Traveling to Hawaii is typically associated with tranquility and relaxation.

However, the Bruins aren’t flying five-plus hours just to bask in the sun.

UCLA women’s golf will journey to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, for the Nanea Invitational – its final fall tournament – where it will face three top-10 teams Monday through Wednesday. The Bruins will take on an 11-team field across three rounds of competition on the Big Island of Hawaii.

“You never know who we can beat on any given week, at any given tournament,” said coach Alicia Um Holmes. “It just shows that the girls – this group – can compete with the best out there.”

The tournament follows UCLA’s sixth-place finish with a score of 3-under 849 in the Stanford Intercollegiate from Oct. 17 to Oct. 19. The performance signified the continued upward trajectory of Um Holmes’ squad, with an overall improvement of 36 strokes from last year’s score at the same event.

The Bruins were fueled by a career-best performance from senior Meghan Royal, who registered a 6-under 207 on the 54-hole course. The performance was good for seventh on the individual leaderboard, matching Royal’s best collegiate score and tying the sixth-lowest 18-hole score in UCLA history.

“Everyone’s able to contribute and help out,” Royal said. “It just shows the grit and determination that all the girls have.”

That depth has been reflected in UCLA’s recent travel lineup, which included sophomore Maye Huang – the Bruins’ other below-par score at 2-under – and sophomore Jenny Lee, who captured first place at the Windy City Collegiate Classic in September.

Royal and the pair of sophomores were also complemented by freshman Kacey Ly and sophomore Angela Liu, who registered scores of 4-over and 5-over, respectively.

“Playing my game and not really worrying about what I’m going to shoot,” Huang said. “I’m just going to focus on that hole. … We’re really focused on us.”

The team will travel to Hawaii just eight days following its last tournament – a significantly quicker turnaround compared to the 17 days off the Bruins experienced before the Stanford Intercollegiate.

The Nanea Golf Club sits along the Pacific Ocean, exposing golfers to high coastal winds that can complicate approach shots. The course also features trees and thick rough, making strategic shot placement critical for the Bruins.

While the course presents its own set of challenges, competing with top-ranked Stanford for the second consecutive tournament alongside No. 6 Auburn and No. 10 Texas will provide the Bruins with an opportunity to face additional elite competition.

Despite the short rest period and the difficult field that awaits her team, Um Holmes has reinforced the role of these travel trips in building camaraderie off the course.

In early September, the Bruins traveled to Japan to participate in the Pan Pacific University Golf Super League Tournament. Several athletes described the trip as an opportunity to grow closer, given that the team features four newcomers.

“Each and every time we go out, I really just hope they make some memories and not just focus on the tournament,” Um Holmes said. “Soaking in everything around them and the opportunities they have to experience.”

Um Holmes added that she aims to continue building relationships outside of competition by taking the team to the beach on the trip’s first day to bring the team closer together.

First-round action from Kailua-Kona is slated to begin Monday and conclude Wednesday.

“I’m not expecting any particular outcomes with Hawaii,” Royal said. “I just know that we’re going to have fun, and it’s a good way to end the fall season.”