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NBC’s Dylan Dreyer, Soccer Legend Landon Donovan, Eight-Time NBA All-Star Vince Carter and Country Music Star Chris Lane to Tee Off LPGA Season in Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions

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ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 11, 2023) – Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), a premier vacation ownership and experiences company, announces that NBC’s Dylan Dreyer, U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Landon Donovan, eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter and country music star Chris Lane will be among those joining the field for the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. As the kickoff to the LPGA Tour season, the HGV Tournament of Champions brings together entertainment, music and sports celebrities to compete alongside top LPGA Tour winners in one of golf’s most unique events.

“Hosting the HGV Tournament of Champions has become an annual celebration of our passion for growing the sport of women’s golf,” said Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. “Each year, we strive to take the tournament to new heights, and I’m confident that this year’s event is already shaping up to be unforgettable for all involved.”

Celebrity participants competing at the 2024 HGV Tournament of Champions will also include:

  • Defending tournament champion, Olympic tennis medalist Mardy Fish
  • World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam
  • Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson
  • “All I Need” singer and actor Jack Wagner
  • ​​Golf host and content creator Hally Leadbetter
  • Actor and comedian Larry the Cable Guy
  • NASCAR driver Austin Dillon
  • “The Bachelor” TV personality Wells Adams
  • “The Bachelor” TV personality Ben Higgins
  • Super Bowl Champion Victor Cruz
  • Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen
  • Former NBA player Courtney Lee
  • World Series Champion Jon Lester
  • World Series Champion Derek Lowe
  • MLB All-Star Jeff McNeil
  • MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield
  • NCAA National Champion Head Coach Urban Meyer
  • World Series Champion Kevin Millar
  • MLB All-Star Mark Mulder
  • “Antman” actor Michael Peña
  • World Series Champion Albert Pujols
  • NHL All-Star Jeremy Roenick
  • World Series Champion John Smoltz
  • AMA Motocross Champion James “Bubba” Stewart
  • Major League Soccer All-Star Taylor Twellman
  • Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher

This year’s tournament will honor the life of beloved pitcher-turned-broadcaster Tim Wakefield who passed away in October. Wakefield, a five-time Tournament of Champions participant and Florida native, was known for his knuckleball and remembered for his monumental legacy of community service and philanthropy.

The four-day tournament will be held on Jan. 18-21, 2024, at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club’s prestigious championship golf course in Orlando, Florida, and will be televised nationally on NBC and Golf Channel. LPGA Tour winners from the previous two seasons will compete for $1.5 million in official prize money while celebrities compete for a separate purse of $500,000. To celebrate the return of the highly anticipated tournament, HGV is hosting an exclusive media event today that includes a press conference and panel discussion with Dylan Dreyer, Chris Lane, Hally Leadbetter and Ricki Lasky, LPGA’s chief tour business and operations officer.

The HGV Tournament of Champions is renowned for offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences on and off the golf course, including a three-night private concert series to be headlined this year by Pitbull, Elle King, Styx and REO Speedwagon. The tournament is part of the HGV Ultimate Access experiential travel program, which offers members exclusive access to more than 4,000 high-end dinners and wine tastings, celebrity meet-and-greets and immersive sporting events each year. The company recently partnered with the ​​FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX to provide members luxurious front-row seats to one of the largest sporting events in Las Vegas history.

To learn more about the tournament and inquire about sponsorship opportunities that provide exclusive access to the tournament and concert series, visit www.HGVLPGA.com.

Sports

LIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent

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LIV Golf sign in a landscaped setting in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Florida National News

NEW 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.

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Basketball

USF Women’s Basketball Opens Season With 80–54 Victory Over Furman

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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.



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.


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

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Central Florida News

USF Defeats UAB 30–10, Secures Fourth Consecutive Bowl-Eligible Season

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C.J. Hicks (#1) USF defensive end lines up before the snap during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory over UAB at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

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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