Mason Overstreet (Arkansas Athletics photo)
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. (Dec. 29, 2018) – Memphis’
Isaiah Jackson and Arkansas’
Mason Overstreet share the lead after opening rounds of 3-under 67 at the Patriot All-America. Both players threw out five birdies on the day at Wigwam’s Gold Course.
The tournament, presented in part by the Golf Coaches Association of America, Folds of Honor Foundation, Arizona Golf Association, JDM Partners and The West Valley Mavericks, is open to the nation’s top collegians from all divisions. Each player in the field is carrying a bag with the name, rank and service of a fallen or wounded soldier, and also receives a card with the soldier’s story, so they can be familiar with who that person was, what they represented and how they were killed or wounded in action.
Overstreet is the defending champion in this event while Jackson finished in the top 20 last year.
After Saturday’s 67, Overstreet has now had four straight rounds in the 60s at the Patriot All-America, including 67, 68, 64 in 2017.
"It’s nice knowing I’ve won on this golf course before and I know the greens fairly well and where the pins are gonna be, so that’s nice," Overstreet said. "It’s also a little extra pressure from all the guys that are here. Everyone knows who I am now as the defending champion. But yeah, I think its more of an advantage then it is a disadvantage."
Jackson, a junior at Memphis from Golden, Mississippi, is playing in honor of his great grandfather U.S. Army Private First Class Willie B. McGill. Private First Class McGill was killed in combat action on Dec. 4, 1944.
Alex Scott, from Grand Valley State University, is one shot back after a 2-under 68. Four golfers sit two shots back at 1-under, including Joshua McCarthy from Pepperdine, Jordan Hahn from the University Wisconsin, Trevor Werbylo from the University of Arizona and Jackson Suber from the University of Mississippi.
Information from the Patriot All-America used in this report
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.
View Complete Tournament Information