October 24, 2022 (Paradise Island, Bahamas) – Duke and Southern Mississippi are the favored teams heading into this week’s White Sands Bahamas NCAA Men’s Golf Invitational, according to the most recent Golfstats college rankings. Both teams are ranked in the top 50 nationally, while six others in the 12-team field are ranked in the top 100. Play in the 54-hole event begins Friday (Oct. 28) at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis Paradise Island.
Duke, ranked 43rd nationally, is led by Ian Siebers, a junior from Belleview, Wash., who has a 71.18 scoring average and a national individual rank of 167, the third highest in the field. He tied for first at the recent 12-team Georgetown Invitational, while sophomores Luke Sample, of New York, N.Y., and Kelly Chinn, of Great Falls, Va., finished in the top 13 overall to help lift Duke to the team title.
Southern Mississippi, currently ranked 48th, is led by junior Thongpipat Rattanayanon, of Bangkok, Thailand, and senior Cameron Clark, of Pittsboro, Mass. Rattanayanon has already won a multi-team event this fall while Clark led the Golden Eagles with a 70.33 scoring average a year ago and is the second highest-ranked golfer in the field, at 161st.
The best challenge to the favorites most likely will come from Nebraska (60th), LA Monroe (64th), Stetson (70th), host school VCU (75th), Texas State (80th) and Arkansas State (90th). The other teams entered are Delaware, Sam Houston State, Troy and UTEP.
“It’s nice to be a favorite on paper, but we still have to play,” said Duke head coach Jamie Green. “Siebers has been our most consistent player, but we have others who can get the job done. If we shoot the lowest scores that we are capable of, I like our chances. But there is no defense in golf. We are excited about the opportunity to compete in the Bahamas. When you say Bahamas, it opens people’s eyes. It will be a special week.”
“It’s going to be a fun week, and the competition is going to be tight. Duke is a formidable contender and Southern Miss is rolling too. It’s going to be a shootout,” said head coach Andy Walker of host school VCU. “We have to remember we are there for business first but being in the Bahamas is definitely the highlight of the fall season, if not the whole year. But being at the beach is a lot more fun when you shoot 10 under par as opposed to 10 over par.”
Viewed as one of the top collegiate events, this NCAA Invitational is among a handful of premier events held at the Ocean Club Golf Course. Most recently, the resort course hosted the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. The par-72 Ocean Club Golf Course, designed by past major champion Tom Weiskopf, will play at 7,159 yards. This year is the third year for the event, first played in 2019 and again in 2021, with Houston and Mississippi the two past winners.
For more coverage of the 2022 White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, visit whitesandsbahamas.com., follow @WhiteSandsBah on social media and use the following hashtags: #WhiteSandsBahamas and #WhiteSandsNCAA.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
- Friday, Oct 28: Round One – 8 a.m. Shotgun Start
- Saturday, Oct 29: Round Two – 8 a.m. Shotgun Start
- Sunday, Oct 30: Round Three – 8 a.m. Shotgun Start
Trophy Presentation (Individual and Team Champions)
ABOUT THE BAHAMAS
With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly-away escape that transports travelers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating, and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples, and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to see why “It’s Better in The Bahamas.”
ABOUT OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE
Atlantis Paradise Island’s Ocean Club Golf Course offers a challenging and beautiful course for golfers desiring championship play. Masterfully conceived, the Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis’ peninsula. The course has hosted iconic sporting events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament, and the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. For more information about Atlantis Paradise Island resort and the Ocean Club please visit www.atlantisbahamas.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational
Contact: Mike Harmon
[email protected]
BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION CONTACT:
Anita Johnson-Patty
AJohnson@white-sands-bahamas
ATLANTIS CONTACT:
Katie Longley
Atlantis Paradise Island
242-376-1034
