ATLANTA (April 28, 2007) -- Not many athletes can take the moniker "The Swedish Meatball" in stride like Georgia State junior golfer Joel Sjoholm. But the name only plays on his home country of Sweden and his outward appearance. It has nothing, however, to do with his game.

Sjoholm's golf game has steadily improved since the first time he set foot on State's campus all the way from Gothenburg, Sweden. In his freshman season, Sjoholm was thrust into action right away competing in 11 events including an Atlantic Sun championship, an NCAA Regional appearance and an NCAA Championship appearance. Sjoholm averaged a respectable 73.21 stroke-average during his freshman season as he adjusted to college life. He started out hot in his freshman campaign posting a top 10 finish in his first collegiate tournament and a top 5 finish in his second, but he struggled to find that magic the rest of the season.

Sjoholm's sophomore season mirrored his first where he recorded a third-place finish at the Panther's opening event the TOPY Cup in Japan but struggled until a fourth-place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, helping the Panthers win their first ever CAA title. He posted a 74.36 stroke-average for his sophomore season and helped the Panthers to an NCAA Regional.

This season, Sjoholm opened in similar fashion to his previous two. At the Carpet Capital Collegiate, he led the Panthers with a ninth-place finish, including firing a 68 in the second round. He followed up that performance by recording a new career-low three-round total of 208 at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. That performance helped the Panthers record back-to-back top 5 finishes to start the 2006-07 campaign.

The Panthers then headed to the Isleworth Intercollegiate Invitational without sophomore Mark Haastrup, who was competing with the Danish National Team at the World Amateur Team Championships. Battling the elements and a very tough golf course, State struggled to find their groove and finished in a tie for 13th-place. Sjoholm finished 36th and ended with an uncharacteristic 80 in the final round.

But instead of fading in the second half, Sjoholm turned it on during the spring schedule. With Haastrup out with an injury at the SunTrust Gator Invitational, Sjoholm stepped up and took charge to finish tied for 12th and ended the tournament with a final round of 69. At the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational, he tied for sixth-place, and the Panthers recorded their best finish so far with a tie for fourth.

The sixth-place finish at the John Hayt, sparked a string of three-straight top 5 finishes for Sjoholm to close out the season. During that span, Sjoholm matched his career-lowest score with a final round of 67 at the Administaff/Augusta State Invitational, where the Panthers took third.

At the highly ranked U.S. Collegiate Championship, Sjoholm proved he belonged among college golf's best with a tie for third against the top-ranked field. He followed up that performance with a tie for second-place at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, giving him a new career best finish.

It's easy to see why Sjoholm was named the first CAA Male Golfer of the Year in school history, and why he was also named to a school-record three-time CAA Golfer of the Week. Sjoholm's 71.85 stroke-average led the CAA. He recorded three top 5 finishes and two top 10 finishes in eight events. He is ranked 35th-individually by Golf Week that includes a 20-17-2 record against other top 25 golfers.

Why the change from his previous two seasons?

Head coach Matt Clark attributes it to Sjoholm making the adjustment to college life.

"Joel just learned how to go to college," Clark said. "His freshman year was tough, but his English has improved, and he gotten much more comfortable in his surroundings. He is so much more comfortable and relaxed now and that has translated to the golf course."

Sjoholm agrees that he is more comfortable now and it has helped him on the golf course, but he also attributes his improvements to his roommate Haastrup.

"Last year, I had to compete against one of the best players in the country in every tournament when Mark got here," Sjoholm said. "I learned my lesson quickly that I had to work harder."

Sjoholm's creativity and his consistency on the course have also helped him this season.

"He sees shots that a lot of people can't see," Clark said. "Once he gets into trouble, he is great at getting out of it."

"I don't do anything really crazy," Sjoholm said. "I don't think too much about it. I just do it."

But Sjoholm might be best known for his personality on and off the course.

"Some players might think that I am too jokey out on the course," Sjoholm said. "But I think I am pretty funny, in a good way. If I have a bad score that day it is only going to be for that day. It is not going to carry on with me for the next round. I like to enjoy life and enjoy golf. Golf is my life right now."

"He likes to have fun," Clark said. "He is getting more comfortable with his situation and his personality is getting to show."

Sjoholm like many collegiate golfers has aspirations to play at the next level and a recent trip this year's Masters gave him a taste of the professional life.

"The pros are like five players in one," Sjoholm said. "They have a swing coach, a caddy, a mental coach. It was great to see how good they are and to see them do similar things that I can do."

"He has a long ways to go, but we talk about it all the time," Clark said. "Not just about his game but about his life. Getting better management skills, learning about quality practice instead of quantity, will all give him a chance to chase his dream."

For now, Sjoholm is focused on getting to another NCAA Championship. The team will find out May 7th at 6 p.m. what NCAA Regional they will compete in.