MARICOPA, Ariz. – Gavin O’Neill admits he and his teammates joked about an improbable, but possible, scenario that could play out Sunday at the Men’s National Golf Invitational. The junior at Grand Canyon has pictured he and his four teammates, donning their purple shirts, strolling down the fairway in a five-way playoff. Not only would bragging rights be on the line as well as a postseason title, but a spot in a PGA Tour event this fall in Bermuda.
“We’d be foolish enough to say we haven’t thought of that,” O’Neill said. Talk about pressure. More: NGI SCORESThe NGI kicked off Friday at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, with the fourth edition of the tournament (think NIT of college golf) having more on the line than any before it.
Not only will the winning team claim a postseason championship to conclude their season, but the individual winner will receive an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship in October. “It’s in the back of your mind,” O’Neill said Friday after opening in 8-under 64. “It’s 36 holes away now, but you have to just go at it one hole at a time, one shot at a time.
Just can’t get too far ahead of yourself. Golf is too hard as it is. “O’Neill made it look anything but hard.
He had nine birdies during the first round, the most of any player in the field, and carded circles on five of his last six holes to get in the clubhouse at 64, tied with Wyoming’s Brody Leid after the first round. Rhode Island’s Tyler Bruneau, who had two eagles in three holes, sits a shot back of the duo on top. “I’ve thought about it a little bit,” Leid said.
“At the end of the day, you’ve just got to try to hit good shots and play good golf and the rest will take care of itself. “Leid was the only player in the field to reach 9 under, but he bogeyed the par-3 17th before a terrific up-and-down for par from long of the 18th green to finish at 8 under for the day. In the past, the individual winner of the NGI earned a spot in the field of the Southeastern Amateur.
Now, it’s a postseason title worthy of a professional start. “It’s like the icing on the cake,” said Missouri coach Glen Millican, whose squad leads Grand Canyon by a stroke after the first day of play. “It’s the cherry on top.
It’s a nice bonus. It’s a huge opportunity for these kids. “The NGI has quickly grown to become the premier tournament for teams who miss out on NCAA postseason play.
For the men, the pressure of trying to earn a spot in a PGA Tour events has added to the pressure. And with 36 holes to go at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, plenty of pivotal moments await to determine who will had to Bermuda in five months. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: With PGA Tour exemption on the line, pressure is on at 2026 NGI
