A brand new LPGA tournament is coming to the Big Island next spring.
Kailua-Kona's Nanea Golf Club is set to host the inaugural Nanea Cup, which takes place from March 11-14 and features a $4 million purse.
The Nanea Cup field will feature both LPGA and collegiate golfers in what the LPGA calls "a first-of-its-kind competition celebrating both the present and future of women’s golf."
“Our excitement about adding the Nanea Cup to the 2027 LPGA Tour schedule is off the charts,” LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler said in a release. “As we continue to focus on routing, courses and purses, this event checks every box. Hawai‘i is a natural stop as we return from Asia and head to the West Coast. Nanea is a spectacular venue, our athletes will compete for a strong purse, and fans will get their first look at one of the most celebrated golf courses in the world. We’re grateful to Charles Schwab, Dell Technologies, Salesforce and Workday as well as the leadership and members of Nanea Golf Club, for helping make it happen.”
Golf Digest ranks Nanea Golf Club as the world's 59th greatest golf course, as well as the top course in the Islands. The private golf course, which opened in 2003, has never hosted a professional tournament, but that will change next March.
Prior to the Nanea Cup, Nanea Golf Club has been home to the Nanea Invitational, a collegiate tournament hosted by Stanford, since 2013.
The 2027 Nanea Cup will feature 95 golfers from the LPGA Tour, as well as 25 collegiate golfers from the likes of Texas, UCLA, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Stanford.
The LPGA has already established a presence in Hawai‘i through the Lotte Championship, which has taken place in West O‘ahu annually since 2012, with the exception of 2020. South Korea's Youmin Hwang won the 2025 tournament. The Lotte will return to Hoakalei Country Club in ‘Ewa Beach from Oct. 1-4 and features a $3 million purse.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
