Tournament Notes
The University of Hawai'i women's golf team is set to host the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, March 15 through 16, at the Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course in Kane'ohe, O'ahu.
For 24 years, the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational has given women's golf teams from around the nation, and even some international teams, the opportunity to compete and share their athletic talents in one of the biggest tournaments in the 50th state.
The event began in 1986 as the Rainbow Wahine Invitational Golf Tournament, and since then has seen 13 different team champions with 20 different women winning individually. In the inaugural tournament, UH proved it could compete with the best programs in the nation, tying with powerhouse Arizona for the team title – for its only tournament championship.
In 1999, the tournament was re-named as the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in honor of UH's first women's athletics director. Dr. Thompson was inducted into the school's Sports Circle of Honor in 1988 for her tremendous achievements and many contributions to the UH Athletics programs. She was an avid supporter of women's equality, disagreeing with the idea that athletics were a “men's place” and that women had no place in sports. Dr. Thompson passed away last year at the age of 75.
The Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational is now held every March at the 5,907-yard, par 72, Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course on the windward side of the island of O'ahu. The course has served as home to the tournament every year except when it moved to Olomana Golf Links in 2000 and '01.
17 teams will compete in this year's 25th anniversary of the honorary tournament, playing two round on March 15 and the final round on March 16. The field includes host UH, Osaka Gakuin of Japan, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawai'i-Hilo, Jackson State, Nevada, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, North Texas, Nova Southeastern, Rollins College, Sacramento State, San Francisco, Seattle, UTEP, and Weber State.
Tournament #7
What: Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational
Date: Monday & Tuesday, March 15-16
Where: Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course; Kane'ohe, O'ahu
Yardage (Par): 5,907 (72)
Format: 54 holes (36 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday)
Host: Hawai'i
Who: Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Hawai'i-Hilo, Jackson State, Nevada, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, North Texas, Nova Southeastern, Osaka Gakuin, Rollins College, Sacramento State, San Francisco, Seattle, UTEP, Weber State
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