David Bataller, Media Director
(760) 845-6986 | media@patriotallamerica
Connor Henry wins The Thunderbolt in a playoff over Rylan Johnson at Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Middle Tennessee State University redshirt sophomore Connor Henry played a lights-out final round at Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club to win the 4th annual Thunderbolt. Henry began the day two shots off the lead, but fired a -6 (65) in the final round to force a playoff with 36-hole co-leader Rylan Johnson of Oregon State University. Henry’s par on the first playoff hole (the 18th) would be enough to give him the title. View the final 2025 Thunderbolt leaderboard here.
“Just being able to come out here and represent our fallen American heroes it’s just really puts things into perspective how just blessed we are just to be able to play golf for fun in college and just competitively,” said Henry, a Fort Worth, Tex.-native who started his final round by holing a wedge on the first hole, en route to his first career collegiate win. “It’s really cool. I had that on my mind all week, and just to come out with the trophy and what that means, it’s all a bonus, it’s all just a blessing and very grateful.”
Henry’s threatened the course record set one day earlier by starting out on fire, shooting -7 over his first 11 holes and putting Johnson’s -8 (63) squarely in sight. Two bogeys on the back nine meant Henry needed a birdie on the last hole to take the clubhouse lead, which Johnson matched with one of his own a few groups later, forcing the playoff. Trevor Lewis of UNLV, Logan Kim of UCLA, Hanjie Yu of UCSD and 36-hole co-leader Vincent Cervantes of Marquette each finished tied for third at -7, respectively.
The Patriot All-America Invitational features PING All-Americans from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and NJCAA; as well as 2024 First Team All-America Seniors from the AJGA and other special invitees. The 54-hole amateur event is known as the first of its kind to combine the talents of 159 nationally recognized men and women golfers simultaneously at one tournament.
The Patriot All-America honors fallen or severely wounded soldiers in partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation. The golfers receive a golf bag donated by PING Corporation at the event’s opening ceremony emblazoned with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member or first responder, whom they shall represent. Participants also receive a card with the soldier’s and first responder’s story so they can be familiar with that person, giving many of the top players a unique perspective not only on golf, but on life. At the conclusion of the tournament, the golf bags are shipped to players’ schools and auctioned with all proceeds benefitting the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Named after the Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt, The Thunderbolt has been added to the tournament week schedule to accommodate players who met the initial eligibility but did not make it into The Patriot. The Thunderbolt consists of players who are ranked in the top 1000 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), are PING Second, Third and Honorable Mention All-Americans from Divisions II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA, or are AJGA Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Americans.
The Patriot All-America and Thunderbolt is a collaboration between the GCAA, WGCA, the West Valley Mavericks, The Patriot All-America LLC, JDM Partners, the City of Surprise and Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club – in partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation and support from The Thunderbirds, the WM Phoenix Open host.
For more information including event history and sponsorship opportunities, visit patriotallamerica.com.
About The Patriot All-America Invitational
Featuring golf’s stars of tomorrow, The Patriot All-America is regarded as a top amateur event nationally, attracting PING All-America golfers from all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and NJCAA rankings as well as from universities outside the United States. The West Valley Mavericks (Mavericks), The Patriot All-America LLC, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), and JDM Partners partner with the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the tournament, played December 29-31 annually at The Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park, Ariz. For more information visit patriotallamerica.com.
About The Thunderbolt
Following the overwhelming success of The Patriot All-America Invitational, organizers implemented a second tournament to the Patriot lineup named The Thunderbolt in 2022. Played at Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club in Surprise, Ariz., it features 72 more of the nation’s top male collegiate players competing in a three-round event on the same dates as The Patriot: December 29-31. Named after the Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt, The Thunderbolt has been added to accommodate those players that met the initial eligibility but did not make it into The Patriot. For more information visit patriotallamerica.com.
About Wigwam Golf Club
The Wigwam’s three 18-hole championship golf courses offer a diversity that cannot be matched by any other Arizona resort, with 54 holes of championship golf including two courses designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The Gold Course has hosted many signature tournaments over the years, including numerous U.S. Open Qualifiers, U.S. Amateur Qualifiers, several NCAA Regional Championships and the annual Patriot All-America Invitational, one of the top amateur competitions in the world. The 7,430 yard, par 72 track has also received various industry awards and accolades since opening in 1965, including being named one of the “Top 100 Golf Courses in America.” In December 2009, The Wigwam (including the golf courses and resort property) was purchased by JDM Partners, led by sports icon Jerry Colangelo. For more information, please visit wigwamgolf.com.
About Golf Coaches Association of America
Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men’s collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA’s mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic and civic endeavors.
About Women’s Golf Coaches Association
Founded in 1983, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), formerly known as the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA), began as an organization to promote participation in women’s collegiate golf. The vision of the WGCA since its inception has been to encourage the playing of intercollegiate golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents the finest coaches in women’s golf with a membership of over 650 coaches of Division I, II & III, NAIA and NJCAA collegiate programs.
About the West Valley Mavericks
The West Valley Mavericks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in late 2012 by a group of community leaders with a shared vision for the West Valley. The Mavericks are driven by the belief that the West Valley is an exceptional place to live, work, play, and do business. Our mission is to advance charity, community, culture, and commerce throughout the West Valley of Phoenix. Through individual donations, fundraising events, business sponsorships, ticket sales, and hands-on community service, we work to support local families, children, and veterans, assist those in need, and enhance the overall quality of life in our communities. For more information, visit westvalleymavericksfound
The West Valley Mavericks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in late 2012 by a group of community leaders with a shared vision for the West Valley. The Mavericks are driven by the belief that the West Valley is an exceptional place to live, work, play, and do business. Our mission is to advance charity, community, culture, and commerce throughout the West Valley of Phoenix. Through individual donations, fundraising events, business sponsorships, ticket sales, and hands-on community service, we work to support local families, children, and veterans, assist those in need, and enhance the overall quality of life in our communities. For more information, visit westvalleymavericksfound
About Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization that provides academic scholarships to the spouses and children of military members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving. Educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, as well as post-secondary tuition (two- or four-year college/university, technical or trade school). Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 29,000 scholarships totaling over $145 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 41 percent are minorities.
Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization that provides academic scholarships to the spouses and children of military members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving. Educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, as well as post-secondary tuition (two- or four-year college/university, technical or trade school). Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 29,000 scholarships totaling over $145 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 41 percent are minorities.