September 17, 2013– HOUSTON, Texas – When 2013 Spirit International USA Team Captain Paige MacKenzie, committed to serve as team captain, she knew she had some tough shoes to fill. The two preceding USA teams won the International Team Gold medal at the 2009 and 2011 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship’s.

Paige played on the USA Team at the 2005 Spirit International, winning the International Team Silver Medal. “This is such an honor to return to The Spirit as USA Team Captain. I have many fond memories as a player.” says MacKenzie. “There is nothing that compares to competing for your country. I know each of the players selected this year are very proud to represent Team USA”.

MacKenzie and USA assistant captain, Alli Jarrett, announced the 2013 Spirit International USA Team today. Ally McDonald, sophomore at Mississippi State University, Ashlan Ramsey, freshman at Clemson University, Jordan Niebrugge, sophomore at Oklahoma State University and Scottie Scheffler of Dallas, Texas will represent the United States at The 2013 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, October 30th - November 2nd, at Whispering Pines Golf Club.

The USA Team, captained by former Spirit player and LPGA sensation Paula Creamer, won The 2009 Spirit International Gold Medal. 2009 USA Team members were Alexis Thompson, Jennifer Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Ben Martin. That team was followed by another Gold Medal winning team in 2011. David B. Fay, former USGA Executive Director captained that USA Team consisting of: Austin Ernst, Emily Tubert, Kelly Kraft and Nathan Smith.

“When you take a look at the 2009 and 2011 USA team members, you certainly see the next generation of stars on the professional tours. This year’s team is very talented and on a similar path of achievement” says MacKenzie.

Ally McDonald, 20 – 2013 North & South Women’s Champion. 2012-2013 First Team All- American. She is currently junior at Mississippi State University. Ally won low individual honors at the 2013 NCAA Regionals. Won Mississippi Women’s Golf Championship and was the first female to ever win the boys Mississippi State Championship. She resides in Fulton, Mississippi.

Ashlan Ramsey, 17 – 2013 Women’s Western Amateur Champion. Three time AJGA Rolex All-American. Played on the 2009 and 2011 Junior Solheim Cup teams. Ashlan is currently freshman at Clemson University. She won five tournaments this summer. The Western and Eastern Women’s Amateur Championships. The Georgia Women’s Match Play and Stroke Play. She resides in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Jordan Niebrugge, 20 – 2013 U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion. Member of the victorious 2013 United States Walker Cup team. He is currently a sophomore at Oklahoma State University and was 2013 Big 12 All- Conference. Jordan won the 2013 Western Amateur, 2013 Wisconsin State Amateur, 2013 Wisconsin State Match Play Championships and 2011 Wisconsin State Open Champion. He resides in Mequon, Wisconsin.

Scottie Scheffler, 17 – 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion. Three time AJGA Rolex All- American. Member of the 2013 Toyota Junior World Cup and 2012 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup teams. Quarterfinalist at 2013 U.S. Amateur. He led Highland Park High School to the Texas 4A Championship in 2013. Scottie is verbally committed to attend University of Texas in fall of 2014. He resides in Dallas, Texas.

The 2013 Spirit International features 80 participants from 20 countries representing six continents. Country teams are comprised of national amateur champions and top ranked players. The format of play for the competition is Four-Ball Stroke Play. The men’s and women’s Four- Ball score is combined for the International Team competition. There is also a separate men’s and women’s team competition.

The host course for The Spirit International is Whispering Pines Golf Club, located 80 miles north of Houston, in Trinity, Texas. Whispering Pines has been ranked the #1 course in Texas every year since 2006 by the Dallas Morning News. Most recently Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek rank Whispering Pines in America’s Top 100 Courses. For more information visit www.whisperingpinesgolfclub.com.

The Spirit Golf Association, a 501© (3) charitable organization, is responsible for the Whispering Pines membership program and tournament management of The Spirit International. The Texas Golf Association is the governing association for The Spirit International competition.

For more information on The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, please contact Tournament Director Eric Fredricksen at 281-298-2664 or efredricksen@spiritgolf.org. The official website for The Spirit International is www.thespiritgolf.com.

2013 Spirit International USA Team Young and Talented

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