English to turn pro this month on Nationwide Tour

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Alex McMahan Photography

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Fresh off his participation in the Walker Cup, Harris English of Thomasville, Ga. will launch his professional career on the Nationwide Tour this month and pursue a PGA TOUR card by competing in at least four of the remaining Tour events in September and October.

The announcement was made today at the Children's Hospital Classic media day in Chattanooga, Tenn. where English attended the Baylor School from 2003 to 2007.

The 22-year-old English made golf headlines in July when he became only the third amateur to win a Nationwide Tour event.

The Children's Hospital Classic (Oct. 6-9) is one of four events English has indicated he will play. His professional debut will come next week at the Soboba Golf Classic (Sept. 22-25) in San Jacinto, Calif. It will be followed by the WNB Golf Classic (Sept. 29 -- Oct. 2) in Midland, Texas, the Children's Hospital Classic and the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters (Oct. 20-23) at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA TOUR, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

"I can't think of a more fitting place to announce my professional career than in Chattanooga and with the Nationwide Tour," said English. "My goal is to make the Nationwide Tour Championship, which would mean I'll have a chance to earn my PGA TOUR card, which is the ultimate goal. In the near future, I would love to have the kind of immediate impact players such as Keegan Bradley and my former Georgia teammate Chris Kirk have had on the PGA TOUR this year. They are a testament to the incredible level of talent and competition the Nationwide Tour is known for. The Nationwide Tour is the perfect place for me to start my professional career, learn how to be a pro and hopefully soon earn my PGA TOUR card.

"I spent four great years in Chattanooga at the Baylor School, so it is a special day for me to be able to share this news in front of so many friends and colleagues," English added. "I look forward to playing one of my first events as a professional at Black Creek where I spent so much time during high school and developed so many meaningful relationships."

"Harris English is the type of accomplished player that embodies the Nationwide Tour's commitment to identifying and transitioning talented golfers who are to ready to compete and win on the PGA TOUR," said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. "Harris will have up to five events to earn a spot in October's Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in Charleston where the top-60 money winners will compete for 25 PGA TOUR cards. He joins the Tour at a very exciting time. We are very happy to welcome him to the Nationwide Tour."

The four-time University of Georgia All-American who graduated in May won the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational played at the Ohio State University's Scarlet Course in July. He was eligible for the event based on his 2011 All-American status. English had 60 days to join the Nationwide Tour. He will play in the tournament winner category in 2011, and has the option to do so in 2012.

English captured a one-shot victory in Columbus, Ohio over fellow All-American John Peterson of LSU and Kyle Reifers. He became only the third amateur to win a Nationwide Tour event, joining Daniel Summerhays of Brigham Young University (2007 Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational) and UGA teammate Russell Henley (2011 Stadion Classic at UGA).

English was a member of last week's U.S. Walker Cup team at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland.