FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2024 (Paradise Island, Bahamas) – On paper, the West Virginia men’s golf team is the favorite to win this week’s White Sands Bahamas Men’s NCAA Golf Invitational at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Paradise Island, Bahamas. But only time will tell. Twelve teams will compete in the 54-hole event scheduled from Friday through Sunday (Oct. 25-27).
The Mountaineers are ranked No. 32 in the preseason ranking offered by Brentley Romaine of the Golf Channel and No. 39 in the Golfweek preseason tally. Other teams in the field are Ball State, UC San Diego, College of Charleston, Eastern Michigan, Emory, George Mason, Houston, Maryland, Northern Illinois, Ohio University and Rutgers.
The Mountaineers’ Max Green, a senior from Hilton Head, S.C., is likely to lead the way for the host West Virginia team. He is ranked No. 307 in the current World Amateur Golf listing and is the returning Player of the Year for his team. He won three matches at the recent Big 12 Match Play Championship.
“He is by far our best golfer, and he is playing well after getting over an injury,” said West Virginia head coach Sean Covich. “We also have a lot of guys returning from last year, so we will be competitive. But the favored team doesn’t always win.”
Another notable entry is Emory, an NCAA Division III program that is stepping up to tackle some of the top golf teams within the NCAA Division I.
“It will be a challenge to test ourselves against some of the best,” said John Sojberg, in his 16th season at Emory. “We’ve always wanted to get into a Division I event. And if we could beat some of these teams and finish seventh or eighth, that would be pretty cool for us.”
The men will play the course at 7,159 yards over the par 72 Ocean Club Golf Course designed by past major champion Tom Weiskopf. Houston, Mississippi, Duke and Santa Clara are past winners of the men’s competitions, with Santa Clara capturing the 2023 men’s title by four 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.
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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]
