Maui, Hawaii – Michael Castillo, the head golf professional at Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course, has been awarded a sponsor exemption to compete in the 2023 Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences, a PGA TOUR Champions event to be played March 3rd – 5th at Omni Tucson National Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
Castillo, 60, has battled colon cancer for five years and the disease has progressed to his liver and lungs. He’s been through chemotherapy and radiation. In January, Castillo competed in the PGA TOUR’s Sony Open in Hawaii after winning the Aloha Section PGA Championship last September (he birdied the final hole to win by one). The Sony Open was Castillo’s PGA TOUR debut and the Cologuard Classic will mark his PGA TOUR Champions debut.
“The phone call last week from the team at Exact Sciences was incredible, I really couldn’t believe it,” said Castillo. “I was sitting at my desk going through the normal grind of the job and this opportunity presents itself. Our (Kapalua Golf) General Manager Alex Nakajima, who sits across the way, looked up with a smile and said you have to go. Over a 12 month span it’s been a club pro’s dream – winning our PGA Section championship, playing in the National Sr. PGA Professional Championship, The Sony Open, now the Cologuard Classic, and in May the National PGA Professional Championship.”
Castillo has been the head golf professional at Kapalua’s Plantation Course since October 2019. He has 30 plus years of golf hospitality experience. Over that time, Castillo has led the golf operations at clubs throughout Hawaii and California, including TPC Valencia, Big Canyon Country Club, Princeville Makai Golf Club and Poipu Bay Golf Course.
Castillo will be joined in the Cologuard Classic field by defending tournament champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, 2020 Cologuard Classic champion Bernhard Langer, 2018 tournament champion Steve Stricker, plus Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Jerry Kelly and Colin Montgomerie. In total, the 2023 Cologuard Classic will feature a 78-player field competing for a $2.2 million purse, with $330,000 to the winner.
For more information on Kapalua Golf, visit www.GolfAtKapalua.com or call 1-877-KAPALUA. For more information on the Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences, visit www.CologuardClassic.com.
About Kapalua Golf & Tennis
Managed by Troon, Kapalua Golf & Tennis features two 18-hole golf courses (The Plantation and The Bay). Kapalua’s Plantation Course is ranked No. 23 on “America’s Top 100 Public Courses” list by Golf Digest. Celebrating its 48th anniversary in 2023, The Bay Course has long been dubbed as “Hawaii’s favorite resort course.” Its breathtaking par-three 17th hole is the only hole to play over the ocean on Maui. Kapalua Golf Academy is Hawaii’s most comprehensive practice facility, offering individual lessons, Trackman analysis, custom club fitting, group lessons and on-course playing lessons. The Kapalua Tennis Garden is located in the splendid natural setting of Kapalua Resort and now features four dedicated pickleball courts.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 750-plus locations, including 740-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf and ICON Management. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com
