Korbe and Castro Honored With 2007 Byron Nelson Award
Posted Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Korbe and Castro Honored With 2007 Byron Nelson Award
NORMAN, Okla. ? The Golf Coaches Association of America has announced Sam Korbe of Tulsa and Roberto Castro of Georgia Tech as the recipients of the 2007 Byron Nelson Award. The honor is presented by Cleveland Golf, in cooperation with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas.
Candidates of the award are graduating seniors that exemplify outstanding performance throughout their career in academics and golf. The deciding committee also considers the nominee?s character and integrity through his citizenship and community service acts. These are all traits that were portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson throughout his life and golf career.
?This year, all of our finalists were great, they displayed such a significant amount of selflessness.? said Matt Thurmond, chair of the Byron Nelson Award Committee.
The committee agreed that the event of a tie for the Nelson Award was unprecedented. After six weeks of evaluation, the 7 person committee decided on naming both Korbe and Castro with the honor. According to the committee, all of the candidates could have been named with the award, although the 2 winners excelled in the categories by which they were evaluated.
?Korbe is a tremendous golfer and student,? Thurmond said. ?his work in the community and his way of giving of himself to others is inspiring.?
Korbe recently graduated with his undergraduate degree in pre-med and is planning on furthering his education by attending medical school at the University of Oklahoma. Korbe is active in his church and school, and participates as a volunteer in the medical field. His service in the community includes shadowing doctors and assisting at a hospital. A native of Springdale, Ark., Korbe has excelled on the golf course, maintaining a 73.2 average through his career. He was named second team All-C-USA and has 22 career top-25 finishes.
?Coming into this year, I wasn?t thinking about any post-season awards, I just tried doing what I always do: get better at golf and work hard at my academics.? Korbe said. ?Although I will miss golf greatly, I plan to immerse myself in medical school. That is the only thing that could pull me away from the sport.?
?Castro is a kid anybody would love to have on their team.? Thurmond said. ?He is a tremendous golfer and student; people can?t say enough about him.?
Castro recently graduated with a degree in industrial engineering. The Georgia native plans to turn professional directly following the NCAA Division I Championships and pursue his pro golf career. His success on the course has led him to being a three-time All-American, four-time All-ACC, playing in two Palmer Cup matches, and a career stroke average of 71.89. Along with his impressive golf career, Castro was named an All-American Scholar and spends much time volunteering in his community. Serving on the Georgia Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Board, Castro has organized numerous fundraisers and charitable drives.
?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 grateful to receive an award in his name.?
The Nelson - which is in its seventh year of sponsorship with Cleveland Golf - will be named prior to the NCAA Championships.