August 24, 2004
The Texas A&M men's and women's golf teams have been invited to the 2004 Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championships Nov. 14-16 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Sponsored by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA), in association with Hooters of America, Inc., the event will be co-hosted by the Central Florida Sports Commission.
The men's and women's tournaments will be played simultaneously with the men competing on El Campe?n and the women teeing off on Las Colinas. Invitation to the match play was based on team finishes at 2004 NCAA Championships.
Defending national champion California highlights the men's field, which includes 14 of the top 15 finishers at the 2004 NCAA Championships. In addition to A&M, the field also includes of Arizona, Florida, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pepperdine, Purdue, Texas, UCLA and Washington.
The women's field is comprised of A&M, defending NCAA champion UCLA, Duke, Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Furman, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas, UNLV, Wake Forest and Washington round out the field.
"Mission Inn Resort is proud of its long-time association with collegiate golf," said Bob Beucher, President of Mission Inn Resort. "Being the site of the 2004 Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship continues our commitment to supporting college golf competition by providing one of the best tournament sites in Florida."
"This premiere event allows us to build upon an already amazing track for Lake County and Mission Inn in hosting national collegiate championships dating back to 1997," said John Saboor, Executive Director of the Central Florida Sports Commission. "We anxiously await the arrival of our country's premiere collegiate players for what will assuredly be a one of a kind event."
"We are very pleased to be back as a sponsor for this prestigious event for a third straight year", said Mike McNeil the Vice President of Marketing for Hooters of America. "Golf has been a part of the Hooters landscape from its inception and we are very proud of the role we have had in the creation and growth of this event. These collegiate teams are so talented and they deserve to have great events like this in which to compete."
Hooters of America, Inc., is the franchiser and operator of over 375 Hooters restaurants in 43 states and 10 foreign countries.
The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Fla. Hooters is well known for its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach theme atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters' signature chicken wings.
MEN'S FIELD
Arizona
California
Clemson
Florida
Georgia
Georgia State
Georgia Tech
Kentucky
Oklahoma State
Penn State
Pepperdine
Purdue
Texas
Texas A&M
UCLA
Washington
WOMEN'S FIELD
Arizona
Arizona State
Duke
Florida
Furman
New Mexico
North Carolina
Oklahoma State
Purdue
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
UCLA
UNLV
Wake Forest
Washington