Kapolei Invitational
Dates: Oct. 31-Nov. 2 (Tuesday-Thursday)
Location: Kapolei Golf Club - Kapolei, O'ahu
Par/Yardage: Par-72, 7,001 yards

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team is set to close out the fall season at the inaugural Kapolei Invitational, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The three-day tournament will be held at Kapolei Golf Club in Honolulu with the par-72 course being played at 7,001 yards. Eighteen holes are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with tee times starting at 8 a.m. (HT)/11 a.m. (PT).

The Anteaters are part of a 19-team field that also features Army, Augusta University, Baylor, BYU, California Baptist, Eastern Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Grand Canyon, Loyola Marymount, Miami (OH), Mississippi State, Sam Houston State, Southern Illinois, Texas State, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, Utah Valley and host Hawai'i. 

UCI's 5-count-4 lineup includes Darien Zhao, Jin Nakao, Rei Harashima, Jason Tang and Yaoting Zou.

LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine finished 15th at the Visit Stockton Invitational at The Reserve at Spanos Park, Oct. 16-18. In his season debut, Jin Nakao led the Anteaters at 2-under 214 (72-71-71). Nakao tied for 31st in a field of 99 golfers. Yaoting Zou recorded a season-best 70 (-2) in the final round to tie for 36th with a 54-hole score of 215 (74-71-70). Darien Zhao also tied for 54th at 219 (75-70-74), while Jason Tang tied for 64th (221).

BREAKING RECORDS
Darien Zhao, UCI's only senior, kicked off the 2023-24 season with a bang as he claimed runner-up honors with a career-best 13-under 200 at the Nick Watney Invitational. Zhao opened the tournament with back-to-back sub-70 rounds, carding a 66 (-5) prior to firing a school-record 62 (-9). He finished the first two rounds with 14 birdies and one eagle against only two bogeys for a program-best 36-hole score of 128 (-14). Zhao, a two-time All-Big West selection, has eight career top-10 finishes.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Freshman Jason Tang made a statement in his collegiate debut, tying for sixth at the season-opening Nick Watney Invitational. Tang concluded his first tournament as an Anteater at 10-under 203 (74-65-64). He found his stride with a bogey-free second round to jump 40 spots in the standings, and carried the momentum into the final round where he continued his ascent up the leaderboard with a 64 (-7). 

BACK TO WORK
Redshirt sophomore Jin Nakao, who has battled through an injury over the last two years, missed the first two fall tournaments before making his season debut at the Visit Stockton Invitational. Nakao had an impressive start with two eagles, seven birdies and a 71.33 average through three rounds. In 2022-23, Nakao notched three top-20 finishes and registered a 72.91 scoring average. 

SECOND TIME AROUND
Sophomores Rei Harashima and Yaoting Zou have both played in every tournament since their arrival at UC Irvine last fall. In 2022-23, Harashima earned All-Big West honorable mention recognition after posting five top-20 finishes and a 72.42 average. Zou had a 73.56 average through 32 rounds.

UP NEXT
UC Irvine will begin its spring season at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in Palm Desert, California, Feb. 6-8.