Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's golf is among the 10-team field in the inaugural National Golf Invitational presented in partnership with
Golfweek scheduled for May 11-14 at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz., as the competition field was announced this week.
The tournament includes a practice round on Thursday, May 11, with a welcome dinner to follow the 18-hole round for each team. The three-day, 54-hole, stroke-play event is slated for 7:30 a.m. MST (10:30 a.m. ET) tee times each day May 12-14.
In addition to the Catamounts, fellow Southern Conference member Mercer is among the 10 teams selected for the first-ever tournament. The field also includes Grand Canyon (WAC), Iowa (Big Ten), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Penn State (Big Ten), Santa Clara (WCC), Seattle (WAC), Texas State (Sun Belt), and UC Riverside (Big West).
Overall, the tournament field includes five programs that scored podium finishes at their respective conference championships including a trio of runners-up – Mercer, Seattle, and Texas State. Two programs – Penn State and UC Riverside – had individuals invited to the NCAA Tournament field. The field also includes a pair of conference freshmen of the year in WCU's
Brie Mapanao and Grand Canyon's Ryan Flynn, who collected the honors from Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Big Ten Conference's Sportsmanship Award recipient in Iowa fifth-year senior Jordan Amelon.
In May 2022, the NCAA announced it would allow schools to play in one season-ending event, similar to college basketball's NIT. By July 2022, the inaugural National Golf Invitational was created in a partnership between
Golfweek and Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, with
Golfweek's Lance Ringler serving as the Invitational's tournament director.
"I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for this and how long I have been dreaming of hosting this event. To have a host in Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club and a staff that shares that same energy is going to take this event to the next level," said Ringler. "Growing up a big basketball fan, combined with my passion for college golf, helped bring to life the NIT of college golf in the NGI. It is going to be something I look forward to each May."
Ringler added, "Most importantly, college golf is more than ready for this type of postseason event. So many schools put so many resources into their college golf programs and having this opportunity to play in a postseason event is something a lot more teams can realistically aim for."
A committee determined the invitation-only field using both the Golfweek/Sagarin and Golfstat rankings, while also considering teams who had strong regular seasons.
"Over five years ago, some great friends and I were sitting around brainstorming about how this tournament could be a game changer. Partnering with Lance and
Golfweek has made this dream a reality," Ak-Chin Southern Dunes general manager Brady Wilson said in a release. "As a former basketball coach, I can't wait to make Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club the Madison Square Garden of college golf. We look forward to creating lifelong memories and experiences for all these student-athletes."
This year marks just the third time in program history that Catamount women's golf is in action beyond the conference championship, garnering the program's first at-large berth into a postseason event. WCU has twice claimed the Southern Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA postseason. The 2003 squad played in the East Regional held at the Salem Glen Country Club in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the 2007 squad competing in the East Regional in Baton Rouge, La.
Like the National Invitation Tournament (NIT or WNIT) in basketball where the school is responsible for covering the associated team travel costs. Many have previously donated to Catamount Athletics, and that generosity is greatly appreciated. WCU asks all to consider supporting women's golf now to help the team attend this historic tournament.
Any donations directly benefit the women's golf program and are tax-deductible. Donations can be made online by clicking
HERE, or through the Catamount Club office at 828-227-3047.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's golf and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountWGolf).
2023 National Golf Invitational Field
(GolfWeek / GolfStat rankings / Vs. Overall)
Grand Canyon – (98 / 95 / 118-45-2)
Iowa – (105 / 107 / 50-103-4)
Mercer – (101 / 99 / 60-66-1)
Middle Tennessee – (139 / 138 / 36-81-2)
Penn State – (67 / 68 / 81-76-5)
Santa Clara – (110 / 117 / 64-61-2)
Seattle – (129 / 124 / 75-62-4)
Texas State – (78 / 84 / 40-87-2)
UC Riverside – (133 / 125 / 88-55/4)
Western Carolina – (111 / 106 / 78-15-0)
