HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's golf team will host the first of two consecutive home tournaments with the 34^th Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, Tuesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 14 at the Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course on Marines Corps Base Hawai'i.
 
Following this week's tourney, the Rainbow Wahine will next host the Ānuenue Spring Break Classic, March 21-23 at the Waikoloa Resort Kings Course on Hawai'i Island, the last of three tournaments the team will have hosted during the 2018-19 season. 
 
This year's Donnis Thompson Invitational features a 12-team field including six teams ranked in the Top 100, highlighted by top-ranked and defending tourney champion Texas and four-time champion 55^th-ranked Texas A&M. The rest of the field includes Gonzaga, Hawai'i, Houston Baptist, North Texas (#79), Northern Colorado, Seattle, SMU (#64), UC Irvine, UTEP (#93), and Washington State (#80).
 
The top individual in the field is Texas' Hailee Cooper, ranked 11^th, while defending medalist Kaitlyn Papp of Texas is ranked 15^th.
 
Texas captured last year's title with a dominant performance, winning by 24 strokes. The Lady Longhorns posted an 883 total while Papp carded a 3-under 213. Texas A&M has four Donnis Thompson titles (2007, '09, '12, '17) while individually, Aggie women have captured medalist honors four times. 
 
Participants will play at total of 54 holes, 36 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday on the par 72, 6,096-yard course with an 8:00 a.m., shotgun start each day.
 
UH, which posted its lone Donnis Thompson title in the inaugural year in 1986, will feature a line-up of senior Kaci Masuda, junior Megan Ratcliffe, sophomores Sahara Washington and Tyra Tonkham, and freshman Nicha Vorrasanpisut. Also competing as individuals are sophomores Malia Ebersberger and Emma Lower, freshman Haruka Shintani, and mid-year transfer Rachel Fujitani, who spent last season at the University of Iowa.
 
Masuda has competed in three previous Invitationals with her best finish during her sophomore year in which she tied for 11^that even par 216. In nine previous rounds, the Pearl City, O'ahu native carded par or better three times on the Klipper Course. Universal City, Texas native Washington tied for 12^thlast year with a 228 total and is currently tied for second on the team with a 76.1 scoring average behind Ratcliffe, who has a team-best 75.9 average in seven tournaments played this season.
 
In 1999, previously named the Rainbow Wahine Invitational, was re-named as the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in honor of UH's first women's athletics director, who was an avid supporter of women's equality. Dr. Thompson was inducted into the school's Sports Circle of Honor in 1988 for her tremendous achievements and many contributions to the UH Athletics programs. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 75.
 
The Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational is held every March at the Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course on the windward side of the island of O'ahu. The course has served as home to the tournament every year except when it moved to Olomana Golf Links in 2000 and '01. The Klipper is known for its majestic views of the Ko'olau Mountain Range and the raging surf of the Pacific Ocean. The course rating is 71 and it has a slope rating of 130 on Bermuda grass. The course was designed by William P. Bell, ASGCA, and opened in 1939.
  
Tournament #8
What: 34^thDr. Donnis Thompson Invitational
When: Tuesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 13
Time: 8:00 a.m. HT shotgun start each day
Where: Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course; Kāne'ohe, Oahu
Yardage (Par): 6,096 (72)
Format: 54 holes (36 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday); 5-score-4
Host: Hawai'i
Participating Teams: Gonzaga, Hawai'i, Houston Baptist, North Texas, Northern Colorado, Seattle, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, UC Irvine, UTEP, Washington State
Defending Champion: Texas; Kaitlyn Papp, Texas
Live Stats: Available on www.golfstat.com