When Santiago Schele first picked up a golf club at four years old, he never imagined it would take him more than 4,000 miles from home. What began as a family pastime on the courses of Chile has blossomed into a college golf scholarship at Coastal Carolina University — and a dream growing far beyond the fairway.
Schele started playing almost as soon as he could walk, following his grandmother, parents, and siblings out onto the course.
“Everyone in my family played,” he said. “It was just part of growing up.”
By the time most kids were learning to ride their bikes, Schele was already fine-tuning his swing. He spent hours practicing drives, studying greens, and developing the fundamentals that still define his game today.
“My putting game is very good right now,” he said with a grin. “I can’t say the same for my chipping game, but we’re working on that.”
That steady dedication carried Schele to the top ranks of Chilean amateur golf. He boasts five tournament victories sanctioned by the Chile Golf Federation, including last December’s Junior GOLFACTION title, which he won with a 7-under-par 209.
Before enrolling at Coastal, Schele notched three more top-five finishes — including a runner-up spot at the Campeonato FChG 1 — bringing his total to 27 top-10 finishes in just two years.
Now competing in the United States, Schele has embraced the challenge of college golf and the elevated level of competition.
“If my teammates play well, I want to play better,” he said. “Here in the United States, there are a lot of people who play, and play very well. It’s much more difficult here.”
That quiet competitiveness has helped Schele adjust quickly to life as a Chanticleer, both on and off the course.
Away from golf, he admits he misses his family, friends, and the relaxed pace of home in Chile — but the Carolina coast already feels like a second home.
“The place is amazing,” he said. “It’s cool to have good teammates and coaches. The weather is good, and the golf courses are beautiful. You can play 10 courses a week if you want.”
Looking ahead, Schele hopes to play professionally one day — whether on the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, or the European Tour. For now, he’s focused on growing his game and representing Coastal Carolina at the highest level.
“What matters is the game,” he said. “That perfect swing, that feeling when the ball flies — that’s what keeps me going.”
For Schele, golf has always been more than a sport. It’s been a lifelong companion — one that has carried him from Chile to Coastal and continues to drive his journey forward.
