TEXAS STATE OPEN IN TYLER WEDNESDAY | Championship golf once again at The Cascades; Romo in the field; fans welcome
It’ll require taking time off from work, maybe a short drive to Tyler, depending on where you call home.
But for anyone who loves golf and would like to see some of the best Texas has to offer might make plans to get to The Cascades Golf & Country Club on Wednesday for the second round of the 55th M&P Group Texas State Open, ran under the banner of the Northern Texas PGA.
There are no carts for the public, but fans are welcome to take in the event. Tee times begin early (7:30 a.m.) and resume early afternoon (12:30 p.m.), and the players begin on hole one and hole 10.
Last year’s tournament champion, Tanner Napier, who won on a playoff, is back to try and repeat as champ. Napier is from Paris.
On the line: $40,000 for the winner. There are also trophies for the amateur player with the lowest score, and the PGA professional with the lowest score.
Among the field: former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo and former University of Texas baseball player Kacy Clemens, the son of legendary UT alum and Major League Baseball player Roger Clemens.
Both Romo and Clemens are among the players expected to go off at the afternoon tee time.
Fans who would like autographs are asked to wait until players are finished.
There is parking for fans at All-Saints Episcopal School, and shuttles will run back and forth to the course.
This is the eighth consecutive year that the Texas State Open has been played at The Cascades.
For more on The Cascades, see their website: Cascades of Texas Country Club | Cascades of Texas.
For more on the Texas State Open tournament and its history, see the website of the Northern Texas PGA, right here: Texas State Open | Northern Texas PGA.
Briefly, from that site:
“The Texas State Open has a long and storied history. The Open began in 1960 when the great amateur Homero Blancas captured the title. No amateur has since been able to win the Texas State Open.
“The Texas State Open has crowned many past and future stars throughout its history. Past Champions who have gone on to compete on the PGA TOUR include Ben Crenshaw, Lee Trevino, Jeff Maggert, Blaine McCallister, Brad Lardon, Kris Cox, Kelly Grunewald, Cameron Beckman, Martin Piller and Shawn Stefani. 2005 low amateur, Jhonattan Vegas has also gone on to compete on the PGA TOUR winning two events during his rookie season in 2011.
“Three-time Texas State Open Champions include: Ben Crenshaw (’75, ’79 and ’80), Jeff Maggert (’88, ’90 and ’94) and Kelly Grunewald (’02, ’05 and ’06). Lee Trevino leads the list of those with two Texas State Open victories. Over the years, the tournament has seen many changes, but one thing has stayed consistent and that is the level of competition. The field remains as strong as ever, and because of this, the purse has steadily grown.”