Stephan Jaeger PGA Tour Win Big For UTC Golf Too

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—What does it all mean? That question is a heavy one these days but not in this context. Chattanooga Mocs alum Stephan Jaeger ’12 captured his first win on the PGA TOUR Sunday at the Texas Children’s Hospital Houston Open in unwavering manner at Memorial Park Golf Course.

Jaeger, a native of Munich, Germany, but near 20-year resident of Chattanooga, got the win in his 135th career start. He had six Korn Ferry Tour wins and had been knocking on the door of breaking through on the world’s tour before finally knocking down that wall amid pressure from the top ranked player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, among others in a dramatic 1-stroke victory.

But we ask again, what does it all mean…in the context of the Mocs golf program of which Jaeger is one of three All-Americans and the only NCAA Regionals medalist.

“It’s huge for our program,” Coach Blaine Woodruff explained. “He practices at our facility a ton and plays the same courses in our rotation when he’s in town. That says a lot to our team about what’s possible from here.

“It shows our facilities not only help get you to the Tour, but they help you win on Tour. Most importantly, it’s really encouraging for our guys to have spent a bunch of time around Stephan and see what it takes to win.”

Jaegar came across the pond in high school playing golf as a boarding student at Baylor, just across the river from the UTC campus. He played there with fellow Tour winners Harris English and Keith Mitchell before staying in town for a decorated collegiate career.

He was the SoCon Freshman of the Year in 2009 and Golfer of the Year the three years after. Jaeger captured the SoCon title in 2012 before going to Bowling Green and doing the same in NCAA Regionals against a stellar field that included Patrick Cantlay. He helped lead the program to the NCAA Championships Finals in 2009 and 2012 bookending an amazing career.

“It shows us what’s possible,” senior Paul Conroy said. “We see how he works, and what he does to prepare for where we want to be one day. He’s also a normal guy. It proves you don’t have to be Superman to win on Tour. He’s an everyday guy doing extraordinary things because he works hard and has a fantastic mindset.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment and excellent motivator for our entire team.”

The professional side is well documented. The first 58 in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event. Record scoring at the Korn Ferry Tour and six wins. But that’s just part of the story. With so many Tour pros living on Sea Island or in Florida or Texas or Arizona, Jaeger and his wife Shelby, son Fritz and celebrity dog Phil still reside in Chattanooga and invest in the area.

“Being from this area (Athens, Tenn.), it’s huge,” senior John Houk added. “I mean, showing what’s possible and seeing that he does it right here. Everything that I have to prepare for our next tournament is what he has to prepare for his. And he won…it just adds fuel to the fire.”

Our guy tees it up in two weeks at the Masters. He’s the first Mocs golfer to do that since U.S. Amateur Champion Steven Fox in 2013. He’s the first Chattanooga resident to do it as a pro since Gibby Gilbert who famously played in the final group in the 1980 Masters tying for second at 9 under behind champion Seve Ballesteros.

The world may be watching, but Chattanooga will actually be within the fabric of Augusta National.