HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's golf team will make a return trip to the PING Cougar Classic, which runs Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 at the Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will compete in the event for the first time since 2007. Hawai'i made 10 consecutive appearances from 1998-2007 and made its first two appearances in 1994 and '95. UH's best finish was a tie for fifth place in 2001.
 
Hosted by Brigham Young, the 58^th edition of the Cougar Classic features a 16-team field which includes three other Big West teams – CSUN, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. Participants will play 54 holes – 36 on Friday and 18 on Saturday – at the 7,142-yard, par-72 course.
 
Other competing teams include Boise State, Cal Baptist, Colorado, Denver, Gonzaga, Nevada, New Mexico State, Saint Mary's, Utah Tech, Utah Valley, and Wyoming.
 
Hawai'i added the Cougar Classic to its schedule after the cancellation of the Amer Ari Invitational left the team with one less competition. UH will send a contingent of five golfers – Blaze Akana, Remington Hirano, Atsuya Oishi, Tyler Ogawa, and Josh Hayashida.
 
The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a 13^th place finish at the Western Intercollegiate last week in Santa Cruz, Calif. Akana was UH's top finisher, tying for 31^st place at 216.
 
Following the Cougar Classic, UH will compete in the Big West Championship, April 30-May 2 in La Quinta, Calif.
 
Tournament #9
What: 58^th PING Cougar Classic
Date: Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23
Where: Riverside Country Club; Provo, Utah
Yardage (Par): 7,142 yards (72)
Format: 54 holes (38-18); 5-count-4
Host: Brigham Young
Field (16 teams): Brigham Young, Boise State, Cal Baptist, Colorado, CSUN, Denver, Gonzaga, Hawai'i, Nevada, New Mexico State, Saint Mary's, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Utah Tech, Utah Valley, and Wyoming.