Paradise Island, Bahamas – December 16, 2025 – It’s not about how you start, but how you finish. Just ask Grayson Wood, the junior from the University of Georgia, who birdied his final two holes to win the 2025 White Sands Bahamas Men’s Invitational by a stroke at 8-under par.
He began the day with a double-bogey seven on the par-5 2nd hole – his first hole of the day with the shotgun start – but his tough start did not faze him. Instead, it motivated him.
“I tried to hit the hero shot on the first hole, and that’s not how you win a golf tournament,
“Wood admitted.“But I persevered. I didn’t look at the scoreboard and just let whatever happened happen. And it seemed like it was my time.”
His victory in The Bahamas comes with a PGA TOUR sponsor’s exemption. Wood now has the choice of playing in the Puerto Rico Open in March or the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in May.
“I didn’t think I would [have the opportunity to play in a PGA TOUR event while still in college,” Wood added.
“Maybe after college, maybe get some status or something, but not this early for sure.”
After his stumble on the second, Wood bounced back with a birdie on the par-3 3rd. By then, all of his bogies were in the rearview mirror. He would go on to make five more par-breakers after his birdie on No. 3 and ultimately carded a 4-under 68 on Tuesday morning.
When he arrived on the 18th tee, his penultimate hole, Wood knew he had a chance. After all, roughly 15 players sat within one shot of the lead.
After finding the fairway, he stuffed a 9-iron from about 180 yards to three feet away on 18. He made the putt, then turned his attention to the par-4 1st, where another birdie would put him in the winner’s circle. After his second shot settled about 25 feet away on the putting surface, Wood picked out his line, stepped up, and drained it. It would prove to be the winner.
“I had no idea what the scores were looking like, but figured it’d be a good time to make that putt and it was,” Wood said.
Talk about clutch.
But another clutch performance came from Carson Bertagnole, who earned the second PGA TOUR exemption at the White Sands Bahamas Men’s Invitational courtesy of a four-for-one playoff. Bertagnole, Filip Jakubcik, Tyler Kowack, and Boston Bracken all posted 7-under scores after 54 holes.
This foursome went back to the tee on the par-4 18th hole, with a PGA TOUR exemption on the line. Jakubcik and Bracken failed to get up-and-down from beyond the green and the greenside bunker, respectively, while Bertagnole and Kowack managed to two-putt for par.
“That tee shot on 18, the first one with four guys you know that could easily get away from you and it was pretty nerve wracking,” Bertagnole said.
“You’re just trying to find the fairway and then find the green and try not to mess up. Obviously, you’re trying to make birdie, but you’re also just trying to stay in it.”
Bertagnole and Kowack then went back to the tee. After both players just missed the fairway, their approaches went long of the putting surface. Bertagnole played first, and chipped his third shot to within tap-in range. Kowack, meanwhile, could not save his par, thus giving the North Carolina Tar Heel a PGA TOUR sponsor’s exemption.
“No. But I’m not going to complain,” Bertagnole said when asked if he had ever heard of tournament that offered two spots into a PGA TOUR field.
“I’m not going to get mad at that.”
Bertagnole was all smiles as he too will head to whichever event Wood chooses not to play. The winner has first choice on whether they want to play in Puerto Rico or Myrtle Beach. Wood will make that choice official in the weeks to come.
Regardless of where these two talented players will play, Bertagnole has a message to the rest of the college golf world:
“This is definitely a must add to the calendar.,” Bertagnole said.
“You’re playing for two PGA Tour spots and you’re in The Bahamas in December, so you can’t really get much better than that. The weather’s been great, obviously a little windy, but other than that, it’s been great.”
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585-749-7773
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Katie Longley, Atlantis Paradise Island
242-376-1034
ABOUT SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.
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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.
Photo Credit: Ronnie Archer
