The University of Hawai’i men’s golf team got off to a blistering start in Maui, carding one of its best rounds in program history. In the opening round of the Kā’anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational at the Royal Kā’anapali Course, the team shot an impressive 11-under 273. This total is the lowest in program history and the 11-under par score is tied for the fourth-best in relation to par.
Currently, the Rainbow Warriors are in sixth place among the 20-team field. Four out of the five team members shot under par, showcasing their strong performance. Garrett Takeuchi, a junior from Fresno, Calif., had an outstanding round, shooting 4-under 67 and is currently tied for 14th place. He posted a career-low round that included a seven-hole stretch where he went five-under par. Josh Hayashida is also performing well, currently tied for 19th place at 3-under. Blaze Akana and Kolbe Irei both shot 2-under and are tied for 27th place. Dane Watanabe had a tougher round, finishing 5-over after a 76 on Thursday.
The team’s combined effort resulted in a total of 20 birdies and one eagle on the day. This strong performance has put them in contention among the top teams in the tournament.
The current team standings are led by Liberty at 22-under 262, followed by Georgia (266), San Jose State (269), East Tennessee State and Oklahoma (272). Robbie Higgins from North Florida holds the individual lead with an impressive 8-under 63.
In addition to the team competition, four other Rainbow Warriors are competing as individuals. James Whitworth had a solid round, shooting 1-under 70. Maui native Anson Cabello finished 1-over with a score of 72. Isaiah Kanno and Tyler Ogawa carded 73 and 75, respectively.
The tournament will continue with Round 2 on Friday, starting at 8:30 a.m. It’s an exciting start for the University of Hawai’i men’s golf team, and they will look to build on their strong performance in the upcoming rounds.