HONOLULU – The spring season continues for the University of Hawai'i women's golf team as they will compete in The Gold Rush tournament, Feb. 28-March 1 at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, Calif.
 
Along with host Long Beach State, the tournament will feature 12 teams – Cal State San Marcos, CSUN, Fresno State, Hawai'i, New Mexico State, Northern Illinois, Pepperdine, Sam Houston, UCLA, USC, and Wyoming.
 
"We're looking forward to heading back to Southern California to compete in Long Beach State's Gold Rush Invitational," head coach Stephen Bidne said. "Old Ranch Country Club is another old traditional style golf course with tree lined fairways, lurking water and undulating fast greens, so our accuracy off the tee and speed control with our short game will be paramount to our success."
 
UH last competed in the Gold Rush in 2015 finishing in a tie for seventh place.
 
This year's tournament runs Monday (36 holes) and Tuesday (18 holes) at the 6,183-yard, par 72 course. Shotgun start is 7:45 a.m. PT on Monday and 7:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday. The Rainbow Wahine will send a contingent of five golfers – Momo Sugiyama, Mayumi Umezu, Hana Mirnik, Hyeonji Kang, and Monica Johnson.
 
"We have talked a lot about as of late on ways to improve our course management and strategy to get around the course and knowing when to press and when not to," Bidne said. "I think that this will play a significant role in helping us score and limit our mistakes moving forward which will be vital to our play this spring season."
 
The Rainbow Wahine opened the spring season earlier this month at The Valley Invitational in Bakersfield, Calif., where they finished fifth. Through six tournaments this season, Mirnik was UH's top finisher in three events while Sugiyama was the top finisher twice. Umezu led the Rainbow Wahine at the The Valley Invite finishing in a tie for 12^th place.
 
"Everyone traveling is hitting the ball very well after a nice couple weeks back home practicing and qualifying, so I am anxious to get out there and compete against a great field," Bidne said.
 
Following The Gold Rush, UH returns to host the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, March 7-8 at the Hoakalei Country Club. The 36^th annual event is UH's longest running women's tournament and will move to west O'ahu this year after spending the past 19 years at the Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course. Klipper hosted the tournament for 33 of the 35 previous tournaments.