MARICOPA, Ariz. (May 3, 2024) – The UNCW women's golf team has accepted an invitation to the 2024 National Golf Invitational (NGI) to be contested at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz., from May 9-12.
Presented in partnership with
Golfweek, the second-annual NGI will be competed as a 54-hole stroke play event with normal scoring of play five count four. The teams will begin the week with a practice round on May 9 followed by one 18-hole round per day from May 10-12.
"We're very excited to receive an NGI invitation to extend our postseason and thank the tournament committee," said Cindy Ho, UNCW's veteran head coach. "We've heard nothing but great things about the inaugural NGI last year and look forward to the experience.
"It's a well-deserved opportunity for our players to compete for another championship and especially for our fifth-year senior,
Mallory Fobes, to cap her outstanding collegiate career."
Last year, Penn State secured the women's title at the inaugural NGI out of a field of 10 women's teams. The field is expected to expand to as many as 18 teams using rankings and committee picks. UNCW currently is ranked No. 90 in the country.
The 2024 NGI will be played at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, which is a championship Australian Sand Belt-style golf course. The Troon Golf managed course annually serves as a U.S. Open Qualifying site in addition to hosting The PING Southwest Section PGA Section Championship and Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School events.
The tournament was created to serve as the "NIT of college golf' after the NCAA cleared programs to play in one season-ending event in May of 2022. The NGI gives teams on the outside of the NCAA postseason a chance to have a season-ending championship.
The 2023-24 Seahawks secured the second-lowest scoring average (295.7) in program history. The record-setting campaign included a tournament win to open the season at the Golfweek Fall Challenge as well as a tie for second place in the 2024 CAA Championships in mid-April.
Fobes matched the school's best scoring average (72.9) this year. The four-time All-CAA and NCAA qualifier shares the benchmark with former teammate and current assistant coach
Phu Khine, who accomplished the feat in 2019-20 in six fewer rounds.
2024 National Golf Invitational Field
Arkansas State
Austin Peay
Chattanooga
Florida Atlantic
Jacksonville State
Mercer
Rutgers
Santa Clara
UNCW
USC Upstate
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