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The W. E. Cole Cotton States Invitational Golf Tournament is a match play event held annually at
Bayou DeSiard Country Club in Monroe, Louisiana. The 2018 tournament will be held from
July 24-29, attracting many top collegiate and amateur players from around the country.
The Cotton States has a long, rich history and tradition of high level competition. Over the years,
a number of past contestants and some champions have moved on to further success as top
amateurs and on the PGA Tour. A few past contestants of note were Bill Rodgers, Hal Sutton,
Blaine McAlister, Marc Leishman and David Toms, all PGA tour winners. Bill Rodgers,
Hal Sutton and David Toms all went on to win major championships. The 2017
Champion was University of Oklahoma player, Blaine Hale from Dallas, Texas.
All Cotton States competitors must have a 0.0 USGA certified handicap index or less
to enter. The field will be made up of the first 96 players accepted by the committee
that meet the minimum handicap standard along with an evaluation of their competitive
history. There will be a 36-hole stroke play qualifying with the low thirty-two qualifiers
advancing to match play. The match play portion of the tournamentwill consist of five matches to be played over the next
three days.
The W. E. Cole Cotton States Invitational Golf Tournament is affiliated with the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking
system and the top finishers will receive world ranking points. The Bayou DeSiard Country Club Golf Course is a Perry
Maxwell/Ron Prichard designed course with 419 Bermuda fairways and Mini-Verde greens. It plays at 7234 yards from
the Championship tees and is expected to be an exciting challenge for all competitors.
