Loyola Marymount in front of Texas A&M, Long Beach State, UTEP, UNLV, New Mexico and BYU
KAUA‘I, Hawai‘i – With trade winds sweeping across Kalapaki Bay, Sergio Jimenez found himself atop the John A. Burns Intercollegiate leaderboard once again. The Utah junior – who held a two-shot lead going into last year’s final round before finishing in third – once again set the pace after Thursday’s opening round. Determined to finish what he started, Jimenez holds a one stroke lead after his four-under-par 66 on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala
Sergio Jimenez eyes his putt on the fifth hole on Feb. 12, 2026 on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala in Lihue, Kaua‘i.
Competing on Hawai‘i’s Garden Isle has suited the Spaniard well. During a practice round last year at nearby Kukuiʻula, Jimenez posted a blazing 13-under 59 – a number no college golfer has ever beaten in competition. His steady 66 on Thursday was guided by patience in the trade winds, controlled ball flights and a confident putter.
Host Hawai‘i’s James Whitworth, Texas A&M’s Aaron Pounds, UTEP’s Braden Smith and Loyola Marymount’s Trevor Algya sit just one shot behind at three-under-par (67).
Hawai‘i’s James Whitworth observes his fifth hole tee shot on Feb. 12, 2026 on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala in Lihue,Kaua‘i.
“When you play for Hawai‘i, you learn to hit the ball a lot lower in the trade winds. It has certainly helped my game over the years,” reflected Whitworth, a Hawai‘i senior who originally hails from Carlsbad, Calif. “You have to ride the wind at Hōkūala. The holes are pretty wide. If you play the smart side of the hole, you can avoid trouble and score.”
Pounds arrives on Kaua‘i in top form. The Texas A&M standout recently earned SEC Golfer of the Week honors – his second of the 2025–26 season – following his win at the Gopher Invitational (Maple Plain, Minn.) in September. He is currently ranked No. 23 nationally.
UNLV’s Zach Little poses on the hole 10 tee box on Feb. 12, 2026 on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala in Lihue, Kaua‘i.
UNLV’s Zach Little, the 2025 Burns individual co-champion, opened with an even-par 70 (T21). Little previously broke the Ocean Course’s par-70 scoring record with a 7-under 63.
Loyola Marymount’s Trevor Algya observes his hole 17 tee shot on Feb. 12, 2026 on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala in Lihue, Kaua‘i.
Utah’s Gabriel Palacios, another 2025 Burns individual co-champion, offered his thoughts on the course setup and Jimenez’s success. “It’s great to have that memory of winning in Hawai‘i. Now that it’s a new week and new year, I’m excited to again play alongside my teammates, including Sergio, who has had great success here.”
In the team competition, Loyola Marymount holds a one-stroke advantage at four-under-par. The Lions carded 20 total birdies across their five players, with Algya leading the charge. His three-under 67 featured an eagle on the par-5 second hole.
Thursday’s round included just three teams finishing under par: Loyola Marymount, No. 32 Texas A&M (-3) and No. 42 Long Beach State (-2).
A four-way tie for fourth place at one-over-par features UTEP, UNLV, New Mexico and BYU.
Host Hawai‘i sits in 12th place out of 19 teams.
Hole 17 on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala features an island green and is surrounded by Kalapaki Bay in Lihue, Kaua‘i.
The 49th edition of the Burns began in true aloha fashion. Ocean Course at Hōkūala marketing manager Hualani Duncan, merchandise manager Elise Guirao and PGA Director of Instruction Kellie Hines – all multigenerational natives of Kaua‘i – led players, coaches and spectators with a traditional Hawaiian sunrise chant, “E Ala E.”
With current Hawai‘i men’s golf coach Scott Simpson, the wife of former Hawai‘i men’s golf coach Bob Takano and Ocean Course at Hōkūala GM Tom Freestone joining the ceremony, the blessing celebrated culture and community along one of America’s most stunning shorelines.
Scott Simpson (second from left), Tom Freestone (second from right) and Elise Guirao (far right) listen to June Takano during the E Ala E sunrise ceremony at the Ocean Course at Hōkūala on Feb. 11, 2026 in Lihue, Kaua‘i.
The second round begins on Friday at 9:00 a.m. HST. Attendance is free for walking spectators.
All team and individual scores can be found here: SCOREBOARD
Team Leaderboard
| Place | School | To Par | Rd. 1 |
| 1 | Loyola Marymount | -4 | |
| 2 | Texas A&M | -3 | |
| 3 | Long Beach State | -2 | |
| T4 | UTEP | +1 | |
| T4 | UNLV | +1 | |
| T4 | New Mexico | +1 | |
| T4 | Brigham Young | +1 | |
| T8 | Santa Clara | +2 | |
| T8 | San Diego State | +2 | |
| T10 | Utah | +3 | |
| T10 | California | +3 | |
| 12 | Hawaiʻi | +4 | |
| 13 | St. Mary’s (CA) | +6 | |
| 14 | Washington State | +9 | |
| T15 | Missouri | +11 | |
| T15 | Grand Canyon | +11 | |
| 17 | Miami (OH) | +13 | |
| 18 | Fresno State | +16 | |
| 19 | San Francisco | +20 |
Top Individuals
| Place | Player | School | To Par | Rd. 1 |
| 1 | Sergio Jimenez | Utah | -4 | 66 |
| T2 | Aaron Pounds | Texas A&M | -3 | 67 |
| T2 | Braden Smith | UTEP | -3 | 67 |
| T2 | James Whitworth | Hawaiʻi | -3 | 67 |
| T2 | Trevor Algya | Loyola Marymount | -3 | 67 |
| T6 | Calder Overfelt | Santa Clara | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | Dylan Teeter | UTEP | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | Harry Takis | San Diego State | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | Kihei Akina | Brigham Young | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | *Kris Kuvaas | Texas A&M | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | Mason Snyder | UNLV | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | Norwin Gohm | Long Beach State | -2 | 68 |
| T6 | Wheaton Ennis | Texas A&M | -2 | 68 |
*Competing as Individual
TOURNAMENT FACTS
Dates: Feb. 12–14, 2026
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Time: 9:00 a.m. HST shotgun each day
Venue: Ocean Course at Hōkūala
Location: Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i
Yardage (Par): 7,156 (70)
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About Ocean Course at Hōkūala
Home to the longest continuous stretch of oceanfront holes in the state of Hawai‘i, the Ocean Course was named one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Golf Courses” by MSN Travel. The 18-hole golf course is part of Timbers Kaua‘i Ocean Club & Residences, a private residential club which opened in 2018 on the island’s southeast coast. Timbers Kaua‘i sits on a 450-acre natural amphitheater and offers unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean, Kalapaki Bay and Hā‘upu Mountain Range. Website | Facebook | Instagram
About Troon
The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is 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 950-plus locations in 45-plus states and 40-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, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com, TroonMagazine.com or connect with Troon on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
