University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

For four decades, the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational has given women’s golf teams from around the nation, and even some international teams, the opportunity to compete and share their athletic talents in one of the biggest tournaments in the 50th state.

The event began in 1986, and in that inaugural tournament, host Hawai‘i proved they could compete with the best programs in the nation. UH tied with powerhouse Arizona for the team title – for its only tournament championship – and Rainbow Wahine Bobbie Kokx took the individual title with a score of 8-under par. In 1989, Jan Shiroma tied for first however lost in a sudden dealth playoff.

Within that year and the years following, 19 different teams have captured the tournament’s title, with eight teams having won the title more than once (Arizona, 8; Oklahoma State, 5; Texas A&M, 4; Arizona State, 2; Stanford, 2; Georgia, 2; USC, 2; Texas, 2; and Sacramento State, 2). Arizona holds the record with eight tournament championships, including the 2015 title when they ran away with the championship by 25 strokes. Individually, Arizona has nine medalists while Texas A&M has five.

A total of 35 different women have earned medalist honors, five having repeated as champions. This impressive list includes Annika Sorenstam who, before going on to a standout professional career, took the individual title in 1991 & ’92. Other repeat champions include San Jose State’s Janice Moodie (1994, ’97), Arizona’s Krissie Register (1996, ’99), Washington State’s Kim Welch (1994, ’95), and Idaho’s Kayla Mortellaro (2009, ’12).

The 54-hole team record is 822 (280-266-276) by Arizona State in 2024 when the tournament moved off-island for the first time at the Ocean Course Hokuala in Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i. The individual record was also broken in 2024 by ASU’s Ashley Menne, who set the mark at 14-under 202. The 2025 edition island-hopped to Maui and was played at the Royal Ka‘anapali Golf Course.

In 1999, the tournament, previously named the Rainbow Wahine Invitational, was re-named as the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in honor of UH’s first women’s athletics director. Dr. Thompson was inducted into the school’s Sports Circle of Honor in 1988 for her tremendous achievements and many contributions to the UH Athletics programs. She was an avid supporter of women’s equality, disagreeing with the idea that athletics were a “men’s place” and that women had no place in sports. Dr. Thompson passed away in 2009 at the age of 75.

Low 54-Hole Score:
Team: 822, Arizona State (2024)
Individual: 202, Ashley Menne, Arizona State (2024)
 
Most Team Championships:
8 – Arizona (1986, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’99, 2000, ’13)
5 – Oklahoma State (2001, ’02, ’08, ’15, ’16)
4 – Texas A&M (2007, ’09, ’12, ’17)
3 – Arizona State (2011, ’20, ’24)
2 – Stanford (1988, ’89); Georgia (1993, ’95); USC (1994, 2003); Texas (2018, ’19), Sacramento State (2021, ’22)
 
Individual Medalist:
9 – Arizona
5 – Texas A&M
3 – Arizona State
2 – Idaho, San Jose State, Washington State
1 – Fresno State, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Kennesaw State, Long Beach State, LSU, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Sacramento State, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC
 
Multiple Individual Medalist:
Annika Sorenstam, Arizona (1991 & ’92)
Janice Moodie, San Jose State (1994, ’97)
Krissie Register, Arizona (1996, ’99)
Kim Welch, Washington State (1994, ’95)
Kayla Mortellaro, Idaho (2009, ’12)

Past Tournament Champions
@ - won on 4th playoff hole
* - second and third rounds cancelled due to rain
# - won on 2nd playoff hole
^ - won on 1st playoff hole
! - tournament record
& - won on 5th playoff hole