The University of Hawai'i and sister school Hawai'i-Hilo will once again co-host the 29^th Amer Ari Intercollegiate at Waikoloa Beach Resort's Kings Course, Thursday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, Feb. 8. The tournament opens the spring season for the Rainbow Warriors.
 
The 29^th edition will feature a 20-team field of which five schools have competed in every tournament – UH, UH-Hilo, Oregon, TCU, and USC. Three Top 10 teams headline this year's field – 2^nd-ranked Texas Tech, 3^rd-ranked Georgia Tech, and 6^th-ranked Pepperdine, along with defending champion No. 54 Oklahoma State.
 
A total of 15 teams are ranked in the Top 100, including seven in the Top 25, making it one of the most competitive collegiate tournaments in the country. Seven former team champions comprise this year's field – 8-time champion Oklahoma State, 5-time champion Georgia Tech, 3-time champion Stanford, 2-time champion USC, 2-time champion Arizona State, 2-time champion Texas, and USC.
 
The three-day, 54-hole tournament will be played on a par-72 course checking in at 7,074 yards. Players will complete 18 holes each day with a 7:30 a.m. HT shotgun start.
 
UH's best finish in the tournament was fourth place in 2006. Last year, the Warriors placed 18^th place with a 891 total led by Cameron Kaneko, who shot a final round 68 for a 218 total and tie for 58^th place. Senior Trevor Hirata has competed in three previous Amer Ari Intercollegiates with his best finish last season at 6-over 222 and tie for 75^th place.
 
Oklahoma State has captured the past two Amer Ari titles. Last season, the Cowboys beat Auburn by 10 strokes while Matthew Wolff took medalist honors at 18-under 198.
 
The college-am is scheduled for Tuesday at Kohanaiki Golf Club with the tournament's practice round set for Wednesday. 
 
The Amer Ari is the first of back-to-back spring tournaments the Warriors will host in addition to the John A. Burns Intercollegiate (Feb. 20-22) at Kaua'i's Wailua Golf Course. UH also hosted two tournaments in the fall – the Hoakalei CC Invitational in O'ahu and Kā'anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational in Maui.
 
Tournament #5
What: Amer Ari Invitational
Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, Feb. 8
Where: Waikoloa Beach Resort Kings' Course; Waikoloa, Hawai'i
Yardage (Par): 7,074 (72)
Format: 54-hole tournament (18 holes each day); shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. HT
Co-Hosts: Hawai'i & Hawai'i-Hilo
Tournament Field (20): Arizona State (#11), Auburn (#21), Colorado (#85), CSUN (#156), Georgia Tech (#3), Hawai'i (#251), Hawai'i-Hilo, Oklahoma State (#54), Oregon (#95), Oregon State (#22), Osaka Gakuin (Japan), Pacific (#213), Pepperdine (#6), San Jose State (#64), Stanford (#27), TCU (#73), Texas (#25), Texas Tech (#2), UC Davis (#83), USC (#43)