The Cooke County Chapter of the Texas Tech Alumni Association has teamed with Pinehurst Resorts and Honda Motor Company to offer one lucky team a chance to play where the 2005 U.S. Open was played.

The qualifying team in this year's Raider Cup Tournament will join 59 other teams in the Acura College Alumni Team Championship to be held Nov. 5-7 in Pinehurst, NC.

Included in the winning team's package will be resort accommodations for three days and two nights, airport transfers and resort transportation, breakfast each day, welcome reception, Acura Champions Banquet, Acura shoot-out, two rounds of golf (Pinehurst #2 and #4), team gifts, and team photo.

Doug Lillard, a member of the Cooke County chapter of the Texas Tech Alumni Association and one of the tournament organizers, says that the Pinehurst experience has made everyone involved a little more excited about this year's Raider Cup.

"The opportunity to provide scholarships to our local students is our main objective," Lillard said. "This year we're especially excited because, in addition to the other prizes, we have an opportunity for the winning team to make a trip to Pinehurst to play golf there and compete against 59 other teams from different universities representing their schools as alumni."

To qualify for this fabulous golf experience, participants must enter a four-person team in this year's Raider Cup Golf Tournament. Teams participating in the tournament represent their favorite college or university. The format is best ball with the lowest two scores on each hole used to determine the team's score for that hole. Members are not required to have attended the school they are representing, however, each member is asked to display some item of clothing or equipment to signify the school of their choice. Multiple teams may represent the same college or university.

"We have a great time. This is our sixth year and we have a good time playing golf," Lillard said of the tournament. "It's friendly competition between the different universities. We've had teams from A&M, Texas, Oklahoma State, OU, Baylor and the list goes on. Then we follow it up with a nice fish fry dinner and everybody so far has been pleased."

Proceeds from the tournament are used to provide scholarships to worthy students within Cooke County. This year's event will be the sixth time the tournament has been held with more than a dozen scholarships being given.

"We give two scholarships each year," Lillard said. "Our endowed scholarship fund is now in excess of $50,000. We hope to be able to keep up with the inflation and increase the amount of scholarship money that each of the recipients receive and maybe one day be able to offer more than the two."

Winning teams from the golf tournament will have their names, along with the name of the school for which they competed, inscribed on the Raider Cup. The cup will be placed on display at several prominent locations throughout the community.

In the past, teams from Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Commerce, Alabama, Baylor, North Central Texas College, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, OU, Prairie View A&M, Stephen F. Austin, SMU, Texas Tech, UNT, UT and West Point have competed for The Cup.

Returning this year to defend the cup are Kevin Gann, David Hughes, Thomas Hughes and Zach Claxton representing Oklahoma State University. Finishing in second place and representing Stephen F. Austin was Mike Rigler, Matt Threadgill, Sam Nichols and David Turner.

The 2010 version of the Raider Cup will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 14 at Turtle Hill north of Muenster. An entry fee of $75 covers green fee, cart, an opportunity to win some nice prizes and a great meal.

An awards presentation and fish fry will follow the competition.

Entry forms are available at several of the golf courses within the area or interested parties may contact John Morris at 665-8409 or Doug Lillard at 665-0859. Individual entries will be accepted and a team formed when possible.