Enander Hedin to play in Palmer Cup

Charlotte 49ers senior Jonas Enander Hedin has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2008 Palmer Cup, a prestigious amateur golf tournament held in Ryder Cup style that pits the top collegiate players in the United States against the best from Europe.

Enander Hedin, a native of Sweden, will be playing for the European squad. The event will be played June 26-27 on the 6,903-yard, par-71 Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Links in Glasgow, Scotland.

"I’ve worked hard here and our team has been very successful, but it’s always nice to be recognized as an individual, as well," said Enander Hedin, whose 71.1 stroke average is ranked fifth nationally by Golfstat.

"To be finishing up college and to go out on a note like the Palmer Cup is an honor. You see the Ryder Cup on TV and see how excited those players are to be playing and it feels good to think you are doing the same thing, only on an amateur level."

Enander Hedin, a finalist on the watch list of both the Nicklaus and Hogan national awards, helped the 2007 Swedish National team win the Nordic Team Championships and has been a member of the Swedish junior national team.

After helping Charlotte win the Atlantic 10 Championships this past weekend with a third-place, 9-under-par 207, Enander Hedin and the 49ers will head to the May 15-17 NCAA regionals.

"Every recognition, award, nomination and honor that Jonas has earned in amateur or collegiate golf is truly well-deserved," said 49ers coach Jamie Green. "He’s worked so diligently and intelligently to improve in any way possible.

"Being named to the Palmer Cup team is the most elite of selections in our sport at the college level. He’s been a great leader by example for our program for years and I have no doubt he’ll do the same for the European side at that championship."