Southern States Athletic Conference

 

EDMOND, Okla. -- Berry golfer Jarod Trammell was selected to play for Team USA in the upcoming World University Games. Trammel is one of five players on the team, which will be coached by David Lynn, the head coach of the Oklahoma Christian University golf team.

 

"I am very honored and proud to be selected for the team," said Trammell. "It is a prestigious event and I am very excited to play."

 

The 2008 World University Games are hosted in Sun City, South Africa. The golf is slated to be played Sept. 2-5 and is hosted at the Sun City Resort and Gary Player Golf Course, which hosts the Sun City Million Dollar Invitational each year.

 

"Over my years at Berry I have developed a good  relationship with coach Lynn at OCU," said the senior Trammell. "The night that he was notified of his selection as head coach for the U.S. team he called me and said, 'Jarod, I was selected to coach Team USA and I can think of no better person to take with me to South Africa than you.'"

 

Last season Trammell had the most top-10 finishes of any player on the Berry team with six and was named a second-team All-American. He shot an average of 73.61 over the 11 tournaments that Berry played before the NAIA National Championship Tournament. There he finished 12th as an individual and helped Berry to a fifth-place national finish as a team.

 

"My time at Berry has been a huge help in preparing me to go to this event," said Trammell. "I know how to play in the team concept. It is also an honor for me to know that when I go out there on the course I will be representing Berry, the Rome community, my hometown and to an extent the U.S."

 

The team is comprised of five players, of which three will come from the NAIA and two will be junior college players from the NJCAA. Drew Chuipek of St. Ambrose (Iowa) has already been selected to the team along with Trammell, leaving three spots to be filled.

 

The World University Games feature teams comprised of college athletes from countries all around the world. The event is held every other year.

 

Trammell is the second Berry athlete to compete in the games. In 2004 and 2006 soccer player Greg Young traveled to Korea and Turkey as a member of the English National team.

 

"I am very honored to be going and very grateful for the support," said Trammell. "A lot of times people don't know just how much athletes truly appreciate their support. I want people to know I am truly grateful and it will help me in the summer."