Cole Castro joins the program after shining in his first two collegiate seasons for Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Homestead, Fla., native will be a junior this upcoming season and brings 49 rounds of experience to the Bulls.
TAMPA, JUNE 13, 2019 – Head coach Steve Bradley has added a talented player with valuable collegiate experience to the 2019-20 USF men’s golf roster by welcoming junior transfer Cole Castro to the program.
Castro joins the Bulls after competing in 18 tournaments (49 rounds) for Florida Gulf Coast University the past two seasons. The Homestead, Fla., native ranked second on the 2018-19 FGCU squad with a stroke average of 73.32 a season after he earned Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team honors.
“I’m really excited about him joining our program,” head coach Steve Bradley said. “I think he’s going to make us better and definitely make us more competitive and deeper.”
Castro set a career best in scoring average last season and placed inside the top 25 in five of six events in the spring with two top-five performances. Castro was named ASUN Men’s Golfer of the Week after tying for fifth at the FAU Spring Championship with an 8-under 208, which marked FGCU’s lowest three-round total since 2013. Castro finished inside the top 30 in nine of 10 events throughout the season.
As a freshman, Castro registered the fifth-best season scoring average among ASUN first-year players with a 75.43. He earned medalist honors in a field of 90 competitors at the Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate and his final-round 67 was the lowest score by an FGCU player in 2017-18.
“I expect him to come in and be competitive,” Bradley said. “He played quite a bit for Florida Gulf Coast and he’s got the ability to shoot low.”
Prior to FGCU, Castro played for South Dade Senior High School in his hometown of Homestead, Fla., and was named All-Dade County Player of the Year twice. The three-time All-Dade County selection and four-year letter winner was an FHSAA state medalist (fourth place) and represented the South Team in the Florida Cup.
“I think his best golf is still ahead of him,” Bradley said. “He appears to be very coachable and a very likable young man. For him to come in and have two years of college experience is a plus.”
About USF Men’s Golf
USF men’s golf captured four consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship titles in wire-to-wire fashion prior to 2019 and has earned seven straight trips to NCAA Regionals. The program is led by Steve Bradley, who has been named American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year four times. Follow @USFMGolf on Twitter for the latest information concerning the program.
Tom Zebold
Senior Writer, Assistant Director of Communications
University of South Florida Athletics
GoUSFBulls.com
