Team USA named The 2021 Spirit International Amateur
LR: James Piot, Rachel Heck, Sam Bennett, Rose Zhang
Four of the best college players in the country have been named to Team USA for the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship 2021 (The Spirit). The Spirit, a biennial event held November 4-6 at the Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, is a premier amateur golf competition that teams the world’s top amateur golfers – men and women – from their respective countries – and represent single game.
Team USA is represented by Rachel Heck (Stanford, Memphis, Tennessee), Rose Zhang (Stanford, Irvine, California), Sam Bennett (Texas A&M, Madisonville, Texas) and James Piot (Michigan State, Canton, Michigan). More information about Team USA can be found below.
The Spirit includes 80 participants from 20 countries. It is a 54-hole competition with five simultaneous competition categories: international team, men’s and women’s team, and individual stroke play competitions for men and women. The first three winners of each competition will be awarded commemorative medals in gold, silver and bronze.
Team USA is aiming for its sixth victory in the overall competition. His last win came in 2015. The 2017 event was canceled due to Hurricane Harvey.
See the announcement from the US team below
Stacy Lewis, 13-time LPGA champion and accomplished international competitor, will return as Team USA captain for The 2021 Spirit. As a player, she was a member of the United States’ Solheim Cup team five times and recently served as assistant captain for the 2021 event.Lewis played on the victorious Curtis Cup team in 2008 and was the first player to complete all five games (5-0) won in Curtis Cup history. She also represented the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Alli Jarrett, who played college golf in South Carolina and is a former USGA regional director, is the assistant captain for Team USA.
“The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is a very special event. I am very excited to be returning to Whispering Pines and working with these talented young players, ”said Lewis. “We have some of the best amateur players in the world on Team USA and I know they will represent our country well. I’m looking forward to another incredible week of competition. ”
A closer look at Team USA:
Rachel Heck
Memphis, Tennessee • Stanford University, Sophomore • St. Agnes Academy
In second place in the World Amateur Golf Rankings … 2021 NCAA Individual Champion and PING / WGCA Player of the Year … Won the Pac-12 Conference Championship, NCAA Regional and NCAA Championship in succession as a newcomer … WGCA and Golfweek First-Team All-America Selection … third at the US Women’s Amateur 2021… Participation in the 2021 US Women’s Open and 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur… Represents Team USA at the Curtis Cup in 2021 and in the 2019 Junior Solheim Cup.
Rose Zhang
Irvine, California • Stanford University freshmen • Pacific High School
First place in the world rankings for amateur golf … Won the US Girls Junior Championship in 2021 and the US Women’s Amateur in 2020 … represented the USA at the Junior Solheim Cup in 2017 and 2019, at the Junior Ryder Cup in 2018 and at the Curtis Cup in 2021.
Sam Bennett
Madisonville, Texas • Texas A&M, Senior • Madisonville High School
Ranked 9th in the world amateur golf rankings … Appointed First-Team All-American by PING in 2021 … Selected First-Team All-SEC in 2020 and 2021 … Ben Hogan Award Semi-Finalist … Selected to the United States in 2021 to represent the Arnold Palmer Cup … won three times during the 2020-21 college season … finished ninth in the 2020 US Amateur Championship.
James Piot
Canton, Michigan • Fifth Year Michigan State University • Detroit Catholic Central
Won the US Amateur Championship 2021 … Ranked 45th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings … Selected PING All-America Honorable Mention in 2021 … Selected First Team All-Big Ten in 2021 and individual application for the NCAA Championships … Has won six times in College or amateur events since 2019.
Live coverage on the GOLF channel
The Spirit Golf Association has partnered with GOLF Channel to produce the live stream of the championship. The livestream will be available 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. The highlight show will be The Spirit’s first television presentation in its 20-year history.
Via Whispering Pines
The Whispering Pines Golf Club is considered to be the best golf course in the state of Texas. The beautiful 18-hole championship golf course is carved through pine forests, streams, lakes and natural dunes. It was originally designed in 1998 by Texas golf course architect Chet Williams with the Nicklaus Design Group. In December 2019, Williams returned to building the course during the season closure. The 2021 Ghost will be the first to play on the updated layout.
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation
Established in 2014, the Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is raising funds to support research aimed at understanding the causes and finding a cure for debilitating headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches. The foundation was established in memory of Will Erwin, whose story and further information about the foundation can be found at www.cureheadaches.org.
Schedule
The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship presented by the Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation begins with an opening ceremony on Tuesday November 2nd. The practice rounds will take place on Wednesday, November 3rd, before the three days of competition begin on Thursday, November 4th.
ABOUT THE The Spirit International Amateur
The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is a world-class golf event that is held every two years. It shows the world’s best amateur men and women golfers who represent their respective countries in team and individual competitions. The 96 participants enjoy an Olympic experience from the opening / closing ceremony, the international village and the battle for gold medals.
The World Health & Golf Association and Texas Golf Association invite 24 countries from six continents to participate. The Spirit was founded in 2001 and is a biennial event that alternates tournament years with the World Amateur Team Championships.
The uniqueness of Spirit International includes the five simultaneous competitions: Combined International Championship, Men’s Team Championship, Women’s Team Championship, Men’s Singles and Ladies Singles.
View full tournament information