Maridoe Golf Club No. 1 tee (Brayden Conover)

A golf club that even some in the Dallas area had never heard of, Maridoe has forged a name in competitive golf circles in very short order.

Beginning with the Maridoe Samaritan Fund Invitational in March, MGC has held some of the biggest golf events to not only aid those employed at the club who are affected by COVID-19 but to keep pros and amateurs alike in ‘game-ready’ shape.

This week, the brainchild of billionaire owner Albert Huddleston is on display once again.

On paper, the Maridoe Invitational looks like one of the most elite fields of the young collegiate season. Featuring eight Big 12 teams (sans Kansas State and West Virginia), East Tennessee State, North Texas, and Pepperdine, the 12-team event features the top four teams from the final 2019-20 GCAA Coaches’ Poll.

Not only are there 12 teams represented but the Maridoe Invitational is giving players unable to compete as a team, a chance to put their game to the test.

Huddleston wanted to give players the opportunity to compete despite their respective school or conference electing not to participate in the fall golf season. Aside from the 60 players affiliated with the 12 teams, there are 44 more individuals in the field that are unaffiliated with their college.

Having a separate leaderboard for affiliated players and non-affiliated players sets up a unique event with an even more unique first-place prize.

The winner of the Maridoe Invitational whether they be playing as part of a team, or not, will receive an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Shell Houston Open which is set for November 5-8 in Humble, Texas.

Competing on separate leaderboards will lend to a high probability of having a tie at the top. Huddleston and his staff consulted with coaches from around the country and devised a unique tie-breaker in lieu of a playoff for the lone exemption.

In the event of a playoff, the parties involved will have their par-4 scoring total over the course of the full 54-holes. The lowest score obviously wins, and a winner will be crowned. Par-5s and lastly par-3s will be used in case of a tie following the par-4 totals.