NAPLES — Defending champions Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin will return to defend their Grant Thornton Invitational title Dec. 11-13 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, after a record-setting victory last year. The pair closed with a 63 in the modified four-ball format to finish at 28-under, birdieing five of the last six holes to set the event record and earn $500,000 each, the largest check of Coughlin's career.
Novak called Coughlin the most reliable golfer he's ever played with during their run at Tiburon. The duo's closing surge and 28-under total established a new tournament benchmark in the mixed-team event, which pairs one PGA Tour player with one LPGA player.
Event officials released the first batch of team pairings on Wednesday, with all three announced teams being returning partnerships, including a Canadian duo. This December will mark the fourth playing of the Grant Thornton Invitational, which will again feature 16 two-person teams of one PGA Tour player and one LPGA player competing in Naples.