Posted on Fri, May. 16, 2008

A SWEDE SWING

Hedin on course to break 49ers' golf marks

No. 5 Charlotte playing in NCAA East Regional

RON GREEN JR.

rgreenjr@charlotteobserver.com

Staff Photographer

Charlotte 49er golfer Jonas Enander Hedin graduated Saturday with a 3.75 grade-point average and was named Atlantic 10 Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year. (DIEDRA LAIRD -- dlaird@charlotteobserver.com)

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It was the juggling that caught Jamie Green's eye.

The DVD that arrived in the office of the Charlotte 49ers' golf coach more than four years ago showed Jonas Enander Hedin running through the woods near his home in Sweden, hitting golf balls and providing a basic introduction of himself to a coach who'd never seen him play golf.

Green was amused by the "Chariots of Fire"-like music that played behind the images of Enander Hedin running, but it was the shots of him juggling that stuck with the new coach, who was in the process of rebuilding the Charlotte golf program.

With that kind of hand-eye coordination, Green figured Enander Hedin could be good around the greens. His golf resume wasn't spectacular, but it was solid, and the fact that he produced his own DVD impressed Green.

Living in Taby, Sweden, Enander Hedin had focused on finding a college in North Carolina, after relatives living near Asheville made the suggestion.

Charlotte turned out to be the ideal spot.

Four years later, Enander Hedin is on the verge of setting school records for the lowest season scoring average (71.1 strokes) and lowest career average (72.78) as the 49ers embark on the most important part of their season.

Ranked fifth nationally, Charlotte is tied for eighth at 3-under par after Thursday's first round, 16 strokes behind leader Georgia in the NCAA East Regional at the Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. Enander Hedin finished at even-par 71 Thursday.

The top 10 teams among the 27 in Chattanooga will advance to the NCAA championship tournament in West Lafayette, Ind., May 28-31.

Enander Hedin's gradual development over four years embodies the program's evolution into a national power.

"We've had success in bigger events and once you've done that, you realize there's no reason why you wouldn't do well again," Enander Hedin said.

He graduated last Saturday with a 3.75 grade-point average in managerial leadership and was named Atlantic 10 Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

In addition to being ranked 18th individually in the Golfweek college rankings, he is also a finalist for the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, given annually to a graduating senior for his academic and athletic achievements.

His golf game is a reflection of his personality. Organization is one of Enander Hedin's strengths and it carries over to the course, where he takes meticulous notes during practice rounds. He maps out greens, his coach said, and uses the information to analyze scoring options.

He is a steady ball-striker, rarely hitting the ball wildly off line. It allows him to reduce the chance of making a big number, and he has been known to make 36 pars when playing a double round. With an improved short game, his scores have gradually dropped over his four years.

Enander Hedin was selected to play on the European Palmer Cup team this summer, which plays a Ryder Cup-style match against the top American-born college golfers.

It will be part of a June schedule that will keep him in Scotland for three events, including the St. Andrews Cup and the British Amateur.

Beyond that, Enander Hedin plans to turn pro while staying in Charlotte. He intends to play events in Europe and hopes to qualify for Nationwide Tour events before going to PGA Tour qualifying school this fall.

First, however, the NCAA tournament is at hand.

NCAA East Regional

At Council Fire Golf Club, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Par 71). The top 10 teams from the regional advance to the NCAA Championships, May 28-31 at Purdue.

• Charlotte, making its fourth straight regional appearance, has advanced to the NCAA finals the past two years. It finished a program-best third in last year's finals.