No. 2-ranked player in America will compete at Kā‘anapali, which has become a favorite for teams, fans and families
TOURNAMENT FACTS
Dates: Oct. 26–28, 2026
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Time: 8:30 a.m. HST shotgun start each day
Venue: Kā‘anapali Golf Courses; Royal Kā‘anapali
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,700 (71)
Live Scoring: SCOREBOARD
Host: Hawai‘i
Defending Team Champion: Oklahoma
Defending Individual Champion: Ryder Cowan, Oklahoma
LAHAINA, Hawai‘i – The 12th annual Kā‘anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER – hosted each year by the University of Hawai‘i – will take place from Oct. 26–28. Annually a strong and diverse field in men’s college golf, 20 teams from 16 states and 11 athletic conferences will compete over three days for the coveted title.
Royal Kā‘anapali’s fifth hole is framed by Kā‘anapali Beach and the West Maui Mountains.`
TEAMS (20)
Boise State, Cal State Northridge, Clemson, Colorado, East Tennessee State, Georgia, Gonzaga, Hawai‘i, Houston, Kansas, North Florida, Oklahoma, Purdue, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Southern Illinois, TCU, UConn, UC Irvine and Wyoming.
Last year, Oklahoma broke the prior tournament scoring record by 11 shots (789), which was previously held by Kansas since 2021 (800), to win their fourth consecutive team title on Maui.
TCU finished in second place with their best team score (-51) since at least their 1993-94 season.
Georgia posted their second-best tournament score in program history at 47-under to finish in third place.
The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate their fourth consecutive Kā‘anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER team win and sixth overall on Oct. 29, 2025 in Lahaina, HI.
INDIVIDUALS
Ryder Cowan, a senior at Oklahoma and a two-time All-American, is the No. 1-ranked player in NCAA Division I men’s golf. The defending champion will miss the opportunity to defend his title after receiving an exemption to compete in next week’s PGA TOUR VidantaWorld Mexico Open.
Oklahoma’s Ryder Cowan eyes his greenside chip on the picturesque fifth hole during the final round of the 2025 Kā‘anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER on Oct. 29, 2025 in Lahaina, HI.
However, the No. 2-ranked player in America, JD Culbreth at Georgia, will return to Maui for the second time. The sophomore from Thomasville, Georgia set the program record for best round after carding a 10-under in round two of the 2025 Kā‘anapali Classic, which also tied the Royal Kā‘anapali course record of 61 that has stood since 1991.
Georgia’s JD Culbreth closely watches his tee shot on the back nine during the final round of the 2025 Kā‘anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER on Oct. 29, 2025 in Lahaina, HI.
Anson Cabello (Hawai‘i), Dillon Jonke (CSUN) and Chris Salem (Hawai‘i) all grew up on Maui. They will return to the Valley Isle, as well as O‘ahu-born players Josh Hayashida (Hawai‘i) and Dane Watanabe (Hawai‘i).
Jonke, who missed last season after competing in all 11 tournaments in 2024-25, graduated from nearby Maui Prep and was a key contributor on their 2022 Hawai’i High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Boys Golf Championship team. He placed as the individual runner-up at the Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ hosted event. Jonke’s former Pueo teammate and current UH sophomore, Salem, also finished T4 in the individual championship.
Hawai’i senior Anson Cabello eyes his tee shot on Royal Kā‘anapali.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Oklahoma seeks a five-peat after winning the past four Kā‘anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER team titles. The Sooners have won a record six titles overall (2015, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).
Other decorated programs that have won include Oregon (2014), Clemson (2016), LSU (2017), California (2018), Kansas (2021) and East Tennessee St. (2023).
PRACTICE ROUND BLESSING
On Sunday, Oct. 25 at 8 a.m., a pre-tournament blessing will allow players, coaches, support staff and fans to deeply connect with Maui’s aloha spirit.
Royal Kā‘anapali will host a pre-tournament blessing on Sunday, led by a kahu performing a traditional pī kai.
GIVING BACK
On Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 3–4 p.m. on Kā‘anapali’s driving range, Hawai‘i men’s golf coach Scott Simpson and nine Rainbow Warrior players will host a free clinic for keiki. Local children will be given special one-on-one access to learn about college recruiting, full swing lessons, short game tips and more. Learn more and RSVP: UH Junior Golf Clinic.
The Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior golf team will host a free clinic for keiki after the second round of the Kā‘anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER. (Photo by Kā‘anapali Golf Courses)
QUOTES
“Fast greens and trade winds are Royal Kā‘anapali’s best defenses. Accurate iron shots help mitigate big breaks on their undulating greens,” said seven-time PGA TOUR winner and current Hawai‘i men’s golf coach, Scott Simpson. “Certain spots can get you into trouble, but these kids, some of whom are the best amateur players in the world, also have a chance to make a lot of birdies. It’s a fun course in a special setting.”
“As a proud tournament sponsor, OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort will lead the traditional Hawaiian blessing, reflecting the resort’s longstanding commitment to preserving and sharing Hawaiian culture, while fostering meaningful connections between visiting athletes and the Maui community,” said Venus Yi, senior marketing manager, OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort.
VENUE
Hawai‘i’s first planned resort, a model for resorts around the world, boasts over a dozen hotels, two championship golf courses, world-class dining and shopping. Kā‘anapali is a 45-minute drive from Maui’s main airport, Kahului Airport (OGG), and 10-minute drive from Kapalua Airport (JHM).
Elevated tee boxes on Royal Kā‘anapali offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Lāna’i and Molokaʻi. (Photo by Kā‘anapali Golf Courses)
ATTENDANCE
Tournament attendance is free for walking spectators. Parking is available on-site. Overflow parking can be utilized at nearby Whalers Village for a small fee.
Featuring no resort charge, free parking, every third night free and a $100 OUTRIGGER activity credit, OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort is offering a limited time Return to Paradise room special for visitors. Visit their website to learn more and review availability.
The OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort and Royal Kā‘anapali Golf Course offer the perfect pairing for a West Maui getaway. (Photo by OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels)
About Kā‘anapali Golf Courses
Built on 300 acres of land once home to Hawaiian royalty (Royal Chiefs of Maui), Kā‘anapali Golf Courses offers pristine conditions and panoramic views of Lana‘i, Molokai, 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 distinctive and demanding. The tournament-tested layout has welcomed Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Jan Stephenson, Betsy King and other legends.
High-profile events have included Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf (1964), Canada Cup (1964), LPGA’s Kemper Open (1982-85), PGA TOUR Champions’ Kā‘anapali Classic (1987-2000) and SKINS Game (2008-11), and Hawaii High School Athletic Association Golf State Championships (1998, 2009, ’13, ’17, ’22).
Complementing Royal Kā‘anapali is the modernized Kai Course, which hosted Golf Channel’s “Big Break Kā‘anapali” in 2008. 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
Kā‘anapali Golf Courses are managed by Indigo Sports, a Troon company. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at locations in 45-plus states and 40-plus countries. In addition to private, daily fee, resort and municipal golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design and RF DesignStudio, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Pate Clarson – pclarson@kaanapaligolfcourses.com
