Lori Castillo makes her coaching debut today when the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine open their 2008-09 season at the 29th annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The 16-team field includes eighth-ranked Pepperdine, 19th-ranked New Mexico and Brigham Young.

Hawai'i has four players back from last season, when UH came up just short of its first Western Athletic Conference championship. Carolina Perez and Phyllis Lai are seniors, and Corie Hou and Erin Matsuoka juniors. Freshmen are Maui High graduate Kelcie Kawano, Hilo High graduate Megan Ueno, and Megan Inouye of Long Beach, Calif.

Castillo, the U.S. Junior Girls champion in 1989 and U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion in 1979 and '80, was inducted into the Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame this year. She was a member of Tulsa's 1980 national championship team. Her father, Ron, coached the Rainbow Wahine from 1976 to '81.

Hawai'i plays four fall events and five spring tournaments. It will host the Kent Youel Invitational at Kapolei, Oct. 28 and 29, and the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational at Kane'ohe Klipper, March 16 to 18.

TOP INSTRUCTORS

The 2008 Aloha PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit will be Sept. 26 to 28 at Kapalua Resort. The biennial event will feature some of the world's top golf instructors and educators, including Mike Adams, Brian Mogg, Jim Flick, Mike Malaska, Marius Filmalter and Craig Farnsworth.

The weekend will also include Play Golf America Day — a free golf festival and demonstration day open to the public Sept. 27. More than 30 PGA pros will take a break from the Teaching and Coaching Summit to give free lessons. Feature presentations will be made by Adams and Flick, who have each been recognized by Golf Digest as one of "America's 50 Greatest Teachers."

The demo day also offers golfers of all ages and abilities the opportunity to sample new equipment, participate in putting tournaments, long drive contests and various other games, and win door prizes.

It goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kapalua Golf Academy and practice facility, with feature instruction presentations from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Register online at www.playgolfamerica.com. Online registration qualifies participants for prizes.

WAIKOLOA WOMEN

The seventh annual Waikoloa Women's Golf Challenge, hosted by Cindy Rarick, will be Nov. 7 to 9 at Waikoloa Beach Resort. The event opens on a Friday night with a reception, followed by golf at Waikoloa Kings' Saturday and Sunday. Format the first day is a Shamble, followed by a champagne lunch at Kings' Grille. The second day is low-net best ball, followed by an awards luncheon at the Grille.

Rarick, who played for the University of Hawai'i and has won five times on the LPGA tour, will participate in all the functions and offer a golf clinic.

Tournament proceeds benefit the Waikoloa Foundation and Hawai'i State Women's Golf Foundation. The cost is $675 per player, $225 for a nonplaying guest. For more information, call 808-886-5524.

NOTES

Mauna Lani Resort was recently selected as one of 10 golf resorts in the country to earn Golf Magazine's inaugural "Green Golf" award for its environmental stewardship efforts. The resort was also named one of the "World's Top Earth-Friendly Getaways" by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

The third and final stop on the Aloha Section PGA Foundation and Castle Resorts & Hotels 2008 UH Scholarship Pro-Am Series will be Oct. 10 at Hawai'i Prince Golf Club. The series benefits a scholarship fund for the Hawai'i men's and women's golf teams. Cost is $130 for amateurs and $150 for pros. Teams are made up of four amateurs and a pro, with a One Net/One Gross Best Ball format.