The Gators duo was named to the Haskins Award Watch List, the Golf Channel announced Thursday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The preseason Haskins Award Watch List was announced this morning with sophomore Ricky Castillo and freshman Joe Pagdin among the 20 athletes named to the prestigious list.
The Haskin’s Award is presented annually to the most outstanding male collegiate golfer in the United States. Named after Fred Haskins, who was a former golf teaching professional at the Country Club of Columbus. The winner is announced at the end of each season based on the votes of media members, coaches, and select peers.
Castillo is returning to Florida after a freshman season that won him the 2020 NCAA Division I Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award, as well as SEC Freshman of the Year honors. He was a member of the Haskins Award Final Watch List.
Most recently, Castillo competed in his major championship debut at the 2020 U.S. Open. The Gators phenom gained exemption into the tournament through the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), where he currently ranks 2nd.
Pagdin is the 27th ranked amateur golfer according to WAGR. The highly touted freshman comes to Florida boasting the No. 1 player ranking in the Rolex AJGA. Over the summer, he competed at the Western Amateur where he finished 5th in the stroke play event and advanced as far as the Sweet 16.
The Gators will open competition this fall at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7. The 54-hole stroke play event will be broadcast daily from 4:30-7:30 p.m. (ET) on the Golf Channel.
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