Defending champions Dennis Bosworth of Bellaire and Shaun Helmle of Seabrook will return to lead a field of 40 teams in the official kickoff to statewide and regional events in the state of Texas.

Last year, Helmle and Bosworth prevailed in a Sunday playoff over first-round co-leaders Geoff Heller and Tim Lmbrecht of Houston after both groups finished regulation at 11-under at Golfcrest Country Club. It was Helmle's tee shot on the first playoff hole, a par-3 -- which came to rest four feet from the hole for an easy birdie -- that gave Helmle and Bosworth the title.

Tee times begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and a number of teams could be considered contenders.

Lambrecht won't be with Geoff Heller this year, partnering instead with Bart Worthing of Weston Lakes.

The team of Mike Booker of The Woodlands and Bob Kearney of Houston are certainly a team to watch. Kearney is the reigning Harvey Penick Senior winner and also placed fourth at last year's Trans-Mississippi Senior. His partner, Booker, reached the Round of 16 at the 2013 U.S. Senior and was runner-up at the Carlton Woods Senior Invitational and won the Texas Mid-Am Match Play last year.

Randy Lance, also of The Woodlands, who was the runner-up at last year's Carlton Woods Invitational, logged Top 10s at the Crane Cup and Texas South Regional Mid-Amateur in 2013. He'll be paired with John Dowdall of Fulshear, who won this event with partner Kip Guidry of Missouri City, in 2012.

Guidry will play alongside Buzz Baker this weekend.

Amateurgolf.com will have full coverage throughout the weekend. For live scores, follow the link below.

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