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Enander Hedin Named ESPN the Magazine Academic all-America
June 13, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Charlotte 49ers senior golfer Jonas Enander Hedin (Taby, Sweden) has been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic all-America men's at-large second team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Enander Hedin, who graduated cum laude with a 3.78 GPA as a Business Management/Mangerial Leadership major, becomes the first 49er golfer to earn ESPN the Magazine academic all-America honors -- although four 49ers have earned GCAA all-America Scholar Awards.
The Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year led Charlotte to a tie for eigth place at the 2008 NCAA Championships and their third straight Atlantic 10 title with a conference-best 71.78 stroke average. He is just the second player in school history to complete an entire season under-par.
"What Jonas has been able to accomplish individually over the last two seasons has been nothing short of remarkable -- the result of sheer hard work and dedication," said 49ers head coach Jamie Green, noting that Enander Hedin has led the team in stroke average and GPA over the finest two years in Charlotte golf history.
A 2007 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) all-America Scholar, Enander Hedin has been named to the Atlantic 10 all-Academic Team in each of the last three years. He posted a perfect 4.0 GPA, this past spring.
Enander Hedin led Charlotte to the program's first-ever consensus #1 national ranking and a second straight top 10 finish at the NCAA Championships, this season. He was named third team all-America by both the GCAA and Golfweek magazine and was one of five finalists for the Byron Nelson Award, given to the senior golfer who demonstrates excellence in athletics, academics and character. He was also one of the top 20 finalists for both the Nicklaus and Hogan National Player of the Year Awards.
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Enander Hedin has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2008 Palmer Cup, which is the collegiate version on the Ryder Cup. Enander Hedin will represent the European team as they taken on the best collegiate players from the US.
"His results and final numbers give an impressive snapshot for sure, but those results came from an incredible amount of focused golf practice and study habits," Green said. "Not to take anything away from his raw talent, but in my opinion, Jonas completed the most prolonged period of organization and academic excellence of any player I have been around in my 10 years of coaching. The sacrifices he made leading to gradual and consistent improvement as a player culminated in this year's golf performance. His outstanding year took place amidst our team's most competitive tournament schedule to date."
He owns the 49ers all-time career record with a 72.89 stroke average and owns two of the 49ers top three single-season scoring averages (71.78 in 2008; 71.86 in 2007). A three-time all-Atlantic 10 choice, Enander Hedin, placed in the top 25 of all 10 events leading up to the NCAA Tournament, with six top 10 finishes. At two of the most competitive regular-season tournaments of the year, he tied for first at the Southern Highlands Tournament in Las Vegas and tied for second at the PING/Golfweek Preview. He also finished third at the 2008 A-10 Championship.
"His senior year and career are the stuff that every student athlete we recruit and coach will measure himself against and they will realize that while it is possible, its truly exceptional," Green added. "What a model he has set, and what pride we can all share in calling him one of our own at UNC Charlotte and in 49er athletics."
He was a member of an historic senior class that became the first in school history to reach the NCAA Tournament in each of their four seasons. The 49ers golf team reached the NCAA Regionals in 2005 and advanced to the 30-team NCAA Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
