April 29, 2011
FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- Classes are done for the spring semester.
But Fayetteville State's John Cole is still playing golf.
For the Broncos.
Cole, a freshman who is a native of Fayetteville, is one of 32 individual players in all of Division-II to be chosen to participate in the regional competition of the 2011 NCAA Division-II Golf Championships. Cole will be one of eight individual players in the Atlantic and East Regional at the Hershey Links Golf Club in Hershey, PA. The regional will take place from May 2-4.
Cole said he is thrilled with the chance to compete among the highest levels of Division-II golf and represent Fayetteville State University.
"My whole goal was to make it to the national championship, and this is one step in that direction," says Cole, who was the Broncos' top player in the 2010-2011 season. "I'm so glad that I've been able to make this step; now I hope to play well enough to move on."
Cole finished the regular season and CIAA Championship Tournament with a stroke average of 73.9. He fired the season's low round (66) for Fayetteville State and won three tournaments. Cole had seven top-10 finishes and six top-5 places to go with those wins, and finished the year placing fourth in the CIAA Championship in Fort Lee, VA. Cole was a CIAA All-Tournament and All-Conference selection.
Now it is on to the regional, where Cole will need to finish as one of the top two individuals to advance to the national championship, which will be played May 16-20 at The Robert Trent Jones Trail at the Shoals in Florence, AL.
Cole admitted that he will feel the nerves to start the regional, but is extremely excited about the opportunity.
"I'm definitely going to be nervous on the first tee," he says, "but that's a good thing. That means you care."
Cole is pleased with where his game is at the moment.
"I feel good," he says. "I had a lesson with my coach recently, and I'm swinging it well. I feel really good."
