In front of friends, family and fellow golfers, Statesboro High School’s Jordan Woody signed his national letter of intent to attend Savannah State University on a golf scholarship Tuesday afternoon in the school’s media center.
    The Blue Devils’ senior was all smiles for his big day and wasted no time thanking everyone for his accomplishment.
    “I would like to thank God and my family for putting golf in my life, and I would like to thank Statesboro High for letting me compete with them and thank Savannah State and Coach (Art) Gelow for letting me compete (Division I),” Woody said after signing to play with the Tigers.
    Woody’s uncle attended Savannah State, which played a big role in his decision to don the Tigers' blue and orange for the next four years.
    “They have a really good golf team and I had the opportunity to hit a couple with Coach Gelow and he gave me the opportunity to come play with them next season so I said ‘hey why not?” Woody said, laughing.
    SSU’s golf team finished co-runner up in the 2015 MEAC championship this season. The Tigers also graduated four seniors on the squad.
    Second-year Statesboro High School golf coach Sam Rogers said Woody’s skills and mentality on the course should translate well at the next level.
    “It’s always a great feeling. It’s kind of like seeing your own kid go off and go to college for the first time,” Rogers said. “Jordan is a very independent person and very hard working. I think that’s what will make a great impact for (SSU). He holds himself to high standards and his parents have had a great influence on him. He’s a great young man.”
    The Blue Devils finished fifth in the region this year with a team score of 339. Woody shot an average of 82 to 85 for the season and was the low medalist for SHS during region with a score of 77.
    Rogers said he would miss Woody’s sense of humor on the golf course the most.
    “Not only his work ethic but he had a great sense of humor. When you didn’t feel like practicing he would always make a comment that would ease everyone’s tension,” Rogers said.
    Despite moving on to college, Woody said he’s still excited due to the location of SSU.
    “I can just drive down the interstate and get home no problem. The coaches are good people and the players are good people. It’s somewhere I can play for years to come,” Woody said.