ARIZONA RIVALS SET TO COMPETE FOR THE INAUGURAL COPPER CUP AT AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES GOLF CLUB

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Kris Strauss
The Copper Cup Trophy

The stage is set for the first of its kind Copper Cup, a two-day, four-round match — think Ryder Cup format — between the Arizona and Arizona State men’s golf teams, taking place Jan. 17-18 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, AZ.

“The Copper Cup will be the first college golf tournament of the spring and a great way to celebrate the Territorial Cup rivalry and the very high level of college golf found in Arizona,” notes Sun Devil head coach Matt Thurmond. “I’m thankful for Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and the two athletics departments that have worked together to support this idea and make it happen. Some great golf and camaraderie can be expected.”

The teams will play four four-ball matches on Jan. 17 in the morning, followed by eight single matches in the afternoon. On Jan. 18, four matches with foursomes will take place followed by eight singles matches in the afternoon to finish.

Each match will be worth one point, while ties will be awarded a half-point to both sides. Twenty-four points are awarded, as it will take 12.5 to win the Copper Cup. Selection of pairings for both daily matches will be done live the night before between coaches and made available to all players and public immediately.

“Our team could not be more excited for the opportunity to open up the season in Arizona playing our rivals in a very recognizable Ryder Cup style format,” says Arizona head coach Anderson. “While we all understand the importance of this rivalry and competition, it has been outstanding conceptualizing this idea with Coach Thurmond and the ASU staff along with members of the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes team, including General Manager Brady Wilson.

“All of us at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes couldn’t be more excited to host The Copper Cup in what we think is a ground-breaking event for college golf,” says Brady Wilson.  “Throw in that it is two top 15 national programs, both from our home state on a neutral site and the first college event of the spring season and we know we are sitting on something special here.”

“To my knowledge, this is the first head to head, Ryder Cup style match between rivals and Top 15 programs in college golf.  I feel like we are breaking new ground, truly doing something that hasn’t been done before,” stated Brady Wilson, General Manager of Ak-Chin Southern Dunes.

Schedule

Sunday, January 17, 2021

8:00 – 8:30 (four groups) – FOUR BALL MATCHES (4 points available)

12:30 – 1:00 (four groups) – SINGLES MATCHES (8 points available)

Monday, January 18, 2021

8:00 – 8:30 (four groups) – FOURSOMES (Alt Shot) MATCHES (4 points available)

12:30 – 1:00 (four groups) – SINGLES MATCHES (8 points available)

Spectator Policy

Spectators are welcome in physically distanced fashion under the following conditions:

  • Masks are required at all times when in or around the clubhouse and patio area.
  • Masks are allowed to be removed if you are seated and actively eating or drinking in the Arroyo Grille (50% seating inside and spaced out patio seating).
  • Other than the clubhouse area, masks are required, including on the golf course, if you are within 6 feet of another person.
  • There will be no spectator carts issued (carts are reserved for players, coaches, media and other paying golfers for the day).
  • Spectators must stay on the cart paths only while on the golf course.

In October, the NCAA announced that Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club will be a host site for the 2026 Men’s Golf NCAA Regionals. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, named a “Top 100 Golf Course You Can Play” by Golf Magazine, will be one of six Regional sites in the U.S. with each site hosting 14 collegiate teams. The top five teams from each Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships to be held in 2026 at La Costa Resort and Spa in San Diego, Calif. Exact dates for the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Regionals will be announced at a later date, but the tournament is expected to take place in mid-to-late May 2026.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club was designed by Brian Curley and PGA TOUR veteran Fred Couples in 2002. Originally developed as a private club by private investors, the championship Australian Sandbelt-style golf course sits on 320 acres of land that was once a part of the Ak-Chin’s May 1912 reservation before it was removed by Presidential Executive Order in late 1912. Nearly 100 years later, in 2010, the Ak-Chin Community recovered its sacred land when it purchased the golf facility and opened the course to public play. The course currently boasts several coveted accolades, including being included on Golfweek’s coveted rankings of the “Top 100 Resort Courses” and “Best Courses You Can Play.”

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes has played host to numerous major tournaments and events since opening in 2002, serving as an annual U.S. Open qualifying site, host course for the PING Southwest Section PGA Section Championship and several top collegiate men’s and women’s golf tournaments. The course annually hosts top amateurs in the Tucker Amateur in September and the Saguaro Amateur held in early January. Both events are part of the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series, a multi-tournament series providing high-level amateurs a chance to compete throughout the year.

For more information on Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, visit www.akchinsoutherndunes.com.