Field set for the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship
The field is ready for the 2021 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship presented by the Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation.
The championship will be held November 4-6 at the Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas. The Spirit brings together the best amateur golfers from 20 countries and four continents for three days of competition. Two female and two male amateurs from each country compete for the chance of gold in five simultaneous competitions.
Related: Whispering Pines: a worthy host to the Olympic Games of amateur golf
Related: Team USA named after The 2021 Spirit International Amateur
Similarly, Stacy Lewis returns to lead Team USA at Spirit International
“Our field is armed for The Spirit and it is an impressive group of international players,” said Corby Robertson Jr., founder and owner of Whispering Pines Golf Club. “These players are the future of golf around the world and we look forward to giving them an incredible experience as they compete in one of the most prestigious events in amateur golf.”
The Spirit is a celebration of international benevolence through the game of golf. There will be an opening and closing ceremony, as well as social events throughout the tournament week. Camp Olympia, one of the leading summer camps in the country, offers golfers international village accommodations that allow them to meet and socialize after the game.
The championship will be live-streamed during the competition on GolfChannel.com, the NBC Sports app and on TheSpiritGolf.com. GOLF Channel will present the prime time highlight show on December 9th from 7-10pm ET, followed by an encore presentation on December 11th from 4-6pm ET.
Spirit 2021 includes 80 participants from 20 countries representing four continents. It is a 54-hole four-ball stroke play competition with five concurrent competition categories. Commemorative medals in gold, silver and bronze will be awarded to the first-placed winners in each competition.
“Each of our 80 participants expressed how excited they are to represent their country in the competition,” said Charlie Epps, The Spirit tournament director and president of the Spirit Golf Association. “Some of these players will be experiencing international competitions and team golf for the first time, but others have already experienced it and entered our field because of their great fun. We’re looking forward to an incredible week at The Spirit. “
Rose Zhang from the USA, who is number 1 in the world rankings and is the 2021 US Girls Junior and 2020 US Women’s Amateur Champion, is one of the individual outstanding in the women’s field. The American Rachel Heck is in second place and is NCAA individual champion 2021 and PING / WGCA player of the year. Two players, Andrea Lignell (Sweden) and Chiara Tamburlini (Switzerland) are members of the Ole Miss National Championship Team 2021; and Caley McGinty helped lead England to the 2021 European Ladies Team Championship earlier this year.
David Puig of Spain leads the men’s field in 5th place in the world, followed by Sam Bennett of the USA, who was ranked 6th and was selected to represent the USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2021. James Piot from the USA, ranked 58th, won the US Amateur Championship in 2021 and has won six college or amateur events since 2019.
Team lists
ARGENTINA
Captain: Maximo Portals
Valentina Rossi, Agustina Zeballos, After Oliva Pinto, Mateo Fernadez de Oliveira *
We can’t wait to see @oliva_segun represent the #TeamArgentina at this year’s Spirit International! Watch our interview with Segundo and find out more about his competitive golf trip. https://t.co/z1HVnfUtXV#Spirit2021 #SpiritGolfAssociation #UNCWilmington pic.twitter.com/gtOTzibOMZ
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 4, 2021 BELGIUM Captain: Leslie Cloots
Rebecca Becht, Elsie Verhoeven, Matthis Besard, Louis Theys
We’re excited to introduce #TeamBelgium! Elsie Verhoeven, Matthis Besard, Rebecca Becht and @LouisTheys will represent their country at the # 2021SpiritInternationalTournament. # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/ElXNWmp7St
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 6, 2021 CANADA
Captain: Salimah Mussani
Savannah Grewal, Noemie Pare ‘, Henry Lee, Johnny Travale
We introduce the players who represent #TeamCanada! We look forward to seeing @jtravalegolf, Noémie Paré, @SavannahGrewal and Henry Lee play! # 2021SpiritInternational # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/4wOXZGTDIx
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 8, 2021 CHINESE TAIPEI
Captain: Yu Chih Sung
Yi-Han Chang, You-Chuan Sung, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Yu-Yang (Eddie) Lai
We introduce #TeamChineseTaipei! We are really excited You-Chuan Sung, @ Eddielai2023,
Yi-Han Chang and Yi-Hsuan Wu will represent their country at # 2021SpiritInternational! # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/vaoNKjpc73
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 16, 2021 COLOMBIA
Captain: Camilo Sanchez
Maria Bohorquez *, Valery Plata *, Daniel Faccini *, Juan Camilo Vesga
We are happy to announce the players of Team Colombia! We look forward to seeing @ jcamilovs1, @plataval, Daniel Faccini and Maria Bohorquez represent their country at # 2021SpiritInternational! #TeamColombia # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/OX9GqRk6gh
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 14, 2021 DENMARK
Captain: Cecilie Finne-Ispen (player / captain)
Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Natacha Host Husted *, Alexander Frances, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Here are the players who represent Team Denmark! We are happy to see Natacha Høst Husted, Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Alexander Frances and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen play! # 2021SpiritInternational #TeamDenmark # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/39AqzYQl0K
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 15, 2021 ENGLAND
Captain: Richard Martin
Annabell Fuller, Caley McGinty, Conor Gough, Joseph Pagdin
Meet Team England! We are very happy that Conor Gough, Annabell Fuller, @caleygmcginty and Joseph Pagdin will represent their country at # 2021SpiritInternational! #TeamEngland # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/VyNtWJETQu
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 15, 2021 FINLAND
Captain: Veeti Mahonen (player / captain)
Daniella Barrett, Krista Junkkari, Elias Haavisto, Veeti Mahonen
We are happy to announce the players of #TeamFinland! We look forward to seeing Daniella Barrett, Veeti Mähönen, Elias Haavisto and Krista Junkkari play at # 2021SpiritInternational! # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/QckRvTpSjl
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 16, 2021 FRANCE Captain: Patricia Meunier LeBouc
Adela Cernousek, Justine Fournand, Bastien Amat, Tom Gueant
Meet the players who represent Team France! We look forward to seeing Justine Fournand, @Tom_Gueant, Adela Cernousek and Bastien Amat play! #TeamFrance # 2021SpiritInternational # 2021PlayerField #SGA #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/2qWQDZS1QW
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 18, 2021 ICELAND
Captain: Tomas Adalsteinsson
Hulda Clara Gestsdottir, Ragnhildur Kristinsdottir, Hlynur Bergsson, Dagbjartur Sigurbrandsson
IRELAND
Captain: TBD
Sara Byrne, Aine Donegan, * Paul Conroy, Sam Murphy
We’re excited to announce the players for #TeamIreland! We can’t wait to see Sara Byrne, @ Sammurphy02, @ainedonegann and Paul Conroy play at this year’s tournament! # 2021SpiritInternational # 2021PlayerField #cureheadaches pic.twitter.com/FhbvO9POGP
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 20, 2021 ITALY
Captain: Clara Manzalini (player / captain)
Clara Manzalini, Anna Zanusso, Filippo Celli, Lucas Fallotico
MEXICO
Captain: Ricardo Carrillo
Isabella (Isa) Fierro, Cory Lopez *, Luis Carrera, Alejandro (Alex) Fierro
We introduce #TeamMexico! The players @ L_carrera1, @_alexfierro, @isafierro_ and @cory_lopezt will represent their country at
the # 2021SpiritInternational. # 2021PlayerField #cureheadaches #SGA pic.twitter.com/K9kLfkTrJM
– Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (@thespiritgolf) October 22, 2021 NORWAY
Captains: Hans Aberg & Geoff Dixon
Julie Boysen Hillestad, Mia Sandtorv Lussand, Mats Ege, Baard Skogen
SCOTLAND Captain: Eric McIntosh (Player / Captain)
Carmen Griffiths, Katie Graham, Eric McIntosh, John Paterson
SOUTH AFRICA
Captain: Christo Lamprecht (player / captain)
Caitlyn Macnab, Kaylah Williams, Christo Lamprecht, Kieron Van Wyk
SPAIN
Captain: Leave Ricardo
Carolina Lopez-Chacarra, Maria Teresa Tosano Borrero (Teresa Toscano), David Puig, Albert Boneta
SWEDEN
Captains: Katarina Vangdal & Jonnie Eriksson
Kajsa Arwefjall, Andrea Lignell, Albin Bergstrom, Hugo Townsend
SWITZERLAND
Captain: Richard Adby
Caroline Sturdza, Chiara Tamburlini, Loic Ettlin *, Ronan Kleu
United States of America
Captain: Stacy Lewis, Deputy Captain: Alli Jarrett
Rachel Heck, Rose Zhang, Sam Bennett, James Piot
About the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship presented by the Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
This biennial event, which will be held for the 10th time in 2021, is a first-class amateur competition in which the world’s best amateurs represent their respective countries in team and individual games. Eighty participants from 20 countries compete for gold medals in the 54-hole four-ball stroke play competition. Each country is represented by two amateur golfers and two men. Previous participants of Spirit International who are now professionals on the LPGA and PGA TOUR include Lorena Ochoa, Brooke Henderson, Scottie Scheffler, Bernd Wiesberger, Jordan Spieth, Francesco Molinari, Lexi Thompson, Brandt Snedeker, Paula Creamer, Jason Day, Bronte Law, Martin Kaymer, Maria Fassi, Austin Ernst, Ally Ewing, Jessica Korda, Will Zalatoris, and Viktor Hovland, to name a few. Spirit alumni have won more than 650 professional titles, 25 major championships and 56 Olympic participations, including 16 PGA Tour winners, 27 European Tour winners, 24 LPGA winners and 23 Ladies European Tour winners. The Spirit Golf Association is committed to promoting amateur golf for the benefit of health. It organizes and oversees the event together with the Texas Golf Association.
About the Spirit Golf Association (SGA)
The Spirit Golf Association, 501 (c) (3), hosts The Spirit. The SGA was founded in 1999 by Houston philanthropist Corby Robertson, Jr. With a passionate vision, Robertson made SGA a reality by creating a unique charity dedicated to health care while promoting the global benevolence of amateur golf. In addition, SGA also organizes the Spirit Charity Challenge with Spirit alumni and the Spirit Hall of Fame Game, in which local sports hall of famers and celebrities are represented. Charlie Epps, PGA, serves as President and has been affiliated with the SGA since its inception in 1999 and captained Team USA at the inaugural Spirit Championship in 2001. Mark Steinbauer, PGA, and Jeff Strong, PGA are vice presidents.