Ka'anapali Classic
Dates: Nov. 2-4 (Saturday-Monday)
Location: Royal Ka'anapali Golf Course - Lahaina, Maui
Par/Yardage: Par 71, 6,700 yards

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team closes out its fall schedule this weekend at the Ka'anapali Classic, Nov. 2-4. The Anteaters travel to Lahaina, Maui, for a three-day tournament at the 6,700-yard Royal Ka'anapali Course, which will be played at a par 71. Eighteen holes are slated for Saturday, Sunday and Monday with an 8:30 a.m. (HT) shotgun start.

UCI is part of a 21-team field that features nine schools ranked among the top-100, including No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 5 LSU, No. 26 Georgia, No. 32 Colorado, No. 48 TCU, No. 52 Kansas, No. 67 Indiana, No. 70 San Jose State and No. 95 Boise State. Also competing this weekend will be CSUN, ETSU, Gonzaga, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, North Florida, Sacramento State, Southern Illinois, UConn, Wyoming and host Hawai'i. UC Irvine's 5-count-4 lineup will be Rei Harashima, Jack Yu, Jason Tang, JJ Nakao and Owen Davis-Piger.

QUICK HITS
• UC Irvine won its season-opening tournament with a two-stroke victory at the Oregon State Invitational (Oct. 7-8).
• The 'Eaters welcome back six of their seven letterwinners from last year, while adding three true freshmen.
• Freshman Jack Yu leads the Anteaters through three tournaments with a 71.67 stroke average.
• Freshman Tommy Lin made the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan, Oct. 3-6.

REBUILDING MAUI
August 8, 2023, a date that forever changed the island of Maui and state of Hawai'i. The largest natural disaster in state history tragically left thousands of residents homeless, claimed over 100 lives, destroyed businesses and much of the historic town of Lahaina.
 
In partnership with 501(c)3 organizations Spare for Change and Member for a Day, a fundraising campaign has been launched around the Ka'anapali Classic to benefit Ka'anapali Golf Courses' own associates who tragically lost everything in the fires. The campaign has no minimum donation. Everyone is invited to assist in one of two ways:

• Make a one-time contribution of your choice.
• Pledge the amount of your choice for each birdie and eagle made by your favorite school. 

Scores and fundraising updates will be shared after each round. The 2023 Ka'anapali Classic surpassed $10,000 in donations from teams, parents, alumni and golf fans.

LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine finished 10th at the Leadership & Golf Collegiate Championship, Oct. 21-23. Jack Yu led the Anteaters with his second top-20 showing in three tournaments. Yu tied for 13th at even-par 216 (72-69-75). Jason Tang tied for 51st with a 226 (79-71-76). JJ Nakao climbed 17 spots in the standings on the final day to tie for 56th with a 54-hole total of 228 (78-78-72). Rei Harashima (230) and Tommy Lin (233) rounded out UCI's 5-count-4 lineup.

SETTING THE TONE
Junior Rei Harashima has recorded four sub-70 rounds through the first three tournaments of the season. He had an eighth-place showing at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational where he carded a 7-under 206 (69-68-69). Harashima also fired a season-best 67 in the second round of a top-20 performance at the Oregon State Invitational. The two-time All-Big West selection currently ranks second on the squad with a 72.33 stroke average.

SEASON-OPENING WIN
UC Irvine won its season-opening tournament, finishing first in a 12-team field at the Oregon State Invitational at Trysting Tree Golf Club, Oct. 7-8. UCI came from behind to defeat the host Beavers by two strokes. It was the Anteaters' first stroke play tournament victory since winning the Big West Championship in 2018. The 'Eaters also won the Cal Poly Match Play Tournament in 2019. JJ Nakao led UC Irvine at 2-under 211 for a career-best fourth-place showing. Jason Tang tied for 12th with an even-par 213, while Jack Yu (75-68-72) and Rei Harashima (74-67-74) tied for 17th at 2-over.

GOING LOW
The Anteaters came in below par in two of their first three tournaments. Three players have combined for eight sub-70 scores, led by four from Rei Harashima. Freshman Jack Yu also put up a 69 at the Leadership & Golf Collegiate Championship, and a 68 at both the Oregon State Invitational and Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational, while junior JJ Nakao opened the latter tournament with a 69. 

UP NEXT
UC Irvine will kick off the 2025 spring season by hosting the OC Collegiate Classic at Coto de Caza South Course, Feb. 10-11.