Golf Channel plans more than 100 hours of coverage at 2015 Men's and Women's Golf Championship

BRADENTON, Fla., – Golf Channel will build upon the success of its 2014 coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships and expand its news and tournament coverage to include, for the first time since 1997, live coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships.

The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships will be contested in back-to-back weeks at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., May 22-June 3. Golf Channel will originate more than 100 hours of news and tournament coverage of both championships onsite, as well as expanded coverage online at GolfChannel.com and through the network’s social media channels.

“Our partnership with the NCAA brings the great drama of the collegiate game to our viewers through not only our coverage of the NCAA Golf Championships, but also our commitment to cover college golf throughout the year,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer of Golf Channel. “The momentum we garnered in our inaugural year as the NCAA’s television partner for golf has made a positive impact on raising the profile of college golf. And we look forward to introducing to our viewers the future stars of the game and tapping into the passionate fan bases of their respective schools.”

Marathon LPGA Classic to Offer Two Exemptions for 2015 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships

The individual champion from the 2015 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships and a representative from the team national champions will receive exemptions to compete in the 2015 Marathon LPGA Classic, taking place July 13-19 in Toledo, Ohio.

Golf Channel’s Coverage Plan:

Golf Channel will dedicate its full suite of production resources to the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships, featuring more than 25 combined hours of live tournament coverage as well as more than 50 hours of primarily primetime replays.  In addition, Golf Central will feature nearly 25 hours of combined pre-and post-event news coverage produced on location, as well as daily news updates on Morning Drive and online at GolfChannel.com.

Hosted by the University of South Florida, the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships will feature teams and student-athletes – who advanced from NCAA Regional Qualifying – competing in an individual stroke-play format over 72 holes Friday-Monday, with the top eight teams qualifying at the conclusion of play for the team match-play tournament Tuesday and Wednesday. Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage of the women’s championships will begin on Monday, May 25 to crown the individual national champion, as well as track the team’s attempting to qualify for the eight-team match-play tournament. And this year, Golf Channel’s coverage will include all three rounds of the team match-play tournament on Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27. The same television coverage is planned for the men’s national championships the following week: Monday, June 1 – Wednesday, June 3. All rounds on Golf Channel will include primetime replays.

Golf Channel NCAA Women’s Division I Golf Championships Tournament Coverage

Monday, May 25        Final Round, Individual Stroke Play  4-7 p.m. ET (Live)
Tuesday, May 26        Quarterfinals, Match Play                   10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET (Live)
Tuesday, May 26        Semifinals, Match Play                       3:30-7 p.m. ET (Live)
Wednesday, May 27   Finals, Match Play                              3-7 p.m. ET (Live)

Golf Channel NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championships Tournament Coverage

Monday, June 1                        Final Round, Individual Stroke Play        4-7 p.m. ET (Live)
Tuesday, June 2                      Quarterfinals, Match Play                       10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET (Live)
Tuesday, June 2                      Semifinals, Match Play                           3:30-7 p.m. ET (Live)
Wednesday, June 3                Finals, Match Play                                   3-7 p.m. ET (Live)

Golf Channel’s NCAA Men’s And Women’s Golf Championships Broadcast Team:

• Notah Begay, On-Course Reporter for Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships (Member of the 1994 NCAA Team National Champions, Stanford University)
• Billy Ray Brown, On-Course Reporter for Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships (1982 NCAA Individual Champion, member of 3-time NCAA Team National Champions, University of Houston)
• Steve Burkowski, Golf Channel College Insider for Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships
• Curt Byrum, Tower Announcer for Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships (Participant in 1979 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, University of New Mexico)
• Kay Cockerill, Lead Analyst for Women’s Golf Championships (Finished Fourth at 1986 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships, 2-time All-American at UCLA)
• Bob Papa , Play-by-Play Commentator for Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships
• Phil Parkin, On-Course Reporter for the Men’s Golf Championships (All-American at Texas A&M, participant in 1984 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships)
• Karen Stupples, On-Course Reporter for Women’s Golf Championships (Second Team All-American at Florida State University)
• Lanny Wadkins, Lead Analyst for Men’s Golf Championships (3-time NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships participant – 1969 (10^th), 1970 (2^nd) and 1971 (6^th), Wake Forest University)

Golf Central News Team – Women’s Championship:
Steve Burkowski, Golf Channel’s College Insider
Lisa Cornwell, Host (University of Arkansas, 3-time All American)
Angela Hamann, Reporter (University of Texas)
Paige Mackenzie, Analyst (University of Washington, 3-time All-American)

Golf Central News Team – Men’s Championship:
Steve Burkowski, Golf Channel’s College Insider
Ryan Burr, Host
Angela Hamann, Reporter (University of Texas)
Gary Koch, Analyst (University of Florida, 1973 NCAA Golf Championships Runner-up and member of 1973 National Championship team)
Charlie Rymer, Analyst (Georgia Tech, 4-time NCAA Men’s Golf Championships participant)

Golf Central Announcing Haskins Award presented by Stifel Winner on Monday, June 1
The Haskins Award winner will accept his award live on Golf Channel on Monday, June 1, on Golf Central. Since 1971, the Haskins Award presented by Stifel has honored the nation’s outstanding male collegiate golfer as selected by his peers, coaches and the media. The 2015 Haskins Award winner also will receive an exemption to play in The Greenbrier Classic on the PGA TOUR (June 29-July 5).

Road to the NCAA National Championships News Coverage on Golf Channel

• Monday, April 27: NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional Championships Selections Announcement airing live on Golf Central at 7 p.m. ET
• Monday, May 4: NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Selections Announcement airing live on Golf Channel at 10 a.m. ET, airing within Morning Drive.
• Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9: Golf Central and Morning Drive will feature scores, highlights and interviews from the four NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional Championships.
• Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16: Golf Central and Morning Drive will provide scores, highlights and interviews from the six NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Regional Championships.