EXUMA, Bahamas (Jan. 2023) – Hundreds of visitors and golf enthusiasts were on hand in Great Exuma to see Chandler Phillips win his first Korn Ferry Tournament on Wednesday, 18 Jan., walking away with prize earnings of $180,000 and a chance for a PGA Tour card at the conclusion of the 26-event Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

The Korn Ferry Tour 2023 season opening event was held over four days, 15 – 18 Jan., at Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course and co-sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. Some 100 professional golfers and nearly 600 visitors travelled to The Exumas for the prestigious signature event.

According to Director of Cultural and Authentic Events Charity Armbrister of the Exuma Tourist Office, “The tournament was deemed a successful event by all who participated, including the host hotel, Sandals.” “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

She added, “The event was also a great economic boost for the island, from car rentals to hotel bookings.” “Sandals was nearly booked to capacity, and Hideaways At Palm Bay said they had 21 rooms booked for 7 days.”  “So, overall, the event was a great success.”

After winning The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, Phillips said, “Hard to have a bad week in The Bahamas. You come into the week wanting to win…but I would have been perfectly fine with like a top-20.”

Phillips is presently competing in the Korn Ferry Tour Great Abaco Classic taking place at The Abaco Club, 22 – 25 Jan.

Since 2017, bdGlobal Sports, who manages the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and Great Abaco Classic, has partnered with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation to showcase the upcoming and future stars of the PGA.

For more information, visit pgatour.com or Tourismtoday.com.
 

ABOUT THE KORN FERRY TOUR

Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour identifies and develops golf's next stars, preparing them to compete and win on the game's biggest stage. The Korn Ferry Tour, which has served as a path to the PGA TOUR since its inception, will award 30 PGA TOUR cards based off its points list in 2023, with the No. 1 player earning exemptions into the following year’s PLAYERS Championship and U.S. Open. With more than 600 PGA TOUR titles, 28 major championships and six FedExCup champions, Korn Ferry Tour alumni make up 88 percent of the PGA TOUR’s current membership. To learn more about the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit PGATOUR.COM or follow the Korn Ferry Tour on social media.

ABOUT BDG SPORTS

bdG Sports is a leader in turn-key event management with a primary focus in basketball and professional golf. The firm boasts an event portfolio that has impacted multiple communities throughout North America and the Caribbean while featuring broadcasts to viewers across the globe.

In professional golf, bdG owns and operates two season-opening Korn Ferry Tour tournaments, The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, both $1 million purses. bdG manages multiple pro-ams throughout the year at destination golf clubs such as Albany, Shadow Creek, Whistling Straights and Bandon Dunes.

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 flyaway escape that transports travellers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating, birding, and nature-based activities, thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and pristine beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com, download the  Islands of the Bahamas app or visit Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It’s Better in The Bahamas.