Dec. 28, 2011
Litchfield, Ariz. — University of New Mexico junior golfer John Catlin is tied for 36th place after shooting a 3-over-par 74 Thursday in the first round of the inaugural Patriot All-America Championships in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Catlin is seven strokes behind leader Brooks Koepka of Florida State after the first 18 holes of the 54-hole event. The second round is scheduled to take place today.
The Arizona Golf Association, The Wigwam and the Golf Coaches Association of America have partnered with the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the 54-hole amateur event for current men’s collegiate golfers at The Wigwam Resort. The GCAA administered invitations for the event.
In cooperation with the Folds of Honor Foundation, each participant in the Patriot All-America Invitational represents a fallen service member. Every player shall receive a golf bag at the event’s opening ceremony with the name and branch of service of a fallen military member whom they shall represent.
Catlin is representing Staff Sgt. Ronnie L. Sanders, who died Feb. 3, 2007 near Taji, Iraq. Sanders, whose hometown was Thiboudeaux, La., was 26 when a bomb detonated under his vehicle.
At the conclusion of the event these golf bags will be auctioned with all proceeds designated for the Folds of Honor Foundation which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving their country.