Palm Beach to Host Five NCAA Championship Events

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently awarded the Palm Beach County Sports Commission five (5) golf championships that will take place from 2019-2022 at PGA National Resort & Spa.  The Palm Beach County Sports Commission partnered with Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Emory University to bid on a variety of NCAA National Championships and Regional Championships. The NCAA received more than 3,000 bid submissions from NCAA member schools, conferences, sports commissions and cities vying to host predetermined rounds for 84 of the NCAA’s 90 championships over the four-year bid cycle.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Regional Championship was awarded to Palm Beach County during the spring of 2022, with Florida Atlantic University serving as co-host. The regional tournament will feature 13 teams comprised of five golfers each as well as 10 individuals. “Palm Beach County is world famous for the sport of golf,” said Pat Chun, FAU’s Vice President and Director of Athletics. 

“It’s only fitting to have some of the best collegiate golfers in the nation compete and enjoy everything Palm Beach County has to offer. We are appreciative of the great partnership we have with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. They continue to be the driving force in bringing championship sports events to our community.”

In partnership with Palm Beach Atlantic University, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission will host the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf National Championship in 2019 and the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship in 2021. The Women’s Golf National Championship will feature 12 teams and 12 individuals, and the Men’s Golf National Championship will feature 20 teams and 8 individuals. 

“Palm Beach County is a premier golf destination and I am thrilled that Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) will be a partner in showcasing one of our country’s most prominent sport tourism venues – PGA National Resort & Spa,” said Carolyn Stone, PBA’s Director of Athletics. “The student athlete experience is at the heart of all NCAA Division II member institutions and I know these championships will provide an incredible opportunity for all participants and spectators. I want to thank the Palm Beach County Sports Commission for preparing an impressive bid package earning our county these NCAA National Championships.”

The NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships will be hosted in 2020, with Emory University (GA) serving as co-host. This will be the first time since 2013 that both the Men’s and Women’s Golf National Championships will be hosted concurrently at the same location. These two championships will feature 62 total teams and 11 individuals. “We are thrilled to partner with PGA National Resort & Spa and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to host the 2020 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships,” said Dr. Michael Vienna, Emory University’s Director of Athletics. “Being able to host the men’s and women’s championships simultaneously showcases the premier facility that is PGA National.”

NCAA championship events attract thousands of participants, spectators and families from across the United States, creating invaluable exposure and generating enormous, positive impact to hotels, restaurants and attractions throughout all of Palm Beach County. “The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is thrilled to partner with these first-class universities in hosting these NCAA National Championships, as it showcases Palm Beach County as an elite sports destination,” said George Linley, Executive Director of Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “Very few communities have the privilege of hosting a collegiate national championship and we are honored to be hosting five over a four-year period.”