FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2024 (Paradise Island, Bahamas) – Texas A&M is not only serving as the host school for this week’s White Sands Bahamas NCAA Women’s Invitational at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Paradise Island, Bahamas, but it will enter the competition as the favorite in the 10-team field. The 54-hole event is scheduled from Friday through Sunday (Oct. 18-20).
The Aggies have the best golfer in the field in reigning NCAA individual champion Adela Cernousek of France, who bested the national field by three strokes in May. And Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio of Spain is a strong player as well. Garcia-Poggio finished 16th at the 2024 NCAA Championship and enters the new season as a preseason first-team All-America, according to Golf Channel. Texas A&M is ranked ninth in the preseason poll released by Golfweek ahead of the initial NCAA rankings.
“Our one-two punch is as good as anyone in the country,” noted Texas A&M head coach Gerrod Chadwell. “But we have to find four good scores each day to give ourselves a good chance.” Those good scores, however, will not include any from Cernousek, who is entered in the second stage of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. The two events overlap this weekend.
“We are very excited to play at the White Sands Invitational,” Chadwell continued. “I have felt a connection to the island for quite some time now, and to be able to bring the Aggies to paradise is an honor. It has been special to see this event grow since 2019 and we can’t wait to tee it up this week.”
Georgia and Baylor would appear to offer the best challenge to the Aggies. Georgia is ranked No. 28 in the preseason poll, while Baylor is No. 29. Other teams competing are Abilene Christian, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, Purdue and Xavier.
The women will play the course at 6,415 yards over the par 72 Ocean Club Golf Course designed by past major champion Tom Weiskopf. Texas, Campbell, Lipscomb and Kansas State are past winners of the women’s competition, with Kansas State winning the title last year by seven strokes.
For more coverage of the 2024 White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, follow @WhiteSandsBah on social media and use the following hashtags: #WhiteSandsBahamas and #WhiteSandsNCAA or visit WhiteSandsBahamas.com
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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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational
Contact: Mike Harmon
[email protected]
BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION CONTACT:
Anita Johnson-Patty
[email protected]
ATLANTIS CONTACT:
Katie Longley
Atlantis Paradise Island
242-376-1034
[email protected]
