WAIMEA, Hawai`i--The 2024 Pacific West Conference men's and women's golf championships has a new venue, that is hopefully not too distracting to the participants.

The Mauna Lani, one of the world's most scenic golf course, will host seven women's teams and six men's beginning on Monday. The teams will play 18 holes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before team and individual champions will be crowned. 

This is the first time that the championships have been at the Mauna Lani. Four of the last five tournaments were at the Wigwam GC in Arizona. The tournaments have been held before on the Big Island, but at the Waikoloa GC (2012, 2021).

Big Island resident Hawai`i Hilo looks to defend its men's crown. The Vulcans won the 2023 team title with a +15 score, and Hilo could boast of co-medalists in Andrew Otani and Junsu Im. Otani has graduated, but Im returns in hopes of gathering another trophy.

On paper, the Vulcans and rival Hawai`i Pacific would be the favorites. UH Hilo is ranked ninth in the NCAA West Region with an average team score of 293.8 while the Sharks are No. 11 in the region and average 295.7 per round. Individually, Im (72.5 per round) and HPU's Shion Suzuki (73.0) are the two favorites based on rankings, with Suzuki ranked 17th in the west region and Im at No. 20. Academy of Art, Dominican, Chaminade and Westmont will will look to upend the Vulcans and Sharks in their quest for titles.

On the women's side, there will most definitely be a new champion and medalist. Holy Names, in its final year of collegiate competition won the 2023 team trophy and Hawk Lavinia Romito won the medalist trophy.

That leaves favorites Point Loma and Biola to battle for the 2024 title, along with Dominican, Academy of Art, Hawai`i Hilo, Hawai`i Pacific and conference newcomer Westmont. Biola comes into the tournament with an average team score of 308.3 and are ranked No. 17 in the west region and the Sea Lions are nearly exactly equal at 308.6 while ranked No. 19. 

Biola's Brady Turnquist is the PacWest's top ranked golfer with a 74.7 average, followed by Point Loma's Kiara Hernandez (75.4) and 2022 PacWest champion Claire Shubin of Dominican (75.6).

The women will tee off at 7:30 am Hawai`i time (10:30 Pacific) on Monday and the men will head to the tee box at 9:40 am HT (12:30 PT).

To learn more, head to the championships pages at thepacwest.com.
Men's Championship Page
Women's Championship Page