News
Jackson Claims Victory at the 2018 Patriot All-America
2018 Patriot All-America Champion, Isaiah Jackson
Litchfield Park, AZ- After three days and 54 holes Isaiah Jackson, a junior at the University of Memphis, walked off the 18th green as the 2018 Patriot All-America Champion. He fired an even-par-70 on the final round, to end at five-under 205 with the victory.
After firing a 67 in round one, Jackson shared the lead with 2017 Patriot All-America Champion, Mason Overstreet. Jackson headed into the final round in the co-lead after his second-round 68.
With the challenging weather conditions on the third and final round, Jackson mixed four bogeys with two birdies on the front nine, managing to take sole possession of the lead.
“I knew the conditions were going to be tough. Today’s probably the coldest and toughest conditions I’ve played, except for about three years ago in Atlanta.”
At one shot ahead of Grand Valley State University junior, Alex Scott, Jackson managed to sink three birdies with a sole bogey on the final nine to determine his victory by three shots.
“I just tried to stick to my game plan, stay within myself, continue hitting good shots and making putts, and that was pretty much it. Coming off 18, everybody started clapping when I hit the par putt, so I just assumed I had won you know. I didn’t know I was in the lead by three, so it feels pretty good,” said the 2018 Patriot All-America Champion.
Finishing tied for second, Alex Scott from Grand Valley State University and Quade Cummins from the University of Oklahoma carded a three-day total of 208. UCLA senior, Jack Ireland, overcame the unfriendly weather, firing a seven-under 63, the tournament record low-round. Entering the day 12 shots behind the leader, the Bruin moved up the leaderboard to tie for 5th.
This prestigious tournament is unique from other collegian tournaments because the field of 84 is aligned with a fallen or wounded soldier who has made the ultimate sacrifice. Each player is provided with a PING golf bag bearing the name and a story card of an American soldier. At the conclusion of the tournament, each bag is shipped back to the golfer’s school, then auctioned off to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Isaiah Jackson honored his great-grandfather, U.S. Army Private First Class Willie B. McGill who made the ultimate sacrifice in combat during World War II.
“Being able to represent a fallen soldier or injured soldier, that is something you do not see a lot. It makes it even better that I am representing my great-grandfather on the bag this week,” said Jackson.
Along with his 2018 Patriot All-America victory, Jackson will receive a sponsor exemption to the 2019 Air Capital Classic played in June at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.
With a combined effort from the Arizona Golf Association, Golf Coaches Association of America and the Wigwam Golf Resort, this marks the 8th Patriot All-America Invitational. The field features 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.