SCOTTSDALE, AZ (September 6, 2023) — The Bridge Cup is fast taking its place among the most prestigious mid-amateur events on the global golf calendar.
The inaugural Bridges Cup in 2022 was created to support the amateur game at the highest level while fostering a sense of sportsmanship, friendship and connection. This year’s event, which took place in late Spring at the breathtaking Les Bordes golf club in France, furthered these goals with a spirited contest featuring 24 elite mid-amateur golfers competing in a Ryder Cup–style tournament.
While the atmosphere remained casual and friendly, the competition was intense. In the end, Team USA, captained by Jeff Fujimoto, prevailed with an impressive 19-11 margin of victory over Team Europe, led by Simon Holt.
On day one, the teams ended their opening four-ball matches tied at three points each. Team USA surged to a 7-to-5 lead after four-ball, then pushed that lead to 12-to-6 after the next round of foursomes matches. Team USA went on to win sevenof its singles matches on day two to seal the deal, but the Europeans, who represented five countries, fought to the finish. They had a chance to win well into the singles matches, and they dug deep to try to make it happen. Team USA’s Hoyt McGarity, the president of 8AM Golf who conceived the Bridges Cup, won his match 5 and 4 over England’s Tom Eldridge to claim Team USA’s 15th point, which was enough to retain the cup. Taylor Wood then secured the win outright when he beat France’s Antoine Delon 5 and 3.
“The first Bridges Cup last year at Nine Bridges in South Korea was an amazing experience, and initially I wasn’t quite sure how we would be able to take it to another level,” said Jeff Fujimoto, Team USA captain and special advisor to 8AM Golf. “But the depth of talent of the players on both sides, in addition to using the Ryder Cup format, really raised the stakes and made this year’s event truly memorable.”
The Bridges Cup is sponsored by CJ Group and 8AM Golf with GOLF magazine and Golf.com the event’s exclusive media partners.
CJ Group is a prominent South Korean holding company. It began to invest heavily in the professional game over the last decade, sponsoring professional golfers and tournaments. When the company decided to support the amateur game as well, it enlisted 8AM Golf, a holding company that owns and supports 14 golf brands, to bring that amateur investment to life.
“CJ Corp has been a fantastic partner and Les Bordes Golf Club proved to be an ideal host for the Bridges Cup,” said Hoyt McGarity, Team USA member and CEO of 8AM Golf. “Helping to bring the Bridges Cup into existence has been an incredibly gratifying experience and the two events that have now been completed have laid the groundwork for the success of future events in South Korea and beyond.”
Upcoming Events
Following the highly successful campaign at Les Bordes, it was announced that the 2024 Bridges Cup will be held at Haesley Nine Bridges, one of South Korea’s premier golf facilities. CJ Group will host the Bridges Cup in South Korea every even-numbered year, with the event shifting to new locations outside CJ’s home country in odd numbered years.
For more information and to learn more about future Bridges Cup tournaments, visit thebridgescup.com.
About The Bridges Cup
Established in 2022, The Bridges Cup is an elite mid-amateur Ryder Cup-style tournament designed to provide an unparalleled first-class experience. The Bridges Cup committee annually hand-picks the most elite participants from some of the most prestigious golf clubs around the world. The field is comprised of players who have won exclusive invitationals and USGA events as well as having participated in major championships. It features two 12-on-12 teams from the United States and Europe competing in four-ball, foursomes and singles formats.
About Les Bordes
Originally the private domain of Baron Marcel Bich who opened the Robert von Hagge designed Old Course exclusively for his friends in 1986, Les Bordes is a sprawling 1,400 estate located just over an hour south of Paris in the Loire Valley – one of the most beautiful parts of France. In 2021 the Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner designed New Course and short Wild Piglet course opened to wide critical acclaim. The estate now has new homes and other family focused amenities with a neighboring Six Senses Hotel and Residences set to open in 2025. Les Bordes was recognized as a Top 100 Course in the World by Golf Magazine in November of 2021.
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About 8AM Golf
8AM Golf was established by businessman, philanthropist and golf entrepreneur Howard Milstein as the holding company that oversees his golf businesses—all of which are dedicated to helping golfers at every level enjoy the game more. Renowned entertainer and golf enthusiast Justin Timberlake partnered with 8AM golf in 2020 and is now leading creative initiatives across the 8AM portfolio of companies.
Current 8AM companies include: GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com, the #1 media brands in golf; Nicklaus Companies, the most renowned brand in golf; legendary handmade club maker Miura Golf; True Spec Golf, a brand-agnostic club-fitting company; GolfLogix, the most-downloaded GPS app in golf; Club-Conex, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of adjustable golf club adapter systems; Fairway Jockey, which provides golfers with the ability to buy custom clubs online; 3’s, which seeks to reimagine the golf experience, combining a fun atmosphere and top-notch hospitality with a quality par-3 course and putting area; and Chirp, a free-to-play gaming app that lets golfers virtually wager on the outcome of pro golf tournaments, rounds, and shots.
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