HONOLULU – For the second consecutive year, the University of Hawai'i's Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational women's golf tournament will be held on a neighbor island with this year's event moving to Maui at Royal Kā'anapali Golf Course.
 
The 39^th edition of the tournament will run March 24-26 at the 6,013-yard, par-72 track. The longest-running tournament in program history was traditionally held at the Kāne'ohe Klipper Golf Course for 33 years however moved off O'ahu for the first time last year and was held at Ocean Course Hokuala in Līhu'e, Kaua'i.
 
Named in honor of UH's first women's athletics director, The "Donnis" features a 17-team field which includes nine Top 100 nationally ranked teams led by No. 47 UC Davis and No. 49 Oregon State.
 
The rest of the field includes Arkansas State, BYU (#53), Cal Poly (#84), Denver (#69), Fresno State, Gonzaga, Mercer (#91), Montana State, Sacramento State (#51), Sam Houston (#96), San Diego State, Seattle U., UC Riverside, Washington (#64).
 
Sac State captured back-to-back championships in 2022 and '23.
 
Participants will play at total of 54 holes, 18 holes each day, with a 8:00 a.m., shotgun start each day. Royal Kā'anapali. Opened in 1962 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the Royal Kā'anapali Course features wide fairways and undulating greens which make it distinctive and demanding.  The tournament-tested layout has welcomed Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jan Stephenson, Betsy King and other legends.
 
UH, which posted its lone Donnis Thompson title in the inaugural year in 1986, will feature a line-up of Varnika S. Achanta, Sofina Firouzi, Maline Kraus, Emiko Sverduk, and Kellie Yamane. In addition, Mia Hirashima and Wendy Song will compete as individuals.
 
Last season, the Rainbow Wahine placed 15^th overall with a 911 total. Among this year's squad, Sverduk finished in a tie for 47^th while Yamane placed 88^th. Song also competed as part of the team last year and tied for 71^st.
 
In 1999, the previously named the Rainbow Wahine Invitational was re-named the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational. Dr. Thompson, who was an avid supporter of women's equality, was inducted into the school's Sports Circle of Honor in 1988 for her tremendous achievements and many contributions to UH Athletics. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 75.
   
Tournament Facts
Date: March 24-26, 2025
Format: 54 Holes (18-18-18); 5-count-4
Time: 8:00 a.m. HT shotgun start each day
Course: Royal Kā'anapali Golf Course
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,013 yards (72)
Defending Team Champion: Arizona State
Defending Individual Champion: Ashley Menne, Arizona State
 
Participating Teams (17):
Hawai'i, Arkansas State, BYU, Cal Poly, Denver, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Mercer, Montana State, Oregon State, Sacramento State, Sam Houston, San Diego State, Seattle U, UC Davis, UC Riverside, Washington