Hawai'i golf history was about much more than teen prodigies with "youngest-ever" accomplishments last night.

The Aloha Section PGA lowered its induction age this year to allow Lori Castillo and Brandan Kop, both 47, to become the 61st and 62nd members of its Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame. But the means produced an ageless end at Hawai'i Prince Hotel: Two of the Islands' most gifted golf families added to their legacy.

Castillo's father, Ron, was inducted in 1994. All her brothers — Rick, Ron Jr., Michael and Joey — are involved in the game, with mother Dorothy providing the foundation at home. Kop gives his family a third generation of inductees; late grandfather Guinea was in the inaugural 1988 class and uncle Wendell also was inducted in 1994.

This class of 2008 had early success that paralleled today's Hawai'i prodigies, with Castillo's three USGA national championships more eye-popping than almost anyone, anywhere, anytime. She is the only Hawai'i golfer with three USGA titles, and the only woman to hold two USGA titles simultaneously.

Kop was there watching as she captured the 1978 U.S. Junior Girls, and saw it coming.

"As soon as she hit the ball I knew she'd win," he recalled. "Lori was competitive. She had that attitude ... you are not going to beat me.

"She knew she was going to win. Her opponent knew she was going to win. And Lori knew her opponent knew she was going to win."

Castillo and Kop were honored last night for the length and breadth of their excellence over time. They have combined to win more than 50 local, national and international titles. They also have 15 aces between them.

Kop, a four-time Manoa Cup champion, remains one of the state's finest amateurs despite running his own successful golf and apparel business (Kop Distributors) with wife Gail. They have held the University of Hawai'i marketing license 20 years; last year's football success helped them sell more UH apparel in one week than in other years.

In Hawai'i golf, the Kops are legendary for their brilliant touch around the greens. Guinea taught them all how to take the one club they are most comfortable with and use it like a wand, opening and closing the face and adjusting the length of the swing to hit different shots, always emphasizing arms over wrists.

Brandan has transformed it into an art form, in part because he simply cannot play enough to tame his wild swing.

"People ask me how I play without practicing," he said. "I'm the worst ball-striker with the worst swing — of all the Hall of Fame members I definitely have the worst swing. Even if I practiced a lot, my ball-striking would not get much better so it comes down to the short game. So I just practice the short game to keep my score down.

"I know I'm going to miss my eight greens a round so what matters is if I chip and putt well. ... I'm going to win by putting, chipping and out-thinking my opponent."

Castillo characterizes Kop's game as totally tenacious. "When you believe in your heart you can make that putt, it doesn't matter what others think," she said. "He knows he can make it. I really respect that. And to be able to play at that level for so long is an awesome feat."

There is no doubt that but for her injured hands Castillo, who suffers from carpal tunnel, would still be right there. The Maui realtor still plays to a plus-2 handicap in her weekly social games.

She dominated Hawai'i women's golf with friends Althea Tome and Debra Spencer soon after she played her first round, which came in a junior tournament at age 11. Castillo played high school golf for the boys team — and was voted captain — because there was no girls team then.

Her success stretched into college, where she played for two of the country's most successful programs, winning an AIAW title at Tulsa and All-America honors at Stanford. She continued on the European professional tour until injuries brought her home, where she worked in the golf business until recently.

While the Kops will be remembered for their magical touch, the Castillos' legacy will be all about competitiveness. Lori might be the most emphatic example in a family with tons of talent.

"I have a really good ability to focus and concentrate and get into the zone very quickly," she said. "I don't get rattled too much by results and consequences. I can just play.

"You have to have the will to prepare to win. I spent a lot of time practicing and preparing so when the flag went up I was not in panic mode. I kept on an even keel more so than my brothers for sure.

"The one thing we all do is anything not to lose. It's the fight and Castillo pride."

NOTES

Four $2,500 Aloha Section PGA Foundation Scholarships were presented last night to Britney Isobe (Punahou senior), Valerie Kitamori (Pacific University freshman) Kelii Dias (Kamehameha-Maui senior) and Marc Arakaki (Kalani senior). The junior golfers were selected based on academic excellence, involvement in the game of golf, community involvement and other criteria. Kitamori, the only two-time recipient, is a Waiakea graduate.

The section foundation also awarded $4,500 in Apprentice Scholarships, based on performance in the PGA's Professional Golf Management program. Regan Lee won the Level 1 scholarship, Tim Dietrich and Paul Ogawa split Level 2, and Dodd Hessey and Tim Dietrich split Level 3.

The Castle Resorts & Hotels Pro-Am Series Scholarship Program, which started last year, gave $29,000 to University of Hawai'i men's golf. The program will also include the Rainbow Wahine team this year. ... A portion of last night's proceeds benefit the Aloha Section Foundation.