Washington’s Vivian Lu birdies final hole for co-title with Gonzaga’s Grace Lee
MAUI, Hawai‘i – The Washington Huskies showed great resilience during their final round to win the 2025 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational at Kā‘anapali at 19-under. Their 11-stroke victory came against two-time Dr. Donnis’ team champions, Sacramento State (2022, ’23), who finished in second at 8-under. Oregon State (-7), Denver (-2) and BYU (E) rounded out the top five.
“We didn’t begin this tournament great. I attributed it to the nerves of starting three freshman and Royal Kā‘anapali’schallenging layout,” described Washington women’s head coach, Mary Lou Mulflur, who will retire at season’s end after leading the Huskies for 42 seasons. “However, we stayed present, focused and showed terrific grit. I can’t think of a better place to celebrate a win!”
Washington’s victory is the Huskies’ first team title of the 2024-25 season.
Sacramento State continues to flirt with the winner’s circle. The Hornets have come up just short in their last three events, finishing in second, fourth and second, respectively.
In an exciting individual competition that came down to the final hole, Washington’s Vivian Lu birdied the treacherous 18th hole – which World Golf Hall of Fame member Arnold Palmer called, “One of the best and most challenging finishing holes I’ve ever played,” – to tie Gonzaga’s Grace Lee at 11-under. Lu and Lee were named individual co-champions.
Washington’s Vivian Lu (left) and Gonzaga’s Grace Lee celebrate their 2025 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational individual co-championship.
“Viv is very deserving of her co-title after putting in the work necessary to nurture success,” continued Mulflur. “She has always harnessed great potential. Her commitment to continuous improvement has paid off. I am proud of her.”
The New Zealand native and top-ranked player at Kā‘anapali (No. 29) had an eventful final day, featuring six birdies and four bogies to clinch her first collegiate win. In five events across the 2024-25 season, the Husky sophomore and 2024 Annika Award Final Fall Watch List finished no worse than 11th, including three top-fives.
After five top-five finishes last season, including a win at the 2023 Coeur d’Alene Collegiate, Gonzaga’s Grace Lee broke through to earn her second collegiate win on Maui. The former WCC Freshman of the Year was consistent during her final round, carding sixteen pars and two birdies.
Gonzaga’s Grace Lee bombs her tee shot on the par 4 3rd hole on Royal Kā‘anapali.
Oregon State sophomore and O‘ahu native Raya Nakao earned a three-way tie for sixth with Cal Poly’s Jensen Jalufka and Sacramento State’s Sneha Sharan (-4). Nakao previously won the 2022 HHSAA State Championship at Kā‘anapali.
“On my very last hole (started on hole 18), I hit a 50-degree wedge that was tracking well, but couldn’t believe my eyes when it disappeared in the cup!” reminisced Knox. “My first ever hole-in-one, in Hawai‘i of all places, was really memorable.”
The host Rainbow Wahine were led by junior Emiko Sverduk (T40; +2), the team scoring leader in five tournaments last year.
Next on Hawai‘i’s schedule, they travel to Fresno, Calif. to play in the Fresno State Classic.
All team and individual scores can be found here: SCOREBOARD
Team Leaderboard
| Place | School | To Par | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 | Total |
| 1 | Washington | -19 | -3 | -15 | -1 | 845 |
| 2 | Sacramento State | -8 | -2 | -7 | +1 | 856 |
| 3 | Oregon State | -7 | -5 | -4 | +2 | 857 |
| 4 | Denver | -2 | -2 | -7 | +7 | 862 |
| 5 | BYU | E | +3 | -10 | +7 | 864 |
| 6 | Mercer | +8 | -4 | +4 | +8 | 872 |
| 7 | Seattle | +10 | +7 | E | +3 | 874 |
| T8 | Cal Poly | +12 | +3 | E | +9 | 876 |
| T8 | UC Riverside | +12 | +3 | +3 | +6 | 876 |
| 10 | Gonzaga | +15 | E | +12 | +3 | 876 |
| T11 | UC Davis | +16 | +4 | +5 | +7 | 880 |
| T11 | Fresno State | +16 | +9 | +5 | +2 | 880 |
| 13 | San Diego State | +18 | +11 | -3 | +10 | 882 |
| 14 | Sam Houston | +22 | +6 | +7 | +9 | 886 |
| 15 | Montana State | +25 | +7 | +5 | +13 | 889 |
| 16 | Hawai‘i | +37 | +14 | +10 | +13 | 901 |
| 17 | Arkansas State | +39 | +8 | +19 | +12 | 903 |
Top Individuals
| Place | Player | School | To Par | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 | Total |
| T1 | Grace Lee | Gonzaga | -11 | -3 | -6 | -2 | |
| T1 | Vivian Lu | Washington | -11 | -2 | -7 | -2 | |
| T3 | Emma Bryant | Denver | -7 | -2 | -3 | -2 | |
| T3 | Kyra Ly | Oregon State | -7 | -1 | -4 | -2 | |
| 5 | Maria Jose Barragan | BYU | -5 | -4 | +1 | -2 | |
| T6 | Sneha Sharan | Sacramento State | -4 | -3 | -2 | +1 | |
| T6 | Raya Nakao | Oregon State | -4 | -2 | E | -2 | |
| T6 | Jensen Jalufka | Cal Poly | -4 | +3 | -5 | -2 | |
| T9 | Vari Karimanal | UC Davis | -3 | -4 | E | +1 | |
| T9 | Mikayla Dubnik | Mercer | -3 | -3 | -1 | +1 | |
| T9 | Athena Ni | Washington | -3 | -2 | -2 | +1 | |
| T9 | Caitlin Maurice | Sacramento State | -3 | -2 | -2 | +1 |
*Competing as Individual
TOURNAMENT FACTS
Dates: March 24–26, 2025
Venue: Royal Kā‘anapali
Location: Lahaina, Maui
Yardage (Par): 6,013 (72)
Format: 54 holes; 18 holes each day; 5-count-4
Host: Hawai‘i
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 940-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, 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, X, and Instagram
MEDIA CONTACT: Pate Clarson, pclarson@kaanapaligolfcourses.com
