HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's golf team will host another star-studded field at the Kā'anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational, Oct. 26-28 at the Royal Kā'anapali Golf Course.
 
Now in its ninth year, the tournament has annually attracted some of the nation's best collegiate teams as they wrap up the fall season. The Rainbow Warriors have hosted the tournament each year since 2014 with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.
 
In an effort to support those affected by the tragic wildfires on the island and in partnership with 501(c)3 organizations Spare for Change and Member for a Day, a fundraising campaign has been launched to benefit wildfire victims, including Kā'anapali Golf Courses' own associates who tragically lost everything. For more information, click here.
 
Twenty teams will embark to the Valley Isle headlined by defending champion Oklahoma, who captured its third Kā'anapali Classic title last year. In addition two other past champions are among the field – 2016 champion Clemson and 2021 champion Kansas, the latter of whom ran away with the title with a tournament-record 52-under 800.
 
Making up the rest of the field are Air Force, Boise State, Colorado, CSUN, Denver, East Tennessee State, Georgia, Gonzaga, Hawaiʻi, Liberty, Louisiana, Mount St. Mary's, North Florida, Sacramento State, San José State, UConn, and Wyoming.
 
The three-day, 54-hole tournament begins each day with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start at the par-71, 6,700-yard Royal Kā'anapali Course. The track was built in 1962 and is one of only two courses in Hawai'i designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
 
UH's contingent includes Blaze Akana, Josh Hayashida, Kolbe Irei, Dane Watanabe, and Garrett Takeuchi. Four others are competing as individuals – including Maui's Anson Cabello, a native of Kahului, Maui and 2023 graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Maui. Also competing as individuals are James Whitworth, Tyler Ogawa, and Isaiah Kanno.
 
UH has annually hosted a fall tournament since the late 1990s. Each year since, the Rainbow Warriors have hosted at least one tournament in the fall and in some seasons, have hosted two, including this season as the team will host the inaugural Kapolei Invitational, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 at the Kapolei Golf Club in west O'ahu.
 
UH last competed in the Bill Cullum Invitational two weeks ago, finishing runner-up with an 876 total and six strokes behind champion Cal State Fullerton.
 
Tournament Facts
Date: Oct. 26-28, 2023
Format: Three-days; 54 holes (18 holes each day); 5-count-4
Time: 8:30 a.m. HT shotgun each day
Course: Ka'anapali Golf Club; Royal Ka'anapali Course
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,700 (71)
Live Scoring: www.GolfStat.com

Participating Teams (20): Hawai'i, Air Force, Boise State, Clemson, Colorado, CSUN, Denver, East Tennessee State, Georgia, Gonzaga, Kansas, Liberty, Louisiana, Mount St. Mary's, North Florida, Oklahoma, Sacramento State, San José State, UConn, Wyoming