PHOENIX, Ariz. (December 6, 2016) – An impressive field continues to build for the 2016 Patriot All-America Invitational as Nick Hardy from the University of Illinois and Alejandro Tosti from the University of Florida have joined defending tournament champion Braden Thornberry from the University of Mississippi, Sean Crocker from USC, and John Oda from UNLV as some of the top collegiate players to commit to play. Played at The Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz., December 27-31, the Patriot All-America features golf’s stars of tomorrow and is regarded as a top amateur event nationally.
A field of 84 PING All-America golfers from all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and NJCAA rankings as well as from universities outside the United States will compete in a 54-hole, stroke-play competition on The Wigwam’s famed Gold Course. Competitive rounds for the 2016 Patriot All-America will be played December 29, 30 and 31 with a champion crowned at approximately 4 PM on New Year’s Eve.
According to the latest Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking, Crocker (ranked 12th) is currently the highest ranked player in the field, with Hardy (20th), Oda (28th), Tosti (30th), Nahum Mendoza III from San Diego State (37th) and Braden Bailey from Baylor (47th) the other top 50 players to commit. The Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking is updated daily and continuously and includes over 4,000 events and more than 12,000 amateurs worldwide.
Collegiate golfers currently committed to play in the 2016 Patriot All-America Invitational – with World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (SPWAR) – include:
Name Institution WAGR SPWAR
Bailey, Braden Baylor 55 47
Ban, Shintaro UNLV 157 93
Bauman, Brandon UC Santa Barbara 511 442
Baumgarten, Bryan Illinois 850 423
Biata, Michael Chattanooga
Carlson, Nick Michigan 192 127
Champ, Cameron Texas A&M 99 116
Chanen, Jake Grand Canyon 2003 3058
Cheung, Matthew Oklahoma City 861 1242
Choi, Sunwoo Air Force
Clare, John Le Moyne 878 1087
Clarkson, Jack William Woods 2932
Cole, Ryan James Madison 107 132
Crocker, Sean Southern California 14 12
Cummins, Quade Oklahoma 2411 1474
Cunningham, George Arizona 101 195
Dawson, Robin Maynooth 326 162
Decker, Michael Vanderbilt 1279 694
Dossey, Cooper Baylor 301 628
Eldridge, Thomas UNCW 295 251
Eubank, Kavan Texas A&M 556 2876
Feagles, Michael Illinois 421 693
Gil, Tony Houston 574 831
Go, Lloyd Jefferson Seton Hall 129 86
Greenberg, Mason Vanderbilt 1168 2665
Grehan, Stuart Maynooth 58 102
Gumberg, Jordan Arizona 330 814
Hardy, Nick Illinois 32 20
Heien, Mats Mary Hardin-Baylor 2933 1724
Heine, Philip Southern Mississippi 3167 3086
Hickam, Phillip Chattanooga 3504
Hodges, Lee Alabama 190 123
Houlding, David William Woods 831 825
Jensen, Davis Methodist University 4842
Kuest, Peter BYU 404 568
Lambeth, Addison Huntingdon 1251 744
Levitt, Andrew Southern California 397 303
Lim, Thomas Oregon 297 190
Long, George Mount Mercy 4075 4271
Mathard, Leo Texas Wesleyan 599 932
Mayo, Joey Rhodes 2793 1894
McAree, Graham Indianapolis 825 1152
McBride, Jake NC State 261 298
McCarthy, Joshua Pepperdine 869 706
Mendoza III, Nahum San Diego State 135 37
Mills, Patrick Oglethorpe 2373 3989
Nagai, Gen Seton Hall 1498 3382
Neale, Gordon Florida 168 104
Oda, John UNLV 23 28
Olsen, Zachary Oklahoma State 275 304
Ott, AJ Colorado State 1871
Perras, Michael Houston 313 169
Perrine, Matthew Baylor 288 268
Petefish, Chris Georgia Tech 403 332
Prater, Colin UC-Colorado Springs 267 617
Rainey, William College of Charleston 138 146
Ravetto, David Texas Wesleyan 724 504
Raza, Sulman Oregon 239 341
Redman, Doc Clemson 172 165
Riley, Carson Centre 4841 6283
Shipp, Benjamin NC State 221 454
Seiple, Josh Mississippi 919 1957
Sienko, Pete St. Thomas (MN) 2627 2876
Soosman, Spencer UCLA 243 657
Springer, Alex Central Missouri 510 518
Stevens, Sam Oklahoma State 153 53
Strickland, Lance Meridian 1980
Suppa, Kyle Southern California 512 577
Sweeney, Kerry Mississippi 519 917
Tallman, Connor Navy
Theegala, Sahith Pepperdine 180 94
Thornberry, Braden Mississippi 64 70
Tosti, Alejandro Florida 41 30
Troxler, Colin Mississippi Gulf Coast 3397 2218
Turner, Nicholas Army
Ullestad, Trevor Missouri 923 1695
Walker, Andrew Michigan State 2181 1886
Weatherhead, Sam Michigan State 231 221
Whalen, Andrew Northwestern 304 99
Wood, Adam Duke 126 148
Wood, Hayden Oklahoma State 347 262
Wrenn, Alex Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 2570 1163
Yoshihara, Hidetoshi UCLA 920 651
Zucchetti, Federico Texas Tech 197 149
Current PGA TOUR stars who have played in The Patriot All-America Invitational during their college careers, include: Brooks Koepka (2011), Trey Mullinax (2011), Patrick Rodgers (2011), Justin Thomas (2011), Daniel Berger (2012), Brandon Hagy (2012), Ollie Schniederjans (2012), Richy Werenski (2012), Bryson DeChambeau (2013) and JT Poston (2014).
Past Patriot All-America champions include: Braden Thornberry from the University of Mississippi (2015); Kyle Kochevar from the University of Virginia (2014), Kyle Westmoreland from the Air Force Academy (2013); Sebastian Cappelen from the University of Arkansas (2012); and Cory Whitsett, from the University of Alabama (2011).
The winner of the 2016 Patriot All-America Invitational will receive a sponsor exemption into the Web.com Tour’s 2017 Air Capital Classic in Wichita, Kansas. The Air Capital Classic will be played June 8-18 at Crestview Country Club. Two Patriot All-America alums have won the Air Capital Classic, including defending 2016 Air Capital Classic champion Ollie Schniederjans (2011 and 2012 Patriot participant) and 2014 Air Capital Classic champion Sebastian Cappelen (2011, 2012 and 2013 Patriot participant and 2012 Patriot champion).
The Arizona Golf Association (AGA), JDM Partners and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) are once again partnering with the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the 6th annual tournament. The tournament continues to receive tremendous community support by a variety of local businesses and organizations including The Thunderbirds, host organization of the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the West Valley Mavericks civic group.
In cooperation with the Folds of Honor Foundation, the golfers in The Patriot All-America will continue the tradition to represent a fallen soldier. Every participant will receive a golf bag at the event’s opening ceremony with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member whom they shall represent. At the conclusion of the tournament, the golf bags will be shipped to players’ schools and auctioned with all proceeds benefitting the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while in active service.
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. Here, the golf enthusiast has their pick of not just one or two courses, but three 18-hole courses – 54 holes of championship golf including two courses designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. And, in true Wigwam style, each course – The Gold, Patriot, which just celebrated their 50th anniversaries, and Heritage – offers a unique challenge that adds spice and variety to one’s stay at this timeless and relaxing retreat. In December 2009, The Wigwam (including the golf courses and resort property) was purchased by JDM Partners, led by sports icon Jerry Colangelo.
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 course has also received various industry awards and accolades since opening in 1965, including being named one of the “Top 100 Golf Courses in America.” For more information, please visit www.wigwamgolf.com.
About Arizona Golf Association
The Arizona Golf Association has been serving amateur golfers in Arizona since 1923 when it held the first State Amateur Championship. Today, it is licensed by the United States Golf Association to provide handicapping and course rating services to member clubs, to provide tournament and rules expertise and to oversee the application of amateur status.
About Golf Coaches Association of America
Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of golf coaches. The GCAA’s mission is to support its member coaches 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.