Two Former Bulldogs Earn Sponsor's Exemptions Into the Athens Regional Foundation Classic

Hybl and Todd Return to Athens as Professionals

March 18, 2008

Athens, GA – Tournament organizers announced today that two former University of Georgia All-Americans, Brendon Todd and Ryan Hybl, have accepted sponsor's exemptions into the 3nd Annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic (ARFC), scheduled for April 14-20 at Jennings Mill Country Club.

Both players racked up a host of honors during their time at UGA. While the former Bulldogs are new to the Nationwide Tour this year, they are not unfamiliar with triumphant careers.

"Fans in this area were able to watch these two young men represent the University of Georgia in a fine manner during their illustrious college and amateur careers," said Len Sapera, chairman of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic. "We are excited to have them showcase their talents as professionals here in Athens. Both are fantastic players and have great careers ahead of them."

Even before his success at UGA, Hybl had made a name for himself as the No. 1-ranked junior golfer in the nation according to Golfweek. He was named 1998 Player of the Year and a three-time All-American by the American Junior Golf Association. During his first season at UGA in 2001, Hybl hit the ground running at the Golf World Invitational where he led the Bulldogs to a record-setting finish with the lowest round and the lowest tournament total. That same year, Hybl earned third-team All-America and second-team All-SEC honors.

Hybl finished his career as one of the most decorated golfers in UGA history – both on and off the course. He thrived academically, earning the Joel Eaves Award as the male senior student-athlete with the highest grade point average and the Dick Bestwick Award for the top GPA among graduating male seniors. In addition, Hybl made the Dean's List, the President's List and the SEC Academic Honor Roll while acting as team captain during his junior and senior seasons.

Hybl's career culminated with 13 top-10 finishes, but he didn't stop there. Serving as UGA's assistant coach for the past two seasons, Hybl helped steer the Bulldogs to six tournament wins in 2006 and five in 2007. Hybl capped his amateur career with a runner-up finish in last year's United States Mid-Amateur Championship. Hybl recently served as the assistant coach of the UGA men's golf team until moving into the role of director of golf operations to allow more time to pursue his professional career.

"I am honored to make my Nationwide Tour debut in a town so important to my development as a golfer and a person," said Hybl. "I finished high school just outside of Athens in Madison County and spent my college and coaching careers here. I can't think of a better place to make the leap onto the Nationwide Tour."

Hot off the "Bulldog press" is another member of the Classic field: Brendon Todd. Making an immediate impression in his first season at UGA, Todd was named 2004 SEC Freshman of the Year after winning the 2004 SEC Championship. Todd earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors three times and was the 2007 NCAA East Regional Championship winner.

He received All-American honors all four years of his college career and was chosen for the first-team following the last round of the NCAA Championships in 2007. He left UGA with 19 career top-10 finishes. Todd turned professional in 2007 and continued to impress with victories that year. Todd has already made his mark on the professional ranks, winning the 2007 Musgrove Mill Classic on the Tarheel Tour and the 2007 Dothan Classic on the Hooters Tour.

"It seems like yesterday that I was teeing it up at Jennings Mill as part of the UGA golf team. It will be kind of surreal to play there as a professional," said Todd. "As a rookie on the Nationwide Tour, spots in events are hard to come by, so I want to thank the Athens Regional Foundation for giving me this exemption, and I can't wait to play in front of the hometown fans again."

The 3nd Annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic will be held the week of April 14–20 at Jennings Mill Country Club in Oconee County. The event will offer a $525,000 purse, with all proceeds going to support the Athens Regional Foundation. Two additional sponsor's exemptions will be announced as the tournament approaches.

ATHENS REGIONAL FOUNDATION
All proceeds from the Classic will benefit the Athens Regional Foundation. The Foundation's goals of community service and education are accomplished by providing the financial means to establish projects and programs to serve the long-term healthcare needs of area citizens. Recent projects of the Foundation include the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support, which provides free resources to anyone affected by cancer; The Guest House, a home away from home for families of critically ill patients; a Mobile Mammography Unit, which provides screening mammograms to women who do not easily have access to mammograms; and the Breast Health Center, which includes one of the only all-digital mammography centers in the country.

The Foundation is currently embarking on a campaign to expand cancer care services. A highlight of the campaign will be the Griffin-DuBose Healing Lodge, named in memory of John E. "Buck" Griffin and Bolling DuBose, M.D., two beloved community members who served the hospital for many years. This building will provide additional space for support groups and programs such as Therapeutic Yoga and therapeutic creative arts. In addition, donations will increase funding for the existing endowment to insure that programs and services are available in the future.

ABOUT THE NATIONWIDE TOUR
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf's greatest stage. As the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR, two-thirds of the current PGA TOUR membership played on the Nationwide Tour. Tour alumni have won 223 PGA TOUR titles, including a grand slam and three PLAYERS Championships. Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards and a record purse approaching $19 million will be at stake over the course of 30 events in 2008 concluding with the $1 million Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch. Recognizing the Tour's growing stature, Nationwide Insurance has renewed its umbrella sponsorship of the Nationwide Tour through 2012. The PGA TOUR, through the efforts of its three tours and their tournaments, sponsors, players and volunteers, supports over 2,000 local charities and has surpassed $1 billion in charitable giving. To learn more about the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit www.PGATOUR.com.

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