HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i athletics director Jim Donovan announced the hiring of
Lori Castillo as the new head coach of the Rainbow Wahine golf program. Castillo, a 2008 Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame inductee, succeeds Ashley Biffle, who guided the Rainbow Wahine for the past four and half seasons.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Lori on board to lead our women's golf program,” Donovan said. “Her credentials speak for themselves. Her accomplishments as a player and most importantly as a teaching professional will no doubt help our women's golf program grow and continue its recent success on the golf course.”
As an amateur, Castillo was one of the most decorated women's golfers in the state of Hawai'i, winning three United States Golf Association (USGA) titles – the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in 1978 and the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in 1979 and '80. At the time, she was the first female and one of only four golfers to hold two USGA titles at the same time joining Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Chick Evans. She also won the Junior World title for the 13-14 year-old division in 1975 and was a member of the 1980 Curtis Cup team.
After graduating from Kaiser High School in Hawai'i Kai, Castillo attended the University of Tulsa for two years, where she was a member of the 1980 AIAW National Championship team. She later transferred to Stanford University, where she earned honorable mention All-America honors, and received her bachelor's degree in communication in 1983.
Professionally, Castillo played one season on the Ladies Asian Tour and three seasons on the Ladies European Tour. She is a five-time winner of the Hawai'i State Open women's golf tournament, two-time winner of the Hawai'i State Women's Match Play Championship, the 1984 Wirral Coldy Classic champion on the Ladies European Tour and co-champion of the 1996 LPGA Big Skins Game in Ka'anapali, Maui.
Castillo set two course records during her playing career, shooting a 66 at the par-74 Mid-Pacific Country Club during the 1983 Jennie K. Wilson Invitational and a 66 at the par-73 Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif., during a Pac-10 collegiate event.
Following her professional career, Castillo served as a tournament coordinator for PGA Senior Tour events, was a manufacturer's representative for various golf club, apparel and accessory lines, was a teaching professional at Kapalua Golf Academy, and served as an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Member Advisor. For the past three years, she was a realtor for Sakamoto Properties in Maui. In addition, Castillo also was a board of director and past officer for the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association and a committee member for the USGA.
Castillo's father, Ron, served as head coach of the Rainbow Wahine golf program from 1976-81.
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