University of Houston plays host to 28-team inaugural event

Paradise Island, Bahamas – The inaugural White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, hosted by the University of Houston and featuring some of the top collegiate golf teams in the United States began Monday at Atlantis, the lush ocean-side resort on Paradise Island.

The first-of-its-kind tournament features 14 women’s teams competing first from Oct. 28-30 followed by 14 men’s teams playing Nov. 1-3. The event kicked off Saturday, Oct. 26 with a welcome dinner for the women’s teams and a day of practice before the tournament proper. The men’s teams likewise will enjoy a welcome dinner at Atlantis, Paradise Island on Oct. 30 as the women’s competition concludes.

A unique feature of the event is that the individual winner of each tournament will earn an exemption into a professional tournament next year. The winner of the women’s event will receive an exemption into an LPGA Symetra Tour event in 2020, while the men’s champion will receive and exemption into a PGA TOUR tournament.

“The Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs are honored to host the inaugural White Sands Intercollegiate. With the support of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, Atlantis Paradise Island, Ocean Club Golf Course, and Global Golf Management, this will quickly become a premier event in college golf.”  Jonathan Dismuke, University of Houston Men’s Golf Head Coach.

The White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational is the last of three events created by Global Golf Management in partnership with Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Atlantis Resort that make up the White Sands Bahamas Golf Series. The first of the series, the White Sands Bahamas Pro-Am was held in January followed by the Golf Channel Golf Advisor Round Trip-The Bahamas program that aired earlier this month.

“We’re extremely proud and excited to bring this unique collegiate golf event to Paradise Island and Atlantis and create more interest in college golf,” said Jeff Raedle, president of Global Golf Management. “We look forward to showcasing the many talented golfers who will compete here over six days, and in addition we are pleased to bring more attention to the wonders of The Bahamas, especially after it was ravaged recently by Hurricane Dorian almost two months ago. We’re looking forward to a terrific week as we continue our strong partnership with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Atlantis, Paradise Island and the Ocean Club Golf Course.”

“We are thrilled to be the host resort for the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational,” said Audrey Oswell, President and Managing Director of Atlantis, Paradise Island. “Atlantis, our Ocean Club Golf Course and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, are dedicated to the sporting world and its positive impact on tourism and the local community.  The tournament comes on the heels of Hurricane Dorian, and we are deeply saddened by the devastation of our sister islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. We are thankful that Hurricane Dorian did not directly impact Nassau and Paradise Island and our focus is on rebuilding the lives and communities in the affected areas. We wish everyone a safe and exciting week of competition”  

Both tournaments are 54 holes contested on the par-72 Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis, Paradise Island, designed by former major champion Tom Weiskopf. The women will compete on a course set up at 6,415 yards while the men will play it at 7,159 yards. The course most recently hosted the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for a six-year run that ended in 2018.

BAHAMAS WHITE SANDS NCAA INVITATIONAL

Hosted by University of Houston

Teams Competing

Women

Houston (host), Arkansas, Baylor, Clemson, Georgia, Mississippi State, New Mexico, North Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, SMU, Tennessee, Texas, Tulane

Men

Houston (host), Alabama-Birmingham, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Illinois State, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee State, Northern Illinois, Southern Methodist, Wake Forest, Wisconsin

Schedule of Events

•    Saturday, Oct. 26 –Welcome Dinner Hosted by Atlantis

About Global Golf Management

Global Golf Management is a worldwide sports event management company. With headquarters in Chicago, GGM has successfully staged nearly 1,000 events on five continents since its inception in 1989, including major championships on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS and LPGA, as well as the Olympic Golf competition. While GGM specializes in professional golf tournament production, our seasoned team also manages and conducts corporate outings and other golf-related event ventures.

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