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Zucchetti leads opening round of the Patriot All-America
Federico Zucchetti has a one-stroke lead<br><i>Courtesy of Golfweek/Tracy Wilcox photo</i>
Federico Zucchetti has a one-stroke lead
Courtesy of Golfweek/Tracy Wilcox photo

Litchfield Park, Ariz. (Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015) – Federico Zucchetti fired an opening round 68 to lead at The Patriot All-America Invitational on the Gold Course at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Ariz. Last year’s runner-up George Cunningham and Adam Wood sit one stroke back at 2-under 69.

A native of Gozzano, Italy, and junior at Texas Tech, Zucchetti started on No. 10 with his father on his bag. He started with three-straight pars before a bogey on No. 11. It would be the only bogey of his round. Birdies at Nos. 14, 16, 4 and 8 moved him to 3-under 68.

“I played well tee to green which I think was important,” said Zucchetti. “My pace was consistent and even my short putts were pretty good. I had a slow start; I was one over after four or five holes. I suffered in the cold a lot. I don’t like playing in the cold but I got warm pretty easily.”

Cunningham’s round included three birdies, three bogeys and an eagle. After bogey on the fifth the sophomore from the University of Arizona responded with birdie on the following hole. An eagle at the par 4, 433-yard eighth moved Cunningham to 2-under. Another bogey at No. 11 dropped him to 1-under. He would record back-to- back birdies at Nos. 14 and 15 but bogeyed No. 16 to finish at 2-under 69.

“So honestly it was kind of a casual round,” said Cunningham. “It wasn’t anything exciting. I just kept my ball in play and kept hitting a lot of greens. I think I only missed like 3 or 4 greens today and my putting was really good. I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to make birdies, but when I did, most of the time I capitalized.”

Wood, a sophomore at Duke, carded an eagle and four birdies but also posted to bogeys and a double bogey. He moved to 1-under with birdie on No. 6 but dropped to 1-over par with the double bogey on the eighth. A birdie at No. 11 was countered by a bogey at No. 12 to stay at 1-over. Wood briefly moved into the lead with a birdie- eagle-birdie stretch beginning at No. 13 but fell to 2-under and the tie for second with a bogey at No. 18.

Second round action will begin at 10 am off both the 1st and 10th tees.

Results: Patriot All-America
1MSBraden ThornberryOlive Branch, MS70073-67-71=211
T2NCDavid KocherCharlotte, NC50072-71-69=212
T2INAdam WoodZionsville, IN50069-70-73=212
T4NCCarter JenkinsRaleigh, NC40072-74-68=214
T4VAChris O'NeillGlen Allen, VA40070-72-72=214

View full results for Patriot All-America

ABOUT THE Patriot All-America

The Wigwam and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), in partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation present the Patriot All- America Invitational. It's one of the most unique events in all of golf.

84 top collegiate players named to the PING All- America team in NCAA Division I,II and III, NAIA and NJCAA, AJGA, one player from each military academy and select international players compete in a 54- hole championship.

Each player honors our military by carrying a bag with the name, rank and service of a fallen or severely wounded soldier embroidered on the pocket. Following the championship, the bags go to the players’ school for auction, with proceeds benefiting the Folds of Honor.

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