Listen
to former captains and players and you get a sense of the true spirit of
Wyndham Cup.
We
talk a little trash and have some fun, but at the end of the day, were all
still friends, said a former player.
A
team captain was once overheard telling his team, Win, lose or draw, show
class all the way. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter how you play. Its
how you act and that you have fun.
For
51 weeks of the year, the 40 Wyndham Cup players call each other friends. For
this one week, however, they are staunch rivals. During the week, they are
vocal about cheering on teammates, encouraging each other when they are down,
and celebrating each point scored.
It
is an unparalleled team event in junior golf exactly what the founders had in
mind.
We
had discussed the possibility of such a tournament for a couple of years, said
AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin. We knew what we wanted a unique
format allowing juniors to compete in a Ryder Cup-style event, girls and boys
equally represented.
Another
piece to the puzzle was location. For a special event such as this, a special
location was vital. In its inaugural year, the event took place at Lake Nona
Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Since then, the Wyndham Cup has criss-crossed
the Mississippi River to places such as Caves Valley Golf Club, Prairie Dunes
Country Club, The Honors Course, Forest Highlands Golf Club and, of course,
will head to Arnold Palmers Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
When
the first Wyndham Cup was announced, the best players in the country caught the
vision. Tiger Woods and Emilee Klein were the top players from the West and
Stewart Cink and Vicki Goetze-Ackerman were the best of the East. A rivalry was
born.
Where
else are you going to see Kyle Stanley and Taylore Karle (West) vs. Peter
Uihlein and Vicky Hurst (East) in mixed four-ball? Or how about Paula Creamer
and Amanda Blumentherst going up against Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel?
The list of past participants goes on and on, and the Wyndham Cup has proven to
be an important foundation for many amateur, college and professional careers.
Now in its 23rd year, the rivalry has grown and a berth in Wyndham Cup remains one of junior golfs most coveted invitations.