Collegiate golf event to bring 20 top teams to Hawai’i Island
Kohala Coast, Hawai‘i – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is set to host the 33rd Annual Amer Ari Invitational, one of the top collegiate golf events in the U.S., February 7-10, 2024. Hosted by the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, the Ameri Ari Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play competition played on Mauna Lani’s famed North Course. Spectators are welcome to attend.
The 2024 Amer Ari Invitational field features many of the top college golf programs in the nation, including Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Stanford, Pepperdine, the University of Texas and the University of Oregon. In total, 20 colleges and universities from across the U.S. will compete in this year’s tournament.
In the event’s 33 year history many future PGA TOUR and LIV Golf stars have played in the Amer Ari Invitational, including past champions Notah Begay, Matt Kuchar, Anthony Kim, Cameron Tringale, Aaron Wise, Matthew Wolff and David Puig. In 2023, when the event was played at Hāpuna Golf Course in Waimea, Hawai’i, organizers were forced to cancel the Amer Ari Invitational due to high winds.
“Mauna Lani couldn’t be more proud and honored to host the best teams and golfers in collegiate golf on our famed North Course,” said Mauna Lani Golf & Sports Club General Manager Ross Birch. “As evident by the list of past Amer Ari Invitational champions, it won’t be long before we see some of this year’s participants playing professionally on television – the field is that good.”
“Since the tournament’s inception 33 years ago, this event has remained on the island of Hawai`i the entire time, having the opportunity of changing host sites periodically,” said University of Hawai`i Hilo Men’s Golf Coach Earl Tamiya. “We are very excited to be back at the Mauna Lani Resort’s North Course after a 15 year hiatus to showcase one of our island’s top venues to this year’s very strong collegiate field.”
Amer Ari Invitational Schedule of Events:
February 7, 2024, Wednesday
12:30 PM Practice round – Shotgun start
February 8, 2024, Thursday
7:30 AM First Round – Shotgun start
February 9, 2024, Friday
7:30 AM Second Round – Shotgun start
February 10, 2024, Saturday
7:30 AM Final Round – Shotgun start
1:30 PM Awards Ceremony
Tournament History:
Year Winning Team Individual Medalist
2023 Cancelled due to high winds
2022 Oklahoma State Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra
2021 Arizona State David Puig, Arizona State
2020 Pepperdine William Mouw, Pepperdine
2019 Oklahoma State Matthew Wolff, Oklahoma State
2018 Oklahoma State Justin Suh, USC
2017 Texas Tech Fredrik Nilehn, Texas Tech
2016 USC Aaron Wise, Oregon
2015 Arizona State Cheung-Tsu Pan, Washington
2014 Oklahoma State Jordan Niebrugge, Oklahoma State
2013 UCLA Dominic Bozzelli, Auburn
2012 Texas Jeffery Kang, USC
2011 Oklahoma State Daniel Miernicki, Oregon
2010 USC Nick Taylor, Washington
2009 Stanford Jesper Kennegard, Arizona State
2008 Oklahoma Jonathan Moore, Oklahoma State
2007 Georgia Tech Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech
2006 Oklahoma State Tyler Leon, Oklahoma State
2005 Georgia Tech Anthony Kim, Oklahoma
2004 UCLA Adam Meyer, TCU
2003 Georgia Tech Troy Matteson, Georgia Tech
2002 Texas Sprague Kolp, Nevado-Reno
2001 Georgia Tech Matt Kuchar, Georgia Tech Bryce Molder, Georgia Tech
2000 Georgia Tech Matt Kuchar, Georgia Tech Carlton Forrester, Georgia Tech
1999 UNLV James Watt, Nevada-Reno
1998 UNLV Bill Lunde, UNLV
1997 Oklahoma State Jim Skinner, SMU
1996 Oklahoma State Chris Hanell, Arizona State
1995 Arizona State Notah Begay, Stanford
1994 Arkansas Todd Dempsey, Arizona State
1993 UNLV Alan Bratton, Oklahoma State
1992 Oklahoma State Craig Hainline, Oklahoma State
For more information on Mauna Lani Golf, visit www.maunalanigolf.com or call 808-885-6655.
About Mauna Lani Golf
Since opening in 1981, the Mauna Lani golf courses have collected numerous “best courses you can play” awards from Golfweek, Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine. Mauna Lani’s award-winning South Course formerly hosted the prestigious Hawai’i State Open and was the site of the Senior Skins Game from 1990 to 2000, hosting many of golf’s greats, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriquez, and Gary Player. Recently the Mauna Lani South Course as the ‘No. 1 Golf Course in the U.S.’ by users of GolfPass, the digital platform that brings golfers together with the best golf courses, instruction, entertainment, travel information. GolfPass also recognized Mauna Lani’s South Course as the No. 1 golf course in Hawai’i and the North Course the No. 11 in the Aloha State. The rankings were determined from more than 315,000 ratings and reviews in 2022.
About Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Situated along the sun-drenched Kohala Coast on sacred land marked by royal fishponds, natural lava plains, lush tropical gardens and alluring beaches, Mauna Lani — meaning “mountain reaching heaven” — is an inspiring spiritual haven defining a new era of experiential luxury on the Island of Hawai’i. Among Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels in the World as well as Top 15 Beach Resorts in the U.S., Mauna Lani underwent a complete reimagination in January of 2020. Contemporary accommodations, oceanfront dining at CanoeHouse, three distinct pools, a signature spa and wellness haven including an on-site goop store, Kainalu Ocean Sports and Living Culture programs, and an interactive Holoholo Kids Crew set the tone for enriching and transformational experiences. For more information on Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection please visit www.aubergeresorts.com/maunalani
Media Contacts:
Bacchus Agency
Rob Myers
480.477.0506
