BYU, Eastern Michigan share first-round lead at 30th Rainbow Wahine Invitational
While raising money to support children affected by Hurricane Lowell, the 30th Rainbow Wahine Invitational is helping amplify the message that Kauaʻi is open with Aloha.
The 30th Rainbow Wahine Invitational is underway after Hōkūala marketing manager Hualani Duncan, merchandise manager Elise Guirao and PGA Director of Instruction Kellie Hines – all multigenerational natives of Kaua‘i – led players, coaches and spectators with a traditional Hawaiian sunrise chant, “E Ala E.”
The blessing celebrated culture and community along one of America’s most stunning shorelines.
Fourteen teams from the U.S. are competing with BYU and Eastern Michigan sharing the first round lead at the Ocean Course at Hōkūala. Both teams hold a one-shot cushion over three-time Rainbow Wahine winner, Sacramento State (+3). App State (+8) and San Diego State (+9) are in fourth and fifth place. Kansas State (+10), Washington State (+12) and Nevada round out the top eight.
BYU placed three players among the top-11 in the individual standings, led by freshman Tatum Otto, who is tied for fifth at 1-under. Senior María José “MJ” Barragán and freshman Kate Walker are tied for seventh at even par.
Otto finished second in the 2025 Washington 3A state championship. Barragán won the 2025 USF Invitational and finished runner-up at the 2025 Women’s Mexico Amateur. Walker is a three-time Utah 4A state champion.
Eastern Michigan was led by Karen Tsuru, who is tied for third at 2-under. Tsuru spent the previous three seasons at Oregon and was ranked the No. 11 recruit in the 2023 class.
Three of the 14 teams in the field competed in the 2025-26 NCAA regional championships. Eastern Michigan was the only team among them to advance to the NCAA Championships, where the Eagles tied for third nationally.
Appalachian State sophomore Zoe Duval finished at 3-under to share the individual lead. Duval won the 2026 Babs Steffens Invitational in DeBary, Florida, and shared the title at the 2025 Terrier Intercollegiate in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Sacramento State, which won the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in 2013, 2016 and 2019, was led by freshman Emilia Schneider. She carded five birdies to also finish at 3-under and share the individual lead. Schneider enters the second round looking to build on her runner-up finish at last month’s Kalispel Invitational in Washington.
Host Hawaiʻi was led by sophomore Chloe Ku, who is tied for 28th at 4-over. The California-born player posted a career-low 54-hole score of 225 at last year’s Rainbow Wahine Invitational.
The second round begins at 9:30 a.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 20). Attendance is free for walking spectators.
All team and individual scores can be found online.
Donations can be made online to support immediate recovery needs now after Hurricane Lowell and the long-term work that will be needed alongside local families and community initiatives. Mahalo for standing with us.
Players compete in the inaugural Kauaʻi Four-Ball tournament at Puakea Golf Course
Twenty pairs of golfers across three divisions played in an inaugural four-ball championship in windy, but sunny conditions last weekend.
The Hawaiʻi State Golf Association hosted an inaugural four-ball championship on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18 at Puakea Golf Course in Līhuʻe. Four-ball is a variation of golf stroke-play where two compete as a team. Each player plays their own ball on each hole and the lower of the two scores counts as the team’s score.
In the championship division, Casey Watabu of Līhuʻe and Mattew Ma of Pearl City took home the title shooting rounds of 67-66 for a two day total of 133 (-11). They finished one stroke ahead of Pono Tokioka of Līhuʻe and Kenji Miyata of Kapaʻa who shot 67-67 134 (-10) for the two rounds.
In the senior championship division, Clesson Pang of Kapaʻa and John Moss of Kīlauea shot rounds of 68-73 141 (-3) to win by three strokes over Glenn Ebesu of Kapaʻa and Michael Oride of Līhuʻe who shot 72-72 144 (even).
In the A division, Jere Loo of Līhuʻe and Lance Nakata of Līhue shot rounds of 76-72 148 (+4) to win by two strokes over Justin Uegawa Kapaʻa and Arlen Miner-Ho of Kapaʻa who shot 73-77 150 (+6).
