CALDWELL HEADED TO CHATTANOOGA FOR NCAA EAST REGIONAL

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ? Coming off the heels of his record breaking 11-under par 205 at the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Championship, senior golfer Jonny Caldwell looks to continue his strong postseason play at the 2008 NCAA East Regional in Chattanooga, Tenn., Thursday-Saturday. Caldwell becomes the first Jaguar to make the field as an individual since Gareth Maybin traveled to Auburn, Ala. in 2003.

“As a young man and a player he really has been the face of the program for the last four years,” head coach Ben Hannan said. “I couldn’t be happier for a kid that has come in and gotten better each day and it has showed out on the course.”

This will not be the first rodeo for the four-time all-Sun Belt Conference member and Belfast, Northern Ireland native. Caldwell was a member of the 2004-05 team that traveled to Palo Alto, Calf., and finished in 18th place out of 27 teams competing. At the West Regional, he fired rounds of 77, 72 and 69 and looks to use that experience at the Council Fire Golf Club.

“Playing at Stanford my freshman year was obviously a very good experience for me and I look to draw on that this week,” Caldwell noted. “Obviously, I wish the whole team was here, but playing as an individual I look to carry the South name as good as possible.”

Caldwell is playing his best golf of the year when it counts. At the Robert Trent Jones Fighting Joe Golf Course in Muscle Shoals, Ala., he fired rounds of 69, 67 and 69 to win by two strokes over the field and break former Jaguar and PGA professional Heath Slocum’s 12-year old record. On top of the SBC Championship and record, Caldwell was also named to the Palmer Cup one week later. Held in Glasgow, Scotland, he will compete with the top European and American collegiate golfers that played in the United States.

“I feel like I am playing very similar to conference and if I can make a few putts I may even contend,” Caldwell said. “To be mentioned in the same breath as Heath is certainly an honor in itself.”

Caldwell finished the season first on the team with a 71.04 stroke average, which ranked him third in the league. Added to the list, was five top-10 finishes and a fourth place mark at the Rio Pinar Invitational in March. In Orlando, the Walker Cup alumni shot rounds of 69, 69 and 72 to finish at six-under par.

“I think heading into the tournament he has had a good month of preparation and practicing and mechanically he is swinging the club great,” Hannan added. “He is in control of his trajectory and has command of his ball flight so if his putter can get hot I think Jonny has an opportunity to contend for the win.”

The 2008 NCAA East Regional held at Council Fire Golf Club will take place, Thursday-Saturday. The 54-hole tournament will consist of 18 holes each day. Tournament results can be accessed usajaguars.com and live stats are available at golfstat.com.

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