May 30, 2007
Williamsburg, Va. – Georgia Tech’s Roberto Castro, a three-time All-American and four-time all-conference performer, has been named one of two recipients of the Byron Nelson Award, given to the nation’s top graduating senior golfer by the Golf Coaches Association of America, the organization announced Tuesday.
Castro shares the honor, presented by Cleveland Golf, in cooperation with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, with Sam Korbe of Tulsa. He is the second Tech player to win the honor, joining Troy Matteson in 2003.
The Nelson is given annually to a graduating senior who has made significant achievements over the course of his entire collegiate academic and golf career while also demostrating exemplary character and integrity while in college. Particular consideration is given to the players’ good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson over the course of his life and golf career.
“Being considered to hold the same morals and standard as Byron Nelson is such an honor,” Castro said. “Mr. Nelson’s work on an off the course is an inspiration and I am quite grate¬ful to receive an award in his name.”
A three-time All-America selection, including first-team honors in 2005, Castro has been named All-ACC four times and has played in two Palmer Cup Matches, serving as U.S. captain in 2005. He recorded his first collegiate tournament victory this season and posted five other top-10 showings. Castro was named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar in 2006.
“Castro is a kid anybody would love to have on their team,” said Matt Thurmond, chairman of the Byron Nelson Award Committee. “He is a tremendous golfer and student; people can’t say enough about him.”
One of the nation’s outstanding amateur golfers as well as an outstanding student and leader, Castro will go down as one of the most successful golfers in Tech’s tradition of outstanding players. The Alpharetta, Ga., native is also a two-time Academic All-America and an Academic All-ACC selection. He serves on the Georgia Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Board and is active in the community, including Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and the Michael Isenhour Toy Drive. He graduated May 5 with highest honor in Industrial Engineering.
He is one of four Tech recipients of the 2007 Weaver-James-Corrigan Post-Graduate Scholarship Award given by the ACC each year, and received the 2007 Total Person Award, the highest honor given by the Georgia Tech Athletic Association for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service.
“Everyone at Georgia Tech should be proud to have had someone like Roberto here for the last four years, and for the recognition he’ll bring the Institute as a future pro,” said head coach Bruce Heppler. “He has been driven in every facet of his college life, from his golf to his school work to finding time to help others in his community activities. He is the finest example of what a Georgia Tech student-athlete is.”
Castro, playing in his final collegiate tournament this week at the NCAA Division I Championship in Williamsburg, Va., will finish his career with more than 20 top-10 finishes and more than 30 top-20 efforts and one of Tech’s five best career stroke averages.
