10 teams are listed in the NCAA Top 100 rankings
TOURNAMENT FACTS
Dates: March 17–19, 2024
Venue: Ocean Course at Hōkūala
Location: Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i
Yardage (Par): 5,929 (72)
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Tee Times: 9:00 a.m. HST shotgun start each day
Live Scoring: SMART Golf
Host: Hawai‘i
Defending Team Champion: Sacramento State (882)
Defending Individual Champion: Angelina Kim, Long Beach State (218)
TEEING OFF
For the first time, the 38th annual Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational (March 17–19) – the University of Hawai‘i’s storied women’s golf tournament – will move from O‘ahu to Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i’s “Garden Isle” will host 15 teams from 12 states on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala.
The 16th green on the Ocean Course at Hōkūala is framed by Kalapaki Bay and the Hā‘upu Mountain Range. (Photo by Ocean Course at Hōkūala)
TEAMS
Arizona State, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai‘i, Long Beach State, Mercer, Morehead State, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rutgers, Sacramento State, San Francisco, Texas State, Tulane and Washington.
10 teams are ranked in this week’s NCAA Division I Top 100 (per SCOREBOARD), led by No. 19 Arizona State and No. 29 North Carolina.
Last week, the Sun Devils were red-hot against a deep field, defeating 11 of the top 25 teams in the country to win the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina).
Arizona State poses with the trophy after winning the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (Photo by Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina)
In October 2023, the Tar Heels won the inaugural St. Andrews Links Collegiate on the famed Old Course. Their victory in last month’s UCF Challenge (Orlando, Florida) over an 18-team field was their second team championship in as many starts.
North Carolina smiles after winning the UCF Challenge on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by UNC Athletics)
Two-time defending champion Sacramento State seeks their third straight Dr. Donnis Thompson Intercollegiate title. The Hornets will fly high to Kaua‘i after capturing last month’s Causeway Invitational (Sacramento, California).
INDIVIDUALS
Washington senior Camille Boyd is projected to be the top-ranked player at Hōkūala. The two-time collegiate winner will arrive on Kaua‘i after tying for first place in last week’s Juli Inkster Meadow Club Intercollegiate (Fairfax, California).
Boyd’s Huskie teammate, senior Stefanie Deng, won the Lady Bulldog Invitational (Athens, Georgia) in January.
Arizona State’s Ashley Menne, a three-time Arizona Women’s Amateur Champion, aims to cap off her senior season with a historic feat: becoming just the fourth four-time All-American in program history.
Twin sisters Jasmine and Janae Leovao will tee it up for Long Beach State. Jasmine earned 2022-23 Big West Freshman of the Year honors after qualifying for last year’s NCAA postseason.
O‘ahu native and Hawai‘i Pacific University junior transfer, Kellie Yamane, will look to lead the Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine in her home state.
Hawaiʻi junior Kellie Yamane follows through on her approach shot during the first round of the Pac-12 Preview on Feb. 19, 2024, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. (Photo by Hawaiʻi Athletics)
VENUE
The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is part of Timbers Kaua‘i, a beautiful 450-acre resort property surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Kalapaki Bay and Hā‘upu Mountain Range.
EVENT HISTORY
In 1999, the Rainbow Wahine Invitational was re-named in honor of the University of Hawai‘i’s first women’s athletic director, Dr. Donnis Thompson, who was introduced into Hawai‘i’s Sports Circle of Honor in 1988 for her numerous contributions to UH Athletics.
Notable individual champions include Annika Sorenstam (Arizona, 1991 and ’92), Janice Moodie (San Jose State, 1994 and ’97), Krissie Register (Arizona, 1996 and ’99) and Kim Welch (Washington State, 1994 and ’95).
Of the 32 individual medalists, five have successfully defended their titles the following year.
QUOTES
“After hosting college golf’s top men in last month’s Burns Intercollegiate, we are excited to welcome the women to our humble slice of paradise,” said Tom Freestone, PGA General Manager, Ocean Course at Hōkūala. “We know that players, coaches and fans alike will quickly embrace Hōkūala’s quality conditioning, incredible scenery and gracious aloha.”
Hawaiʻi’s Monica Johnson eyes her tee shot on No. 4 during the first round of the Kā‘anapali Classic on March 23, 2023, in Lahaina, Maui. (Photo by Kā‘anapali Golf Courses)
“I am very excited to host the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational at the Ocean Course at Hōkūala,” said Hawai‘i Women’s Golf Head Coach and three-time Big West Coach of the Year, Julie Brooks. “The course features some spectacular views and some challenging holes. Hōkūala is set up perfectly for scoring. We have teams coming from all over the country that are in for a treat.”
ATTENDANCE
Tournament attendance is free for walking spectators. Parking is available on-site. The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is a five-minute drive from Lihue Airport (LIH).
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 Timbers Kaua’i at Hōkūala
Located in the 450-acre Hōkūala resort community along the Pacific, Kaua‘i’s premier luxury resort and residence club combines tranquil Hawaiian living with Timbers Resorts’ signature luxury amenities and a personalized full-service concierge team. Timbers Kaua‘i boasts exceptional offerings for those visiting or looking to make paradise their home through luxury vacation rentals, one-of-a-kind deeded fractional and whole ownership real estate opportunities.
Amenities include the 18-hole award-winning Ocean Course at Hōkūala – Kaua‘i’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course; The Farm at Hōkūala, a 16.5-acre organic farm and orchard; oceanfront dining at Hualani’s with “farm-to-fork” fine dining; a two-tiered infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean, as well as a family pool and hot tub; spa services and wellness programs; 13 miles of accessible, lush trails; and easy access to Kalapaki Beach and Lihue Airport (LIH).
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company, providing services at 875-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.
