LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. (December 31, 2019) – As the sun began to rise, so did the hopes of three co-leaders and a past champion sitting one stroke back looking to become the first to hold the jet trophy again. The pristine conditions at the Wigwam Golf Club could not provide a better round for the 9th Annual Patriot All-America presented by Valley Toyota Dealers. The day was filled with numerous lead changes, chants, cheers, and an eruption of noise from the Wells Fargo 16th Skybox when Ford Clegg from Mississippi State University (honoring Army Sergeant First Class Lance H. Vogeler) hit a hole-in-one. As the field began to finish the final two pairings on 17th and 18 held the top six with Sam Choi (-7) and Noah Norton (-7) in separate pairings. Mason Overstreet from University of Arkansas (honoring USMC Sergeant Chad D. Frokjer), Jackson Suber from University of Mississippi (honoring Army Staff Sergeant Andrew L. Montgomery ), and Sam Choi from University of New Mexico (honoring Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake ), approached the 18th green. You could feel the crowd as Overstreet’s birdie putt to force a playoff with Choi failed to drop. Choi then bogeyed leaving the door open to the final group. The final pairing of the day Noah Norton from Georgia Tech University (honoring Army First Sergeant Michael S. Curry) , David Perkins from Illinois State University (honoring Army Major Christopher J. Splinter), and Mason Anderson from Arizona State University (honoring Sergeant First Class Johnathan B. McCain ) approached the 18th green to the roar of the crowd from The Maverick’s Corral & Skybox on 18. Chants of A-S-U, A-S-U, A-S-U were yelled as Anderson holed out with a wedge. Norton glanced over to the giant leaderboard and smirked as he noticed he was the only one 7-under-par. After final putt touched the bottom of the cup, he reached the ball with a slight fist pump, shook the hand of the soldier tending the American Flag pin and pumped his fist high in the air as the crowd cheered.
Noah Norton – 7-under-par (203) – 2019 Patriot All-America Champion
On The Patriot All-America Golf Invitational – Opening ceremonies are incredible, It’s an honor just to be here, the purpose, going to the air force base, and everything about it, there’s nothing like it and it’s one of a kind.
On today’s round – I had a good round yesterday to put me in a position which is what I was hoping for. Didn’t really have my best front nine, and hung in there, it wasn’t playing easy, then I got hot on holes 10-13 with three birdies. Coming down the stretch I didn’t hit the best of shots, but I grinded it out, committed well, and was able to pull it out in the end.
What this means for Georgia Tech University – This is awesome, there are so many things that have gone well for us in the last year, my teammate Andy Ogletree won the U.S. Amateur, my other teammates Luke, Ty and roomates Ben and Connor are studs, we have such a good team. I want to thank Bruce Heppler, he’s a great coach, he’s the man, he’s gotten me everywhere. I also want to thank my swing coach Jay Berkowitz he’s been there with me since day one.
On addressing the crowd on 18 – I want to thank The West Valley Mavericks, Wigwam, Arizona Golf Association, Golf Coaches Association and everyone who had a part in putting this tournament on. There are so many people involved in making this happen and it shows. It makes it fun for us players and everyone to watch it. It’s such an experience, there are not many tournaments that play music and make it a lot of fun just to be out here. Whether it’s going good or bad, which I’ve had both over the three years I’ve been here. I just wanna thank everybody who came out here to watch, I want to thank my parents because they support me no matter what, and get me to these events. This a true honor to be out here, the Air Force Base is such a great tour, thank you for that. It’s just an incredible experience to be here and to win it is over the top, thank you guys.
Noah was presented with an Air Force style trophy, bomber jacket, and an American Flag that was flown both in an F-16 Fighting Falcon & F-35 Lightning II. He will also receive a sponsor exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s Wichita Open played June 20-23 at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.
FULL RESULTS: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/2340132