with cards that provide biographical information about them. Those bags later are sent to the golfers’ respective schools to be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Folds of Honor Foundation. “No one group could possibility


pull this off but, collectively, we are so much stronger and have been able to achieve even more than we imagined,” Gowan said. “We knew JDM and The Wigwam


were committed but what they have provided was beyond what we could even ask for, and then to have Luke taking such an interest, it says a lot about the relationship they have with the community and vice versa. It’s really marvelous to see how it all works.” The event features 84 PING All-


America golfers from all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and NJCAA rankings, as well as from U.S. military academies and universities outside the United States. This year’s field featured 17 international players, including English, Irish and Scottish national champions. Two of Japan’s top amateurs already have committed for next year. Among those who have competed


in past events are 2017 U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, 2017 PGA Championship winner and FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas and fellow PGA Tour members Daniel Berger, Patrick Rodgers and Bryson DeChambeau. Cameron Champ, who won the


2016 title, recently joined the PGA Tour and 2015 winner Braden Thornberry is the reigning NCAA champion and is No. 2 in the world amateur rankings. “I think (the Patriot) has gotten


better every year,” Thornberry said after completing this year’s event, which was his third. “The competition level is always good and so is the venue. “The tournament has a different feel


to it than most that we play in, which I really like. It adds to the experience and so does the fact that we are playing to honor fallen soldiers. To have that name on your bag, it really puts things in perspective for the golfers.” This year’s winner, Mason


Overstreet, found that out in his first appearance in the event. “”The whole week has been


great,” said the Arkansas sophomore. “The weather was great and the trip to Luke Air Force Base was really


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something special, to be able to spend some time with military members and see what they do. “Playing for a fallen soldier


just adds something extra to this tournament, knowing that you’ve got a guy right there with you who you’re playing for, and what you do is going to help get their stories out there as well.” That is the value Hannah


Davis sees in the event. Davis, a former Michigan State golfer from northern Michigan, was the guest speaker for this year’s tournament as part of an impressive military- themed opening ceremony. Her father, who served in the


Navy, was killed 20 years ago when she was three years old. She attended college on a Folds of Honor Scholarship, now makes appearances at golf events around the country on behalf of the foundation and said the Patriot is “something very special.” “I think it’s fantastic to see young


people like this coming out to show appreciation for those who represent our country,” she said. “I haven’t been out of college very long and, when I look around, I don’t always see young people who have gained that appreciation of the military and all they do to provide our freedoms. “It is heartwarming to see an event


like this that exposes young people to that and lets them see the significance of what our military does for all of us. I was honored to be a part of this.” The Mavericks are hoping that


more spectators become a part of the event as well, and are leaning heavily on the Thunderbirds for their expertise in that pursuit. “We are very fortunate to be able


to partner with the Thunderbirds,” Stockley said. “They have allowed us to kind of ride along with them and learn from the best at what they do, so we don’t have to create the things we want to do from scratch. “What we really hope is to learn


from their experience and build an event that offers the same kind of feel of a Phoenix Open, although obviously on a much smaller scale. At this time of year, around the holidays, it lends itself to that, and we are excited about what we can do with it.” n


Patriot All-America champ Mason Overstreet is flanked by the AGA’s Ed Gowan and Tom O’Malley from The Wigwam.


Overstreet captures Patriot All-America


BY JOHN DAVIS


Mason Overstreet showed that he not only can win a prestigious event, but can close it out in style. The Arkansas sophomore captured the title in the


Patriot All-America at The Wigwam Resort on New Year’s Eve, tying the tournament record of 11-under-par 199. He capped if off with a final round of


6-under 64, knocking in birdie putts on the last two holes, including an impressive 30-footer to close it out on The Wigwam’s Gold Course. “It feels awesome,” Overstreet said of the win. “I mean this is definitely one of the better fields we play. I played outstanding today. The putt on 18 was just a big bonus, but it was just a really fun week.” Overstreet finished six shots ahead of George


Cunningham of Arizona, Austin Eckroat of Oklahoma State, Patrick Fishburn of BYU, SM Lee of Dalton State College and Garrett May of Baylor. “I knew I had a four-shot lead coming to the last


two (holes), but I tried to stay aggressive,” Overstreet said. “With a big lead sometimes you can be complacent and just try to play to the middle of the green but what was working for me all week was going at the flag, so I figured I might as well keep it going.” May led the field after each of the first two rounds but finished with a 1-over 71. Braden Thornberry, the 2015 winner and reigning NCAA Champion from Mississippi, trailed by two shots entering the final round but struggled to a 74 and tied for 15th. Overstreet finished second to Thornberry


in the NCAA Championship in May, and his Patriot victory earned him an exemption into his first pro event, the Web.com Tour’s Air Capital Classic in Wichita, Kan., in June. “It will be nice,” he said, “to get out there


and just kind of see what all goes on at a professional event and get my feet wet.” n


PREVIEW 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 29


PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA


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