HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's golf team will host two tournaments in the 50^th state during the month of March beginning with the 35^th annual Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational which runs Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11 at the Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course on Marines Corps Base Hawai'i.
 
"The Donnis" is celebrating its 35^th year in 2020 and is the program's longest running tournament. Two weeks later, the Rainbow Wahine will host the 8^th annual Ānuenue Spring Break Classic, March 23-25, which returns to Kapalua's Bay Course after spending last year at the Waikoloa Resort Kings Course on Hawai'i Island. 
 
"We are looking forward to hosting the Dr. Donnis Thompson at the Klipper Golf Course," UH head coach Stephen Bidne said. "We have a great mixed field of 16 teams coming, and I am confident that our team can turn some heads and do well! We have been diligently practicing there for the last several weeks, so we should be comfortable with the green speed, the unique Bermuda grass when chipping and flighting the ball below the winds that are usually prevalent out there."
 
This year's Donnis Thompson Invitational features a 16-team field including eight teams ranked in the Top 100, headlined by No. 3 Arizona State. The top ranked golfer in the field is ASU's Linn Grant, who is ranked 8^th nationally.
 
The rest of the field includes James Madison, Kennesaw State (#78), Montana State, Nevada (#92), Ohio State (#52), Japan's Osaka Gakuin, San Diego State (#48), Seattle U, Stetson (#89), TCU (#54), UTEP, UNC Asheville, Xavier, and Yale (#82).
 
Texas and SMU shared last year's team title while Texas A&M recorded its fourth medalist in the tournament in the last five years after Courtney Dow's victory.
 
Participants will play at total of 54 holes, 36 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday on the par 72, 6,056-yard course with an 8:05 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 Megan Ratcliffe, juniors Sahara Washington, Tyra Tonkham, and Zoey Akagi-Bustin, and sophomore Haruka Shintani. Also competing as individuals are senior Malia Ebersberger and freshman Kralyn Salazar.
 
Ratcliffe tied for 19^th at last year's tournament with a 227 total, her best showing in three all-time apperaances. Shintani tied for 35^th last year while Tonkham tied for 59^th. Washington missed last year's event due to injury but has a 12^th place finish as a freshman in 2018.
 
"Over the last couple weeks, the team has been hitting the ball the best I have seen them all year, so I'm eager to take that into competition," Bidne said. "The key at Klipper, is staying away from the big numbers, and playing smart on the difficult back nine. If we stick to our game plan and execute on doing all of the little things right, we should do very well!"
 
The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a tie for 6^th at the Grand Canyon Invitational, which was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather. Washington was UH's top finisher at 16^th with a 148 total that included a final round 1-under 71.
 
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 #7
What: 35^th Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational
When: Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11
Time: 8:05 a.m. HT shotgun start each day
Where: Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course; Kāne'ohe, Oahu
Yardage (Par): 6,056 (72)
Format: 54 holes (36 on Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday); 5-score-4
Host: Hawai'i
Participating Teams: Arizona State (#3), Hawai'i, James Madison, Kennesaw State (#78), Montana State, Nevada (#92), Ohio State (#52), Japan's Osaka Gakuin, San Diego State (#48), Seattle U, Stetson (#89), TCU (#54), UTEP, UNC Asheville, Xavier, and Yale (#82).
Defending Champion: Texas & SMU; Courtney Dow, Texas A&M
Live Stats: www.golfstat.com