CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Macarena Aguilera (Argentina) and Renate Grimstad (Norway) are set to represent the University of Miami at the 2019 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. Action will tee off Thursday and conclude on Saturday at the Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas.
“I’ve never played a tournament like this and I think there should be more tournaments where they engage with the competitors, making it more than just regular match play,” Aguilera said. “This is a tournament where you learn from your teammates in a number of ways, not just in golf. Overall, I am looking to make a lot of birdies and to just have fun. Because, honestly, I know that if I have fun, my game will go well.”
The Spirit International will pair two female and two male amateurs from each country to compete for a chance at gold. The event is back for the first time since 2015, as the 2017 Spirit was cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey.
The competition is a celebration of international goodwill through the game of golf. There is an opening and closing ceremony in addition to festive dinner parties throughout tournament week. Camp Olympia, one of the premier summer camps in the country, provides international village accommodations for the golfers, allowing them to mix and socialize after play.
The 2019 Spirit International features 76 competitors from 19 countries, representing six continents. It is a 54-hole four-ball stroke play competition, with three concurrent competition categories: international team, men’s team and women’s team. Gold, silver and bronze commemorative medals are awarded to the top finishers in each competition.