Two of America’s top five programs anchor an impressive field
TOURNAMENT INFO
Dates: November 2 – 4, 2024
Venue: Royal Kā‘anapali
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,700 (71)
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Tee Times: 8:30 a.m. HST shotgun each day
Live-Scoring: SCOREBOARD
Host School: Hawai‘i
Defending Team Co-Champions: Oklahoma and East Tennessee State
Defending Individual Champion: Luke Kluver, Oklahoma
Donation Link: 2024 Kā‘anapali Classic invites you to support families of Maui wildfires
MAUI, Hawai‘i – The University of Hawai‘i will host the tenth annual Kā‘anapali Classic – Collegiate Invitational from Nov. 2 – 4. Perennially a strong field in NCAA DI men’s college golf, 21 teams from 17 states and 11 athletic conferences will compete over three days for the title.
REBUILDING MAUI
August 8, 2023, a date that forever changed the island of Maui and state of Hawai‘i. The largest natural disaster in state history tragically left thousands of residents homeless, claimed over 100 lives, destroyed businesses and much of the historic town of Lahaina.
In partnership with 501(c)3 organizations Spare for Change and Member for a Day, a fundraising campaign has been launched around the Kā‘anapali Classic to benefit Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ own associates who tragically lost everything in the fires. The campaign has no minimum donation. Everyone is invited to assist in one of two ways:
- Make a one-time contribution of your choice.
- Pledge the amount of your choice for each birdie and eagle made by your favorite school.
Scores and fundraising updates will be shared after each round. The 2023 Kā‘anapali Classic surpassed $10,000 in donations from teams, parents, alumni and golf fans.
The Oklahoma Sooners will seek their fifth team title and third in a row at Kā‘anapali.
SCHOOLS (21)
Boise State, Cal State Northridge, Colorado, East Tennessee State, Georgia, Gonzaga, Hawai‘i, Indiana, Kansas, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, LSU, North Florida, Oklahoma, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Southern Illinois, TCU, UConn, UC Irvine and Wyoming.
STANDINGS
Oklahoma and LSU are the highest-ranked teams, competing at No. 2 and No. 5, respectively. 13 players are listed in SCOREBOARD’s top-100 individuals. LSU senior transfer Algot Kleen, who formerly spent three years at East Tennessee St., is the highest-ranked player at No. 5.
Four teams visiting Maui qualified for the 2024 NCAA DI Men’s Golf Championship: East Tennessee State, LSU, Oklahoma and North Florida.
CONFERENCES (11)
Atlantic Sun (2), Big 12 (3), Big East (1), Big Sky (1), Big Ten (1), Big West (3), Conference USA (1), Missouri Valley (1), Mountain West (4), SEC (3) and Southern (1).
Royal Kā‘anapali’s fifth hole is framed by Kā‘anapali Beach and the West Maui Mountains. (Photo by Kā‘anapali Golf Courses)
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Storied programs that have won the Kā‘anapali Classic include Oregon (2014), Oklahoma (2015, 2019, 2022, 2023), Clemson (2016), LSU (2017), California (2018), Kansas (2021) and East Tennessee St. (2023).
GIVING BACK
On Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. on Kā‘anapali’s driving range, Hawai‘i men’s golf coach Scott Simpson and nine Hawai‘i players will host a clinic for keiki of the Maui Junior Golf Association and Lahaina Junior Golf Association. Local children will be given special one-on-one access to learn about college recruiting, full swing lessons, short game tips and more.
QUOTES
“The Kā‘anapali Classic is the one event that teams always say they do not want to miss. Top programs fly here from across the country to finish their fall seasons.” reflected Hawai‘i men’s golf coach and seven-time PGA TOUR winner, Scott Simpson. “They love competing on Royal Kā‘anapali in the morning, then jumping in the Pacific late afternoon. It’s the best of both worlds!
Each team will provide donated items and financial assistance to Kā‘anapali’s affected workers. Everyone is glad to contribute. Many teams will also stay in Kā‘anapali to directly support local businesses and help the community continue the long road back.”
When describing UH, Simpson noted, “Maui standout Anson Cabello will lead the way for the Rainbow Warriors. Anson had a great summer, winning the Kauai Amateur and finishing second in the Manoa Cup. His teammate Josh Hayashida won the Manoa Cup. Last year we set a UH scoring record. We will try to break it again this week.
Simpson concluded by noting, “Everyone at Kā‘anapali goes out of their way to make this event special for the players, parents, alumni and fans. We are excited to host a clinic for Maui junior players to show them how much fun that college golf can be. We hope this year’s tournament will be as exciting as last year, which came down to the final hole!”
Hawai’i’s Anson Cabello observes his tee shot on Royal Kā‘anapali.
ATTENDANCE
Tournament attendance is free. Walking spectators are welcome. Parking is accessible via Kā‘anapali Golf Courses and Whaler’s Village throughout the event.
SOCIAL MEDIA
About Kā’anapali Golf Courses
Built on 300 acres of land once home to Hawaiian royalty, Kā‘anapali Golf Courses present golfers with pristine conditions and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and West Maui Mountains.
Opened in 1962 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the par-71, 6,700-yard Royal Kā‘anapali Course features wide fairways and undulating greens which make it both distinctive and demanding. The tournament-tested layout played host to the Champions Tour Kā‘anapali Classic for 14 years, Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup and LPGA Kemper Open, welcoming Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jan Stephenson, Betsy King and other legends.
Complementing the Royal Kā‘anapali Course is the modernized Kā‘anapali Kai Course, which hosted Golf Channel’s “Big Break Kā‘anapali” in 2008. Extensively renovated in 2005, the 6,400-yard, par-70 layout boasts an array of strategically placed bunkers, contoured fairways and resurfaced greens.
More information: www.kaanapaligolfcourses.com and 808-661-3691.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 900-plus locations in 45-plus states and 35-plus countries, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com, TroonMagazine.com or connect with Troon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Troon Chronicles, Press Room, and via The Turn Podcast.
About Spare for Change
Husband and wife team David and Susan Havens founded Spare for Change in 2011 to make a difference in golf. David moved to Maui in 2004 to begin his golf career in Hawaii. He was selected as the Aloha Section PGA Junior Golf Professional of the Year in 2012, Aloha Section PGA Teacher of the Year in 2013 and Aloha Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2017. He is a former officer and President of the Aloha Section PGA, supporting the Board of Directors and Hawaii’s PGA professionals. He is the owner/operator of The Havens Experience as a teaching professional at Eagle Ranch Golf Club in Eagle, CO and Maui Nui Golf Club in Kihei, Maui, HI.
Susan’s passion for golf began at the age of 10 in Indianapolis. After graduating from Purdue University, she moved to Maui to pursue a career in hospitality. She met David a few years later. The pair had their first date at Manele Golf Course on the island of Lanai.
Spare for Change currently operates out of Eagle, CO where the Havens family recently relocated. Both Susan and David, having worked at Kā‘anapali for 15-plus years, have a special place in their heart for Lahaina and those who call Lahaina home. It is their pleasure to partner with Kā‘anapali Golf Courses to give back to those who lost so much.
About Member for a Day
Our mission is simple: Play golf, change the world. At Member for a Day, we help nonprofits and charitable foundations fundraise by auctioning off once-in-a-lifetime golf experiences.
In May 2020, we launched our first-ever charity golf auction and raised over $101,000 in a week to feed hospital frontline workers in New York City affected by COVID-19. Since then, we’ve raised over $6 million for charity. If you’re a nonprofit who’s looking for an innovative way to fundraise, don’t hesitate to reach out.
