HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's golf team will make its eighth trip to the Bill Cullum Invitational in the last 12 seasons next week in southern California. The 14-team tournament is hosted by CSUN and will run Monday, Oct. 9 and Tuesday, Oct. 10 at The Saticoy Club in Somis, Calif.
 
UH will make its ninth overall showing in the 27-year old tournament, which is named after the legendary CSUN men's golf coach. Last season was Hawai'i's best showing with a fourth place finish at 2-under 862.
 
After 25 years at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley, Calif., the tournament moved to The Oaks Club at Velencia in 2021 and 2022. This year's event will be contested at for the first time at The Saticoy Club, which features a par-72, 7,008-yard layout.
 
"Saticoy is a top traditional course that requires straight driving, good wedge play and good putting touch on really fast sloppy greens," head coach Scott Simpson said. "We didn't score as well as we wanted at New Mexico for a first tournament. But there were a lot of positive signs. We drove the ball well and most of the problems were putting and around the greens."
 
Participants will play 54 holes, 36 on Monday and 18 on Tuesday. Shotgun start begins at 8:30 a.m. PT on Monday and 8:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday. The field includes 14 teams – Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, CSU San Bernardino, Hawai'i, North Dakota State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, Stanislaus State, Temple, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, Utah State, and Weber State.
 
"We are making a couple changes to the lineup with Josh Hayashida and Tyler Ogawa playing well and qualifying for the tournament," Simpson said. "We're really excited to see if we can play up to our potential and get in contention for the title."
 
In addition to Hayashida and Ogawa, UH will also send Blaze Akana, Kolbe Irei, and Dane Watanabe, all three of whom competed at the season-opening William H. Tucker Invitational. Akana was UH's top finisher at the event in 31^st place at even-par 216.
 
In last season's Cullum Invitational, Akana and Ogawa each tied for 19^th place at 2-over 218.
 
The Saticoy Club is the premier private country club in Ventura County. Quietly nestled in the hillsides of Somis, The Saticoy Club is considered one of the area's best kept golf secrets. The club has been host to many U.S.G.A. Championship Qualifiers and SCGA Amateur Championships.
 
Following the Bill Cullum Invite, UH returns home to host the Kā'anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational, Oct. 26-28 at the Royal Kā'anapali Golf Course in Maui and the inaugural Kapolei Invitational, Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at Kapolei Golf Club in O'ahu.
 
Tournament #2
What: Bill Cullum Invitational
Dates: Monday, Oct. 9 and Tuesday, Oct. 10
Course: The Saticoy Club
Location: Somis, Calif.
Yardage (Par): 7,008 yards (72)
Format: Two-days; 54 holes (36 on Monday, 18 on Tuesday); 5-count-4
Host: CSUN
Field (14 teams): Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, CSU San Bernardino, Hawai'i, North Dakota State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, Stanislaus State, Temple, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, Utah State, and Weber State
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com