.
In the event’s 18-year history, the series is tied at 9 victories a piece. In 2020, the North retained the cup for the seventh year in a row. The South has won the past two Jackie Burke Cups in impressive fashion though. In 2021, they won 37-11 and last year they won 27-21.
The stage is set for 2023 as Eagle’s Bluff Country Club plays host to the top juniors in the state on November 11-12 in east Texas. Both teams will look to take the all-time series lead and bragging rights for the next year. The North is seeking a win for the first time since 2020 while the South is on a mission to extend their win streak to three. The storylines will be abundant this year.
There is a territorial tenacity to the Jackie Burke Cup that you just don’t see throughout the rest of the LJT schedule. Partisanship is very cut and clear. You’re either a North Texan or a South Texan. That’s why it gets passionate. That’s when it gets fun.
No tournament requires as much strategy. When you’re playing against an opponent in match play, your game plan tends to be more reactive and dictated by what they do or don’t do.
As the team rosters continue to solidify with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational on the horizon in late October, there is still time for some last-minute charges by players looking to claim a spot in the coveted, one-of-a-kind event.
Saturday, November 10 will feature 36 holes with four-ball matches in the morning and foursome matches in the afternoon. Singles matches will take place Sunday morning, November 11.
For more information on the 2023 Jackie Burke Cup, please click here.