Louisville Native J.M. Butler Tied for the Lead as The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island Begins

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Louisville native J.M. Bulter made a splash in his first career round on the Korn Ferry Tour on Sunday, carding a 10-under par 62 to tie for the lead when opening-round action of the the Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island was suspended due to darkness.

The completion of first-round play at the Ocean Club Golf Course will be take place Monday before the second 18 holes begin later in the morning. The Golf Channel will air live coverage of the event Monday from 2-5 p.m. ET. Live scoring of the event is available on the Korn Ferry Tour website at https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour/leaderboard.

“I played really solid today,” Bulter said. “I hit a lot of good shots and made a lot of really good putts, just played steady. The putter was feeling nice out there and not a lot of wind. I was able to take advantage of the soft conditions and make a bunch of birdies.”

Butler’s bogey-free round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 ninth hole.

“I hit a 3-wood down there and had about 117 yards in (the hole) and hit a gap wedge that landed about four or five feet behind the hole and spun in,” Butler said. “That was nice.”

Butler’s round also included eight birdies and nine par scores.

A former Trinity High School alum and Auburn star, Butler turned pro in 2024 after helping lead the Tigers to the NCAA golf championship. He earned exemption status on the Korn Ferry Tour after finishing among the top 10 point scorers on the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas List. Last season on the PGA TOUR Americas , Butler posted six top-25 finishes, highlighted by winning the Bupa Championship in Mexico City, Mexico.

Butler is tied with Justin Suh, who registered a matching 10-under 62 on Sunday. Suh surged on the back nine of his round, posting birdies on seven of his last eight holes.

The four-day opening event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season features a field of 132 players competing for a $1 million purse. The top-20 players on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Points List will earn 2027 PGA TOUR membership, with the season-long standings finalized after the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by Virginia’s Richmond Region in mid-October.

Tournament rounds begin each day at sunrise, 6:50 a.m. ET. Prior to the cut being made, action will conclude the first two days at dusk, approximately 5:40 p.m. ET. Final-round play should conclude at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, with a trophy presentation to follow on the 18th green.

The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island is one of 10 featured events on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season televised by the Golf Channel. The network will provide three hours of live coverage during each round with daily replays in prime-time windows. The television schedule follows:

  • Monday. Jan. 19 – 2-5 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, Jan. 20 – 2-5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 21 – 1-4 p.m.

This week’s event features a competitive field including 12 PGA TOUR winners, collecting 26 total wins and 53 Korn Ferry Tour winners, achieving 79 total KFT wins. The last three winners of the opening event of the Korn Ferry Tour season have gone on to earn their PGA TOUR Card at the conclusion of the season.

2026 Korn Ferry Tour seasons opens with The Bahamas Golf Classic Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise island

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Professional golf returns to paradise this week when the Korn Ferry Tour opens its 2026 campaign starting with the Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island, Jan. 12-15, at the Ocean Club Golf Course. The event will be televised worldwide by The Golf Channel with more than 12 hours of live programming.

bdG Sports, a global event management company, will manage the tournament on behalf of the PGA TOUR. bdG Sports has been managing two Korn Ferry Tour events in The Bahamas since 2017. This will be the second year the first event has been played at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis.

Below are details regarding the four-day tournament and several additional happenings promoting the game of golf and the event.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS GOLF CLASSIC AT ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND

The Bahamas Golf Classic at Paradise Island is the first of 25 events across seven countries and seven U.S. states during the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. More than 150 golfers will compete for $1 million purse at this week’s event. The top-20 players on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Points List will earn 2027 PGA TOUR membership, with the season-long standings finalized after the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by Virginia’s Richmond Region in mid-October.

Tournament rounds begin each day at sunrise, 6:50 a.m. ET. Prior to the cut being made, action will conclude the first two days at dusk, approximately 5:40 p.m. ET. Final-round play should conclude at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, with a trophy presentation to follow on the 18th green.

ABOUT THE OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE & ATLANTIS

After dazzling in its debut, a year ago, Atlantis and The Ocean Club Golf Course will again welcome competitors and golf enthusiasts alike to the Korn Ferry Tour’s opening event for 2026.

The Tom Weiskopf-designed course spans over 7,100 yards along the eastern shore of Paradise Island. While Atlantis, one of the world’s most iconic destination resorts, boasts a lush, oceanside location anchored by five distinct hotels, the world’s largest open-air marine-life habitat, a 141-acre waterpark, the renowned Atlantis Casino, and a variety of restaurants led by more globally recognized, Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning chefs than any other resort or destination in the region.

TELEVISION COVERAGE ON GOLF CHANNEL

Both of the first two Korn Ferry Tour events in The Bahamas – the Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island and the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club – utilize the unique Sunday-Wednesday format, given the flexibility in the early season scheduling. The format allows for both events to be the only live sports broadcasts during the day throughout North America. The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island is one of 10 featured events on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season televised by the Golf Channel. The network will provide three hours of live coverage during each round with daily replays in prime time windows. The television schedule follows:

  • Sunday, Jan. 18 – 2-5 p.m. ET
  • Monday. Jan. 19 – 2-5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 20 – 2-5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 21 – 1-4 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets to the Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island are available for purchase at the following link: https://tickets.thebahamasgolfclassic.com/.

The Daily Grounds Pass ($25.00) entitles the purchaser general admission access for a single day of golf. Gates open at 7 a.m. ET.

The Daily Hospitality Pass ($125.00) entitles the purchaser admission for a single day of golf plus admission to the 18th Green Hospitality Tent where complimentary snacks and beverages can be enjoyed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PARKING INFORMATION

General parking is complimentary and available at Casuarina Beach on Paradise Island, which is just to the left after exiting the bridge. A complimentary shuttle service is available to the Ocean Club Golf Course. There is no public parking at the golf course.

EVENTS SURROUNDING THE TOURNAMENT

Youth Pro Am – Thursday, Jan. 8: Five Bahamian boys and five girls will be paired together with five professional golfers to play a four-hole event. It’s an incredible opportunity for these high-school-aged young people to play and walk alongside one of the pros in the event. The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. and conclude between 5-5:30 p.m. at the 18th green. Awards will be presented to the winning team immediately following the event.

Youth Clinic – Friday, Jan. 9: Nine professional golfers from the tournament will guide the group of 60 young people through skills needed in each aspect of the game, then put the youth through drills while providing valuable instruction. TaylorMade has donated hats and gloves to all the kids, who are a part of the Fourteen Clubs Foundation. The clinic will take place on the practice range.

Public Exhibition – Saturday, Jan. 10: Several professional golfers will demonstrate a variety of golf shots at the Bahamas Golf Federation Driving Range near the SportsCentre beginning at 9 a.m. ET.

Youth Day at the event – Wednesday, Jan. 14: Local youth from area schools are invited to attend the final round of the tournament. Play should conclude around 3:30-3:45 p.m.

LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR’S WINNER

Hank Lebioda outlasted S.H. Kim with a birdie on the first playoff hole to claim his first Korn Ferry Tour event at the 2025 The Bahamas Golf Classic at Paradise Island. The victory, along with four additional top-five finishes during the season helped Lebioda secure a sixth-place finish on the final Korn Ferry Tour Points List.

UP NEXT

The Korn Ferry Tour heads to Abaco next week for the 2026 Great Abaco Classic at the Abaco Club, Jan. 17-21. The Golf Channel will provide live coverage of each round.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju won the 2025 The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at the Abaco Club by five strokes, pulling away from the field on the final day to claim his first Korn Ferry Tour event. The Canadian also posted two other top-five finishes and ranked 19th on the final Korn Ferry Tour Points List.

No. 17 Arkansas beats No. 16 Texas Tech 93-86 in Revocruit Rematch in Dallas

DALLAS — — Trevon Brazile scored 18 of his 24 points after halftime and finished with 10 rebounds as No. 17 Arkansas overcame No. 16 Texas Tech 93-86 on Saturday in a rematch of a Sweet 16 game in last season’s NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas (8-2), which trailed by as many as 10 points before halftime, went ahead for good on Brazile’s driving layup that made it 78-77 with 5:20 left. A minute after that, coming out of a timeout, he made a move near the baseline that got JT Toppin in the air and drove by the preseason AP All-American for an emphatic one-handed slam dunk.

No. 14 Illinois beats No. 13 Tennessee 75-62 in Music City Madness presented by charity: water

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — — Tomislav Ivisic and Keaton Wagler each scored 16 points and No. 14 Illinois beat No. 13 Tennessee 75-62 Saturday night in the second part of the Music City Madness presented by charity: water.

The Fighting Illini (7-2) came in rested after an eight-day break with this their last of four Top 15 opponents over a seven-game stretch. Illinois snapped a five-game skid on neutral courts against ranked opponents and also gave coach Brad Underwood his first win in three tries against Tennessee.

No. 6 Louisville holds off No. 22 Indiana in a sold out CareSource Invitational

INDIANAPOLIS — — Ryan Conwell had 21 points and No. 6 Louisville turned a fast start into an 87-78 victory over No. 22 Indiana on Saturday.

Conwell made a triumphant return to his hometown, where he starred at Pike High School. The senior point guard made three 3-pointers and went 10 for 11 at the free-throw line. The Xavier transfer is averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game.

No. 11 Gonzaga beats No. 18 Kentucky in Music City Madness showdown

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — — Graham Ike scored a season-high 28 points and had 10 rebounds as No. 11 Gonzaga routed No. 18 Kentucky 94-59 Friday night on a neutral court that felt much more like Rupp Arena South with Wildcats faithful filling Brigestone Arena, home to the NHL’s Nashville Predators.

Gonzaga (8-1) notched its third Top 25 win this season and third over a Southeastern Conference team, all by double digits. The Bulldogs had been off since being routed by then-No. 7 Michigan on Nov. 26 in Las Vegas.

No. 1 Purdue rolls past No. 15 Texas Tech to win the 2025 Baha Mar Championship

NASSAU, Bahamas — — Oscar Cluff had 15 points and 15 rebounds as No. 1 Purdue remained unbeaten with an 86-56 win over No. 15 Texas Tech on Friday night in the final of the Baha Mar Championship.

Trey Kaufman-Renn had 12 points, Omer Mayer and Daniel Jacobsen each scored 11, and Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith and CJ Cox had 10 points apiece for the Boilermakers (6-0).

JT Toppin led Texas Tech (4-2) with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Christian Anderson scored 13.

Baseball in The Bahamas: Penn State & Indiana State scheduled to Clash in February 2026 in Atlantis Collegiate Baseball Series

NASSAU, Bahamas – Regular-season NCAA Division I baseball will venture to paradise for the first time when Penn State and Indiana State square off in a three-game series sponsored by Atlantis at Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, Friday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, Mar. 1.

The Bahamas Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the honorable Mario Bowleg made the announcement Monday at the 5,000-seat state-of-the-art baseball facility alongside baseball head coaches Mike Gambino of Penn State and Tracy Archuleta of Indiana State. The games will be operated by veteran event promoter bdG Sports.

“We are excited to announce this highly anticipated three-game series feature two outstanding collegiate programs,” Bowleg said. “This exciting series brings high-level NCAA competition to our shores, showcasing exceptional athletic talent and offering tremendous opportunities for local fans, student-athletes, and the broader sports community. Both Penn State and Indiana State are respected programs with strong competitive histories, and we look forward to welcoming them for what promises to be an electrifying matchup.”

“We’re incredibly proud to serve as the Title Sponsor of the first annual Atlantis Collegiate Baseball Series,” President and Managing Director of Atlantis Paradise Island Audrey Oswell said. “This event reflects Atlantis’ commitment to bringing premier sports events and athletes to compete in The Bahamas and celebrate the passion and tradition of college baseball. We look forward to an exciting series and a memorable experience for everyone involved.”

Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, located on the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, opened in 2022 and features a synthetic grass field, team locker rooms and executive suites. The venue also played host to the 2022 Caribbean Baseball Cup.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to get to play in the Bahamas,” Penn State head coach Mike Gambino said. “This will be a great opportunity for our players and fans to experience a tremendous venue against Indiana State, a great opponent that has been a recent NCAA regional team. Thank you to bdG Sports for allowing us to be part of the first Division I baseball games in the Bahamas.”

The Penn State baseball program continues a rebirth under Gambino. The Nittany Lions earned a 33-22 overall mark and 15-15 league record in 2025, registering their first 30-win season in 15 years and advancing to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the second season in a row. Since Gambino took the reins of the program, Penn State has achieved 27 Big Ten victories, the most in a two-year span since 2011-12.

“We are honored to be part of history bringing Division I baseball to the Bahamas for the first time,” Indiana State baseball coach Tracy Archuleta said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for our players to experience something special while growing the game internationally. I would like to thank bdG Sports, Prime Minister Davis and all who were involved in making this series happen and allowing us to play inside Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.”

Archuleta boasts a 24-year career as a head coach at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. He guided Southern Indiana to two NCAA Division II national championships and its transition to Division I before taking over the Indiana State program prior to last season. The Sycamore posted a 24-31 overall mark in 2025.

The three-game series begins Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. ET; continues Saturday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.; and concludes Sunday, Mar. 1 at 11 a.m.

Streaming details will be announced later.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Dec. 12. Additional information regarding fan travel and preferred hotel rates at Atlantis will be announced later.

Coconut Hoops tips off inaugural season at FGCU’s Alico Arena on Thanksgiving week

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Elite men’s and women’s college basketball action takes center stage in the City of Palms during Thanksgiving Week when the inaugural Coconut Hoops tips off beginning Monday, Nov. 24 at FGCU’s Alico Arena. Veteran promoter bdG Sports announced event details, including both fields Tuesday.

The event formerly known as the Gulf Coast Showcase was played at Hertz Arena the past 12 seasons.

“We have had terrific success in Fort Myers since 2013, highlighted by the very best women’s teams, including UConn, South Carolina and Iowa, men’s champions like FGCU and Houston, and superstars like A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark, but now we have an opportunity to elevate the event even further with our move to Alico Arena,” said Brooks Downing, founder and president of bdG Sports, the event organizer. “FGCU owns a terrific venue for basketball, and I want to thank Director of Athletics Colin Hargis for sharing the vision of playing host to what will become one of the best events in the sport.”

For the November 2020 event, Alico Arena served as one of the host sites for the women’s tournament, given the requirements to create a “bubble environment” to keep both fans and participants safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We are excited to partner with bdG Sports and welcome numerous high-caliber programs and their fan bases to Alico Arena,” said Hargis. “This tournament presents an exciting opportunity for FGCU and the Southwest Florida community to create memorable experiences for student-athletes and fans from across the country while elevating college basketball.”

The agreement is for three years with an option for both parties to extend. Plans call for the FGCU men and women to compete every other year that they are eligible. For this November, the FGCU men, champions of the 2022 event, will participate in a highly competitive Tarpon Bay Division, a “round-robin” four-team event that includes Kennesaw State (19-14, 10-8 Conference USA), Rice (12-19, 4-14 American Conference) and Oral Roberts (7-23, 3-13 Summit League).

In addition, a four-team men’s “tournament-style” event will be played on the same dates. The Royal Palm Division includes Troy (23-11, 13-5 Sun Belt Conference), who advanced to the first round NCAA Tournament, NCAA-regulars Belmont (22-11, 13-7 Missouri Valley Conference) and Toledo (18-15, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) along with Saint Francis (16-18, 8-8 Northeast Conference).

Action in the Royal Palm Division begins Monday, Nov. 24 with Toledo taking on Troy at 11 a.m. ET followed by Belmont facing Saint Francis at 1:30 p.m. The division’s consolation game tips at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 26 followed by the championship game at 1:30 p.m.

Play in the Tarpon Bay Division spans three days, beginning Monday, Nov. 24 when Rice battles Kennesaw State at 4:30 p.m., after which Oral Roberts tangles with FGCU at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Nov. 25, Oral Roberts plays Kennesaw State at 4:30 p.m., and Rice plays FGCU at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Oral Roberts takes on Rice at 4:30 p.m., followed by Kennesaw State vs. FGCU at 7 p.m.

The women’s event includes two, four-team divisions set to crown two separate champions. Games will be played Friday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 30.

Oklahoma, Florida State, Indiana and Iowa State headline a challenging list of women’s teams participating in the event. All eight teams advanced to postseason play last season.

The complete women’s field features Oklahoma (27-8, 11-5 Southern Conference), Florida State (24-9, 13-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), Indiana (20-13, 10-8 Big Ten Conference), Iowa State (23-12, 12-6 Big 12 Conference), Gonzaga (24-11, 17-3 West Coast Conference), Missouri State (26-9, 16-4 Missouri Valley Conference), Marquette (21-11, 12-6 Big East Conference) and Coppin State (19-15, 8-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

Oklahoma (Sweet 16), Florida State (second round), Indiana (second round) and Iowa State (second round) all advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament while Gonzaga (quarterfinals), Marquette (second round) and Missouri State (second round) each appeared in the WBIT. Coppin State advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Seven of the eight teams in the field won 20 or more games last season.

“We are excited and proud to showcase a top-tier brand of hoops in Florida once again as we continue to grow and expand women’s basketball and our events,” college basketball analyst and event contributor Debbie Antonelli said. “I’m proud of the quality programs, coaches and student-athletes competing in this event. I’m sure their experience will be first class and help aid in their team development as conference play nears.”

Action gets underway Friday, Nov. 28, in the Blue Heron Division when Marquette battles Iowa State starting at 11 a.m. ET followed by Gonzaga taking on Indiana at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 prior to the championship game scheduled to tip at 1:30 p.m.

The Great Egret Division takes place during the evening on those dates with Missouri State facing Florida State at 4 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 28, before Coppin State takes on Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. The consolation game will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 prior to the championship game tipping off at 6:30 p.m.

All games will be streamed live on FloHoops.

TICKET AND FAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Fan travel information, including preferred hotel rates at the official tournament resort, and ticket information can be found at the official event website – www.coconuthoops.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 12 p.m. ET.