L-R: Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp
Photo by: USA Today Sports
Bruins Tavatanakit and Knapp Team Up to Win Grant Thornton Invitational
December 15, 2024 | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
NAPLES, Fla. – Former UCLA golfers Patty Tavatanakit (2017-19) and Jake Knapp (2012-15) took home the Grant Thornton Invitational title in their shared tournament debut at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Fla. on Sunday.
Tavatanakit and Knapp followed an opening 58 with rounds of 66-65 to shoot 27-under and top Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim by a shot in the second edition of the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour's crossover event.
Tavatanakit and Knapp were the only team at Grant Thornton to have both players win on their respective tours this year. On the same day, Feb. 25, Knapp was victorious at the Mexico Open and Tavatanakit clinched her second professional win at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
"I feel like in an event like this, you never really know what your partner's going to be like when you haven't met 'em before and I feel like I couldn't have gotten a better partner," Knapp said about Tavatanakit. "I feel like we just got along perfectly, energy was the same. It was a really, really fun week."
"It was nice to put the cherry on top of my 2024 season to win my last event of the year," Tavatanakit said. "It's definitely going to be a nice feeling to take some time off. And to be able to do it alongside Jake, it's just been so fun and I couldn't have asked for a better partner."
Though not an official PGA or LPGA event, Grant Thornton marked the second win of the year for both Knapp, who was a PGA Tour Rookie of the Year finalist, and Tavatanakit.
Tavatanakit, a two-time WGCA First Team All-American in her only two seasons at UCLA, ranked second in program history in career wins (7) and third in scoring average (71.48). Tavatanakit's four wins as a freshman in 2017-18 are tied for most in UCLA single-season history. The last of those four wins came at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships and helped the Bruins to their seventh conference title. Tavatanakit earned WGCA Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for that season.
Knapp appeared in 24 tournaments and played 75 total rounds in his three seasons as a Bruin. He finished his career with a 73.0 scoring average, six top-10 finishes and one victory, coming in his senior year.
Grant Thornton Invitational Format
Round one was a scramble. Foursomes was used for the second round. The final round was a modified four-ball format where both players hit their tee shot then switch balls for their second shots and play until that ball is holed. The lowest score counts for the team on each respective hole.
Tavatanakit and Knapp followed an opening 58 with rounds of 66-65 to shoot 27-under and top Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim by a shot in the second edition of the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour's crossover event.
Tavatanakit and Knapp were the only team at Grant Thornton to have both players win on their respective tours this year. On the same day, Feb. 25, Knapp was victorious at the Mexico Open and Tavatanakit clinched her second professional win at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
The two Bruins met for the first time on Tuesday ahead of the tournament.Bru-wins ????
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2024
The UCLA alums are champions @GTInvitational. pic.twitter.com/TAtfQardu1
"I feel like in an event like this, you never really know what your partner's going to be like when you haven't met 'em before and I feel like I couldn't have gotten a better partner," Knapp said about Tavatanakit. "I feel like we just got along perfectly, energy was the same. It was a really, really fun week."
"It was nice to put the cherry on top of my 2024 season to win my last event of the year," Tavatanakit said. "It's definitely going to be a nice feeling to take some time off. And to be able to do it alongside Jake, it's just been so fun and I couldn't have asked for a better partner."
Though not an official PGA or LPGA event, Grant Thornton marked the second win of the year for both Knapp, who was a PGA Tour Rookie of the Year finalist, and Tavatanakit.
Tavatanakit, a two-time WGCA First Team All-American in her only two seasons at UCLA, ranked second in program history in career wins (7) and third in scoring average (71.48). Tavatanakit's four wins as a freshman in 2017-18 are tied for most in UCLA single-season history. The last of those four wins came at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships and helped the Bruins to their seventh conference title. Tavatanakit earned WGCA Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for that season.
Knapp appeared in 24 tournaments and played 75 total rounds in his three seasons as a Bruin. He finished his career with a 73.0 scoring average, six top-10 finishes and one victory, coming in his senior year.
Grant Thornton Invitational Format
Round one was a scramble. Foursomes was used for the second round. The final round was a modified four-ball format where both players hit their tee shot then switch balls for their second shots and play until that ball is holed. The lowest score counts for the team on each respective hole.
What a week! Can't thank @impattyt1 enough for picking me up and helping me have the most fun I've had on a golf course in a long time. Thank you to @gtinvitational for having me and putting on such an amazing event. Same time next year, sign us up. #bruwins pic.twitter.com/BYVoALwjdl
— Jake Knapp (@knapptime_LTD) December 16, 2024
Babysitter of the year goes to @knapptime_LTD ?? @Patty_MPT pic.twitter.com/Si9CMFhibq
— LPGA (@LPGA) December 16, 2024
February 25, 2024: Winning individually
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2024
December 15, 2024: Winning together pic.twitter.com/U2RqDqPjq1
A team victory for @KnappTime_LTD and Patty Tavatanakit ?? pic.twitter.com/QG5Iugke1t
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2024
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