AROUND THE GREENS
Castillo was Hawai'i's first to win Publinx, play Curtis

By Bill Kwon

Lori Castillo Planos said receiving her Curtis Cup acceptance from the USGA "was the most exciting letter I ever received," only surpassed by the experience of traveling to and playing in the Cup at Wales. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"The Curtis Cup was the best golfing experience I ever had. It's the closest thing to the Olympics for golf. You're an amateur, representing your country against the best in the world," said Planos, who was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Tulsa when she played in the 1980 event in Chepstow, Wales.

"Like Michelle, I wanted so much to be chosen for the team. Receiving a letter from the USGA was the most exciting letter I ever received," said Planos, who, like Wie, was the reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links at the time.

"I next received the awesome team uniforms and a dozen golf balls, including six dozen of the smaller British balls to practice. We all met in New York City and stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria," Planos recalled.

"It was my first trip to the Big Apple, and it was totally awesome. I had always wanted to go to New York. I remember even writing a book report about New York in the fifth grade. I saw my first castle in Chepstow and my first real play, 'The King and I,' in London."

It was a big deal back when young golfers didn't travel as much nor enjoyed as many perks as they do now, according to Planos, the Ping representative in Hawai'i.

She was teamed with Patty Sheehan, then the women's collegiate champion from San Jose State and now an LPGA Hall of Famer. They won both of their matches — bestball and alternate ball — as the Americans beat Great Britain and Ireland. Planos lost her singles match.

"I had a good putting week, and the caddies from the other side joked that I could probably putt with a rake. I remember Patty and I strategizing so that I would hit the tee shots off par 5s and she would try for the green for what we called an 'American eagle.' Our easy-going personalities and similar games worked well together, and that is why I believe we were so successful."

At first, Planos thought that just being asked to be on the Curtis Cup team was an awesome achievement in itself.

"That, it wouldn't matter if I went, just that I was asked," she said. "However glorious that moment was in receiving that letter, the actual experience exceeded it a hundred times over. Anyway, that was how it was for me."

Planos said she feels Wie will feel the same way about her upcoming Curtis Cup experience at the Formby Golf Club in Merseyside, England, June 12-13.

The format has changed since Planos' time with the players now competing in 12 singles matches and six foursome alternate-shot matches, which should showcase Wie's precocious talent.

And Wie's youth — at 14, she'll be the youngest player selected since 16-year-old Laura Baugh in 1972 — won't be held against her. After all, she's usually been the youngest in everything since she took up the game.

Besides, she'll be on the youngest team the Americans have ever sent.

Joining Wie are four other teenagers. The oldest players are Anne Thurman and Sarah Huarte, both 21.

"I think that once Michelle's teammates get to know her she will be welcomed with huge open arms," Planos said.

"They only know what people have been writing and saying so far. Michelle will win them over in a few minutes. Everyone is focused on representing America in the best way and they can only do that successfully as a team. Anyone would want a Michelle on their team."

Even Planos is on the Wie Team.

Until Wie, only Planos and Jackie Pung have made national headlines among Hawai'i's women golfers. Daughter of local golf professional Ron Castillo, Planos won the 1978 U.S. Girls Junior Championship and then the women's public links titles in 1979 and 1980.

Wie also can make it a WAPL repeat this summer after her stunning victory last year in becoming (at 13) the youngest champion of that event and of any adult USGA tournament.

Planos frankly says Wie isn't following in her Publinx and Curtis Cup footsteps. Wie is blazing her own unprecedented trail.

"It's like when you're on a train going up to a different level, you can't stop," Planos says in describing Wie's remarkable ascent in golf.

Still, there's one thing Planos has that Wie might want one day — a degree from Stanford, another of Michelle's stated goals.

Planos hopes Wie does play college golf and at her alma mater where she transferred after her sophomore year at Tulsa.

"It's only four years of your life and you've got a lifetime ahead. If you love learning, you'll love Stanford," Planos said. "You cannot buy that experience."

They soon, though, will be able to share Curtis Cup experiences along with the knowledge of what it's like to win the women's public links.

However, Planos points out, despite all of her own success, there's a world of difference in their golf games.

"You can't compare me with her. She's one in a million. She's a Picasso, I'm just a local artist," Planos said.

Bill Kwon can be reached at bkwon@aloha.net.