The group is highlighted by Joe Pagdin, who was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A trio of Gators golfers have received Southeastern Conference honors, the league office announced Friday.
Joe Pagdin headlines the group as he was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, while also earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Tyler Wilkes joins his first-year teammate on the All-Freshman Team, while Ricky Castillo was named a Second-Team All-SEC member.
This is the second straight year that the University of Florida men’s golf team has touted the SEC Freshman of the Year after Castillo earned this honor following the 2019-20 season. It marks the 10th time in program history that the Gators have claimed this honor and the third player to be named under head coach JC Deacon.
Pagdin was astronomical in the Gators success this season. The freshman was a key member in all eight tournament lineups for Florida and recorded the best individual finish three times. Pagdin finished outside of the top-20 only twice in his inaugural season and claimed a team-high three top-10 finishes.
Pagdin’s best finish came in the last regular season competition for the Gators, when he shot 1-under par at the Calusa Cup to tie for fifth individually. The Sheffield, England native followed his best performance to date with a near-match two weeks later when the team traveled to St. Simons Island for the SEC Championship. Pagdin finished the tournament 1-over par and tied for 7th place individually.
Tyler Wilkes joins Pagdin on the All-Freshman Team after a superb spring season that included three top-20 finishes. Wilkes best finish came at the LSU Invitational, where he shot 5-over par and tied for 15th individually, marking the Gators best individual performance of the tournament and subsequently earning Wilkes his first SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
In the Gators next outing, Wilkes matched his best collegiate finish with another 15th-place tie. He joins Pagdin and Ricky Castillo as the three Gators who have appeared in every lineup for Florida.
In his sophomore season, Castillo provided stability to the Gators lineup. Touting the lowest scoring average on the team, 71.38, the California native recorded six top-25 finishes. Eleven of his 24 total rounds were either even or under par, including a team-low 64 that he recorded during the third round of play at the Gators Invitational. The Gators would go on to win their home tournament for the second consecutive year.
Castillo also leads the team with 87 birdies in 24 rounds, averaging 3.63 per round, while adding four eagles to his season card.
The Gators will continue their postseason in Cle Alum, Wash. when they compete in the NCAA Regionals, scheduled to begin on Monday, May 17 and continue through Wednesday, May 19.
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Segundo Pinto, Arkansas
Ryan Hall, South Carolina
Sam Bennett, Texas A&M
Davis Thompson, Georgia
William Moll, Vanderbilt
Trent Phillips, Georgia
Ford Clegg, Mississippi State
Jackson Suber, Ole Miss
Wilson Furr, Alabama
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Julian Perico, Arkansas
Ross Steelman, Missouri
Andrew Kozan, Auburn
Thomas Ponder, Alabama
Hunter Wolcott, Tennessee
Dan Erickson, Texas A&M
Garrett Barber, LSU
Ricky Castillo, Florida
COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Limbaugh, Vanderbilt
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Davis Thompson, Georgia
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Joe Pagdin, Florida
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Joe Pagdin, Florida
Jim Butler, Auburn
Cole Sherwood, Vanderbilt
Tyler Wilkes, Florida
Canon Claycomb, Alabama
Manuel Lozada, Arkansas
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