For the last four seasons, the University of Hawai'i women's golf team has opened its spring season at the Battle at the Rock tournament. This year's event runs Monday, Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Oak Quarry Golf Club in Riverside, Calif.
 
The Rainbow Wahine placed fourth at last year's event after back-to-back runner-up finishes the previous two seasons in which they lost to fellow Big West foes Cal Poly and UC Davis, respectively. This year's field includes six Big West teams in addition to future conference member Cal State Bakersfield.
 
"We are looking forward to opening up the spring season at The Battle at the Rock, an event where we've had great success at in the past," said UH head coach Stephen Bidne. "Oak Quarry Golf Course is home to many elevation changes, and daunting long par-3s. Typically in years past, teams who have played par-3's smart, and were able to attack and make birdies on the gettable par-5s, have won the event. Course management will be vital, with many canyons looming on many of the holes, but I think that is an area that will play into our favor."
 
UC Riverside hosts the annual tournament with features a 17-team field. Also competing are Boise State, Cal Baptist, Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Grand Canyon, UH, Idaho, Nevada, Northern Colorado, Santa Clara, Southern Illinois, Wyoming, UC Davis, and Utah Valley.
 
UH's contingent includes Megan Ratcliffe, Tyra Tonkham, Haruka Shintani, Sahara Washington and newcomer Zoey Akagi-Bustin. 
 
Ratcliffe has the most experience of the group, having played three Battle at the Rock tournaments with her best finish last year in which she tied for 31^st at 9-over 225. Washington competed in two previous events including a third place finish in 2018 when she carded 4-under 212, which is still her career-low 54-hole score.
 
"The team has been practicing hard, and have been playing well, so hopefully we can transfer that on the road and return home with some hardware," Bidne said.
 
The Rock is one of five tournaments during the spring season for the Rainbow Wahine, who will host the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational at the Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course on O'ahu and the Ānuenue Spring Break Classic in Kapalua, Maui.
 
Tournament #6
What: Battle at the Rock
When: Feb. 10-11, 2020
Where: Oak Quarry Golf Club; Riverside, Calif.
Yardage (Par): 6,046 (72)
Format: 54 holes (36-18); 5-score-4
Live Scoring: www.golfstat.com
Host: UC Riverside
Field (17 teams): Boise State, Cal Baptist, Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Grand Canyon, Hawai'i, Idaho, Nevada, Northern Colorado, Santa Clara, Southern Illinois, Wyoming, UC Davis, UC Riverside, Utah Valley