The University of Hawai'i men's golf team kicks off its spring season with the 22nd annual Ameri Ari Invitational which runs from Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 3 at the Waikoloa Kings Course in Waikoloa, Hawai'i.
 
The tournament consists of 54 holes over three days at the par-72, 7,074 yard course. Preceding the tournament the Warriors and sister school UH-Hilo will play a two-day head-to-head match-up called the Battle at Waikoloa, Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29  at the same course.
 
Hawai'i will be looking to pick up where it left off from its fall season which ended with a second place finish at the Kaua'i Collegiate Invitational. The Warriors posted their highest team finish since winning the Naris Cup in March 2009, in Okayama Japan.
 
Leading UH is senior T.J. Kua, who is looking for a strong start to the spring season after coming off his first career individual collegiate title at the Kaua'i Invite. The Kaua'i native shot a career-low 14-under for the tournament including a final round 6-under 66 which was also a career-low. Kua finished in a tie for 14^th place at last year's Ameri Ari Invite which included a first round 3-under par 69 and was named Western Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week for his efforts.
 
The Ameri Ari Invitational is ranked as the second toughest college event of the 2011 spring season by Golf Digest, with three schools ranked in the top five, six schools ranked in the top-10 and eight schools ranked in the top-25. Competing in the tournament are Arizona State, Chico State, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Osaka Gakuin, San Francisco, San Jose State, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UC Davis, UCLA, UH-Hilo, USC, and Washington.
 
UH has one of the toughest spring schedules in the country. The Warriors will also compete in the Wyoming Desert Classic, Barona Collegiate Cup, and the Western Intercollegiate which are ranked as the fourth, sixth and 10th toughest spring tournaments by Golf Digest.  Also included in the schedule is the John A. Burns Intercollegiate which features five top-25 teams.
 
Tournament #4
What: Ameri Ari Invitational
Date: Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 1-3
Where: Waikoloa King's Course; Waikoloa Hawai'i
Yardage (Par): 7,074 (72)
Format: 54 holes (18 holes each day)
Host: Hawai'i & Hawai'i-Hilo
Who: Arizona State, Chico State, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Hawai'i, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Osaka Gakuin, San Francisco, San Jose State, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UC Davis, UCLA, UH-Hilo, USC, Washington.