TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Starting at 7:30 a.m. today, the 55th annual Texas State Open championship is underway, with golfers from several countries gathering in east Texas to compete for a $200,000 purse.

The four-day tournament will go through Friday, where a champion will be decided. In total, 156 golfers will compete, and after Wednesday’s competition, the number of golfers will be cut down to 55 competitors. Of those competitors, several are in east Texas, including from Lindale, Bullard, Sulphur Springs, Flint, Greenville, and Paris.

Blake Elliott from Bullard, who has competed at previous Texas State Opens, says that his focus is to try to keep the competition casual to keep himself level-headed.

“It’s another week for me honestly,” he explains. “I just come out here and compete and

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