PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA By the AZGOLF Insider Staff

Georgia Tech’s Norton bags Patriot All-America P atriotism is the thing that sets the Patriot All-America Invitational golf tournament apart from all others, and it was on full display once again in the 2019 event. The tournament was created in 2011 as a way to give college golfers their own “bowl game” and to honor fallen and severely wounded soldiers through the Folds of Honor Foundation. The names of those soldiers are placed on the PING bags that competitors carry throughout the tournament at Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park.

Those bags later are sent to the schools of the golfers and are auctioned to raise funds that benefit Folds of Honor recipients. This year’s field featured 84 golfers, and each of the U.S. military academies was represented. Noah Norton of Georgia Tech shot a final-round 68 to win the event that ended Dec. 31, finishing at 7-under 203. That was one shot better than a trio of players, including Mason Overstreet of Arkansas, who captured the title in 2017. Mason Andersen of Arizona State shared the lead after two rounds but a final-round 71 dropped him to seventh place, three shots behind. He was one of three ASU golfers in the field.

Norton’s winnings include an authentic leather Air Force jacket, a commemorative F-35 replica and flight suit, and an exemption to the Wichita Open on the Korn Ferry Tour in June. Three Patriot tournament alumni have won that Wichita event. To date, 21 current PGA Tour pros have played in this tournament, accounting for 31 tour wins, including four major championships.

Included are the names of Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Champ and Ollie Schniederjans. n

22 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2020 From upper left (first page, clockwise): Georgia Tech’s Noah Norton accepts the Patriot trophy from West Valley Mavericks president Jason Khan; the traditional flyover to start the event; the boys on the bus bound for Luke Air Force Base; a Wings of Blue parachutist; a participant from the junior clinic. Second page from top: ASU’s Mason Andersen tees off, as does Vanderbilt’s William Moll (lower left) and the University of New Mexico’s Sam Choi (lower right). Norton exalts after a birdie (lower middle).