LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Deemed the "Bowl" experience of collegiate golf, the Patriot All-America welcomes the top collegiate golfers from all divisions to compete in this unique golf tournament and Southwestern senior Cameron Button is the first SU golfer to earn a spot.
Button was a 2013 All-American last season after finishing tied for fifth overall at the NCAA Division III Golf Championships. His All-American status earned him entrance into the tournament and is the first Pirate to compete.
The tournament takes place in Arizona between Christmas and New Year in the Valley of the Sun. The Patriot All-America Invitational, which will feature PING All-Americans from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as All-Americans from the NAIA, NJCAA and AJGA ranks, will take place Dec. 27-31 at the Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park.
The 54-hole amateur event, which is the first of its kind to combine the talents of 84 nationally recognized players in a holiday bowl-like experience, is the combined effort of the Arizona Golf Association, the Golf Coaches Association of America and the Wigwam Golf Resort.
Click here to view a complete list of competitors
The Invitational tournament's beneficiary is the Folds of Honor Foundation which is "rallying a nation to ensure no family is left behind in the fight to preserve American freedom. Through scholarships and other assistance, we give back to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country."
I was absolutely thrilled when I got the email from Coach Ruyle,"said Button. "An invitation to play with the best players in collegiate golf is not only a chance to represent myself, D3 golf, and Southwestern, but to play for our nation's fallen soldiers that have provided us with all the freedoms and opportunities needed to pursue what we love. Indubitably, it's a prestigious tournament and I'm absolutely honored to be a part of it this year and compete with the nation's best for a great cause."
To date the organization has provided almost 4,000 post-secondary scholarships and awarded 254 children's scholarship funds.
Each golfer at the event will be assigned a fallen soldier and will carry a golf bag emblazoned with his/her name. The bag will then be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Folds of Honor Foundation.