GameAbove Tees Up Major Investment in Women's Collegiate Golf

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 05, 2026

GameAbove, a global investment company, today announced the inaugural GameAbove Golf Invitational, a premier NCAA women's golf tournament set for March 9-10 at California's Rolling Hills Country Club. While the announcement adds a new stop to the competitive collegiate golf schedule, it represents something far more significant: a calculated, multi-million-dollar investment into the burgeoning ecosystem of women's sports. Hosted by the University of Southern California (USC) and Eastern Michigan University (EMU), the event is poised to be a powerful catalyst for visibility, bringing together an elite field of athletes and providing live national coverage in a move designed to give women's golf the prominent stage its supporters have long advocated for.

A Strategic Play Beyond the Fairway

The name behind the invitational, GameAbove, is not a newcomer to strategic sports investment. As a privately held brand backed by CapStone Holdings Inc., it has cultivated a substantial portfolio rooted in a philosophy of philanthropy and growth. This tournament is the latest and most public-facing initiative in its deep-seated commitment to collegiate athletics, particularly at Eastern Michigan University.

GameAbove's support for EMU, the alma mater of CapStone's founder, has been transformative. The organization has funneled over $21.5 million into the university's sports programs in the last three years alone. This includes a landmark $10 million investment to construct a state-of-the-art, 13,000-square-foot indoor golf training facility, part of a broader $17 million-plus commitment aimed at restoring EMU's golf program to championship contention. This invitational, co-hosted by EMU, is a direct extension of that mission, elevating the program's profile by placing it on a national stage alongside a perennial powerhouse like USC.

This move aligns perfectly with the company's broader GameAbove Sports division, which functions as a strategic investment arm. Its portfolio is diverse, including an ownership stake in Australia's Brisbane Bullets basketball team, majority ownership of a BIG3 professional basketball team, and title sponsorship of the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit. The firm has also invested in sports technology, backing firms like CHIP'd Golf, which develops smart golf balls, and PLATFORM Golf, a simulator ecosystem. By launching this invitational, GameAbove is not merely writing a philanthropic check; it is strategically integrating a high-profile women's collegiate event into its growing sports and entertainment empire.

Riding the Wave of Women's Sports

The GameAbove Golf Invitational arrives at a pivotal moment. Women's sports are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity, participation, and commercial value. The global women's golf market, valued at over $4 billion in 2024, is projected to climb towards $6.75 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by a groundswell of interest, with women and girls accounting for 60% of the growth in on-course golf participation since 2019, bringing the total number of female golfers to a record 7.9 million.

Organizers of the new invitational are keenly aware of these dynamics. The decision to partner with the Championship Golf Network (CGN) to provide live streaming coverage of the final two rounds is a direct reflection of this understanding. "Live coverage is a critical part of growing women's golf," said Jordan Young, director of golf operations at GameAbove. "Streaming the final rounds allows fans, families, recruits, and supporters to engage with the tournament in real time and helps build long-term momentum for this event."

This strategy taps into the proven demand for women's collegiate sports. While golf's broadcast numbers are still developing, the massive viewership for events like the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament demonstrates a clear and hungry audience. By ensuring national accessibility, the invitational is positioned to not only showcase its athletes but also to deliver significant return on investment for future sponsors, who are increasingly finding that backing women's sports is a winning business proposition.

A Showcase of Elite Talent

To capture an audience, a tournament needs star power, and the inaugural GameAbove Golf Invitational has secured it. The field is set to feature more than 10 of the NCAA's top 100-ranked women golfers, headlined by two of the world's most dominant amateur players: Oregon's Kiara Romero and USC's Catherine Park.

Romero, a junior at Oregon, currently sits atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking as the undisputed #1 player. Park, a hometown star for co-host USC, is a top-10 amateur herself. Both are slated to compete in the prestigious 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur, and their presence immediately lends world-class credibility to the competition at Rolling Hills.

The talent extends deep into the team rosters. The 11-team field reads like a who's who of collegiate golf, featuring multiple nationally-ranked programs. This includes co-host USC, which entered the season ranked #2 nationally, and cross-town rival UCLA, ranked #4. Texas A&M, ranked #9, also joins the fray, along with strong programs from Arizona, Colorado, SMU, and Tulsa, among others. This concentration of elite talent ensures the tournament will be a true test of skill and a compelling spectacle for viewers.

Building a New Platform for Visibility

The partnership between USC and EMU as co-hosts creates a unique and compelling narrative. It pairs an established blue-blood program in USC with a rising one in EMU, which is actively being elevated through GameAbove's strategic support. This dynamic is at the heart of the event's mission.

"The GameAbove Golf Invitational brings together top programs in a setting that promotes both elite competition and exposure," said USC Head Coach Justin Silverstein. "Opportunities like this are essential for women's collegiate golf, and we're proud to help host an event focused on making a lasting impact."

For Eastern Michigan, the benefits are even more profound. "Events like the GameAbove Golf Invitational play a major role in advancing women's golf," noted EMU Head Coach Josh Brewer. "Partnering with USC and GameAbove allows us to be part of something that extends beyond competition and helps create greater visibility and opportunity for our student-athletes."

The 54-hole stroke play tournament over two days is designed for maximum impact, and its creation signals a long-term vision. The press release explicitly states that the 2026 tournament is the first step in a long-term plan, with future opportunities for expanded media exposure, fan engagement, and strategic sponsorship partnerships. For the athletes, coaches, and fans of women's collegiate golf, this new event is not just another date on the calendar; it is a significant and welcome investment in the future of the sport.