Launched in 2021 with one of the strongest fields for a collegiate tournament, the Jackson T. Stephens Cup has quickly become one of the premier competitions in amateur golf. The event draws a dozen top NCAA men’s and women’s teams from across the country, while honoring the legacy of the late Jackson T. Stephens, former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and a lifelong supporter of amateur golf.

Jack Stephens was instrumental in the founding of First Tee, a program aimed at developing life skills through golf and making the sport accessible and affordable to children from all backgrounds. His son, Warren Stephens, tournament chairman of the Stephens Cup, was inspired by the collegiate Arnold Palmer Cup to create an amateur event in his father’s honor.

The Stephens Cup debuted at the Alotian Club in Arkansas and has since been hosted at elite courses including Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas and Florida’s Seminole Golf Club. The 2024 edition will be at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club and will be televised nationally on the Golf Channel.

At the 2023 tournament, Warren said that his father “would be very honored and proud of what this tournament has become. It is named in his honor and built upon ideals that he held so close to his heart. We set out to create a definitive and highly competitive collegiate tournament that is comprised of future stars on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, competing on world-class golf courses.”

Lewellen, whose team ended up winning the 2023 National Championship, believes the format of the Stephens Cup sets golfers up well for a title run. “There’s 54 holes of stroke play that sets the field for the final day match play, with a cut after 54, and everyone is trying to make it—it’s just a really cool event,” she says. “Playing your way into match play is just like what we have to do at the NCAA Championships, so you get this really good feeling of team golf. As a coach there’s nothing better you can do to simulate and prepare for the NCAAs.”

Also excited is University of Oklahoma men’s golf coach Ryan Hybl, who is especially looking forward to playing in his own backyard. “Amateur golf is very highly thought of in Oklahoma, and it’s a huge deal to have the tournament coming here,” he says. “That club is made up of a lot of Oklahoma Sooners, and I hope there’s a big crowd for us. We don’t get to play big events at home, so it’s going to be very exciting for our players and for the spectators.”

The men’s field also includes defending champions Florida State, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, and Southern Methodist University. The women’s field adds Arkansas, Florida State, South Carolina, Oklahoma State, and Oregon to Wake Forest. As part of Stephens Cup tradition, in addition to the 12 Division 1 teams, invites are given to players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the U.S. Military Service Academies.

This year’s Jackson T. Stephens Cup begins with a collegiate-am, followed by two days of stroke play, with 36 on Monday and 18 Tuesday. The tournament concludes on Wednesday with seeded match play between the top two teams for first place and the next two teams for third place.

For tickets and more information, visit: stephenscup.com

This email was created in partnership with Stephens.