The University of Hawai'i men's golf team kicks off the 2023-24 season with the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate, Sept. 25-26 at the Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M.
 
The Rainbow Warriors are regular participants in the tournament having competed as far back at 1976. UH has made 22 previous appearances with its best finish a tie for fifth place in 2000. Prior to last season, the Warriors' last appearance was in 2008.
 
The tournament is hosted by New Mexico and features a 20-team field. Other participants include BYU​, Colorado, Kansas State, Long Beach State, New Mexico State, San Diego, San Diego State, San Francisco, Santa Clara, TCU, Texas Tech, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, USC, Utah Tech, UTEP, UTSA, and Wyoming
 
"Our Rainbow Warrior golfers are really looking forward to starting the year at the Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.," head coach Scott Simpson said. "We played there last year for the first time and our team played well. It's a very fair golf course with a good variety of holes. They have hosted NCAA Championships and PGA Tour Qualifying tournaments. It is a strong field and we can't wait to compete with them!"
 
Participants will play 54 holes – 36 on Monday and 18 on Tuesday – at the 7,546-yard, par 72 course. The Championship Golf Course opened in 1967 and has hosted four NCAA Championships.
 
UH's lineup includes returnees Blaze Akana and Garrett Takeuchi and three newcomers – freshmen Dane Watanabe and Anson Cabello – and transfer Kolbe Irei. Akana sported the team's best scoring average last season at 72.4 strokes per round while Takeuchi, who competed in only two tournaments last season, had the best qualifying score.
 
"We are sending a strong team with two seniors, one junior and two freshmen," Simpson said. "We had six rounds of qualifying and all five players earned their spots. We have a team that keeps the ball in play which is very important at the University of New Mexico golf course. If you get very far off the fairway, you're looking for your ball in the desert."
 
Irei, a native of Honolulu and Roosevelt High School graduate, spent the past three seasons at UC Irvine, where he averaged 74.52 in 20 career tournaments. Watanabe is a 2023 graduate of 'Iolani School, where he is the defending state champion and Cabello is a 2023 graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Maui, where captured the Maui Interscholastic League title in 2022.
 
UH finished in a tie for 14^th at last season's Tucker Intercollegiate.
 
Simpson begins his third season as head coach of the Rainbow Warriors. Last season, he led UH to its lowest scoring average in program history (291.0) while Akana recorded the second-best scoring average in relation to par.
 
Tournament #1
What: William H. Tucker Intercollegiate
When: Monday, Sept. 25 and Tuesday, Sept. 26
Where: UNM Championship Golf Course; Albuquerque, N.M.
Format: 54 holes (36-18); 5-count-4
Host: New Mexico
Field (20 teams): BYU​, Colorado, Hawai'i, Kansas State, Long Beach State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Diego, San Diego State, San Francisco, Santa Clara, TCU, Texas Tech, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, USC, Utah Tech, UTEP, UTSA, Wyoming