Starting on Monday, ETSU will hit the greens for a three day tournament, facing a variety of programs. What makes this one stand out from some of their other tournament appearances is the location itself– being held in Lahaina, Hawai’i.

The Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational is a 3 day tournament, this year spanning from October 27th through the 29th. The tournament debuted in 2014, making it relatively young in terms of NCAA tournaments. It attracts anywhere from 18 to 21 Division 1 programs to compete, and serves as a strong early season test.

ETSU first attended the tournament in 2022, and found success there. They were tied for first overall the following year in 2023, with Oklahoma. Oklahoma is a standout program– having won Ka’anapali several times including some recent consecutive wins, they are the top ranked contender going into this year’s tournament. The Bucs will also face opponents like the UConn Huskies, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the Georgia Bulldogs.

10 of the 19 contestants in this tournament are ranked in the top 100. This is ideal– especially for the Buccaneers– because it gives the tournament a level of competitive depth you can’t find everywhere. Since the tournament attracts programs from big and small schools, it gives ETSU a chance to showcase what they can do in front of opponents they might not usually find themselves on the green with. While giving them experience and exposure against top ranked opponents, it also is a season-definer for the fall. Each team gets three rounds (54 holes) against quality competition in conditions different from the mainland.

This is a tournament rich in both competition and history, and ETSU has a fun challenge ahead of them for the beginning of the week. For more information about Bucs Men’s Golf, visit etsubucs.com.

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