Sports
Final Field Set for 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship
Published
3 years agoon
By
FNN SPORTSBRADENTON, Fla – The field is set for the 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship, the first full-field event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season. From Jan. 25-28, Bradenton Country Club, a classic Donald Ross venue celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, will host a who’s-who of the world’s best golfers, kicking off a season of exciting storylines and fierce competition.
Who to watch…
The 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship includes four of the top-five players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings – No. 1 Lilia Vu, No. 2 Ruoning Yin, No. 3 Celine Boutier and No. 5 Nelly Korda. Korda, who lives in Bradenton, is one of six Floridians in the field, along with Tampa-area native Brittany Lincicome and fan-favorite Lexi Thompson. Korda, Lincicome and Thompson are three of the 22 major winners teeing it up, led by five-time champion Yani Tseng, who is competing in her first LPGA Tour event since 2021. There are also 31 Olympians in the Drive On field, including 2020 gold medalist Korda, silver medalist Mone Inami and bronze medalist Lydia Ko.
U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Stacy Lewis will compete alongside nine U.S. Team members from 2023, including leading American points earner Megan Khang. Lewis will name her 2024 team in August, following the AIG Women’s Open.
There are 15 2024 rookies in the field, led by 2023 Epson Tour graduates Isabella Fierro, Minji Kang, Auston Kim and Gabriela Ruffels. Mariajo Uribe, a 15-year LPGA Tour veteran who will retire at the end of the season, and amateur Laney Frye, a senior at the University of Kentucky, received the tournament’s sponsor exemptions.
The final two spots in the LPGA Drive On Championship field will be filled with the top-two finishers at Monday’s Local Qualifying Round. For a complete list of tournament entries, click here.
What to do…
Across the four competition days at Bradenton Country Club, fans can put their golf skills to the test at two interactive stations. Got chops on the green? Stop by the Long-Putt Challenge and show off talents with the flatstick. Fans who sink the long putt will be entered to win special prizes. Better off the tee? Visit the Bradenton C.C. Pro Shop and go long in the Long-Drive Competition. The long-drive champion will earn bragging rights, along with a $500 LPGAProShop.com gift card.
Before heading to the course, fans can visit the Tito’s Trailer and enjoy five signature cocktails: the Tito’s Transfusion, the Bradenton Bloody, the Sunrise Stinger, the Fairway Fizz and the Mulligan Mimosa. Non-alcoholic options will also be available for fans participating in Dry January.
On the way out, commemorate the visit to Bradenton C.C. with a selfie at the Fan Photo Booth. Snap a pic with friends and family and get an instant copy of your photo to share on social. Tag the LPGA’s social channels and use the hashtag #DriveOn for the chance to appear on the official tournament feeds (@LPGA, X; @lpga_tour, Instagram).
How to visit…
Tickets are available for purchase at SeatGeek.com. Daily tickets start at $30 for General Admission, with weekly passes starting at $99. Champions Club hospitality tickets start at $225 for daily admission and $800 for weekly access. The Champions Club provides premium access to an open-air structure with views of the 16th green and 17th tee and includes an open bar and lunch/snack options.
To honor those who serve our country in the United States Armed Forces, the LPGA is pleased to offer both current and former members of the U.S. Military and certain guests complimentary grounds tickets regardless of sell-out. Click here for information on military tickets. Additionally, juniors aged 17 and under will receive complimentary admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on junior tickets, visit SeatGeek.com.
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Sports
LIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent
Published
4 days agoon
November 7, 2026By
FNN SPORTSNEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.
Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.
“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.
LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.
Basketball
USF Women’s Basketball Opens Season With 80–54 Victory Over Furman
Published
5 days agoon
November 5, 2026By
NISEY LOU S.TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.
The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.
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A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.
Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls
Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.
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The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.
A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry
The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.
Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:
“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”
— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Central Florida News
USF Defeats UAB 30–10, Secures Fourth Consecutive Bowl-Eligible Season
Published
1 week agoon
November 3, 2026By
NISEY LOU S.Bulls overcome early deficit behind defensive touchdowns and a record-tying performance from C.J. Hicks.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida (USF) secured its sixth victory of the season Saturday, October 31, defeating the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 30–10 at Raymond James Stadium. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 6–2 overall and 2–2 in American Conference play, making the program bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.
Defense Turns the Game Around
UAB opened the game with a 10–0 first-quarter lead, but South Florida responded with 30 unanswered points, highlighted by two defensive touchdowns.
Defensive end C.J. Hicks delivered one of the game’s most significant performances, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that resulted in touchdowns.
Late in the second quarter, Hicks forced a fumble by UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, allowing USF defender Asani Redwood to recover the football and return it six yards for a touchdown. The play gave South Florida a 17–10 halftime lead.
Asani Redwood and UAB #71 UAB defensive lineman #71 attempts to tackle USF’s Asani Redwood during the October 31, 2026, matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Hicks created another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, forcing a second fumble that linebacker Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown, extending USF’s lead to 27–10.
South Florida’s defense finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, limiting UAB to just 177 total offensive yards, including 17 rushing yards.
Offensive Adjustments Provide Momentum
Following an injury to starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered the game and helped shift momentum in South Florida’s favor.
Luke Kromenhoek (#17) USF quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (#17) carries the football while facing pressure from a UAB defender during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory at Raymond James Stadium on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Kromenhoek finished with a career-high 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard run that helped establish the Bulls’ offensive rhythm.
Running back Jason Collins Jr. added a six-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10–10.
Kicker Nico Gramatica contributed three field goals, connecting from 31, 30 and 33 yards to help secure the victory.
Bowl Eligibility Marks Another Program Milestone
With its sixth win, South Florida secured bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, matching the second-longest such streak in program history.
The accomplishment allows USF to qualify for postseason bowl consideration, although an official bowl invitation and destination have yet to be determined.
The victory also kept the Bulls competitive in the American Conference standings, with four regular-season games remaining following the UAB matchup.
Looking Ahead
USF will return to conference competition Friday, November 6, traveling to face East Carolina as the Bulls continue their pursuit of a stronger conference finish and a postseason bowl invitation.
Final Score: USF 30, UAB 10
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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