Dec. 29, 2011
Litchfield Park , Ariz. — A second-round 69 moved University of New Mexico junior golfer John Catlin into a tie for 20th place at the Patriot All-America Invitational on Thursday.
Catlin is at 1-over-par 143 for the tournament, which honors fallen and severely wounded veterans. He moved up from a tie for 36th after the first round and is in an eight-way tie for 20th. Catlin trails leader Cory Whitsett of Alabama by 10 strokes. Whitsett shot a sizzling 64 on the Gold Course at The Wigwam for a two-stroke lead over Crimson Tide teammate Bobby Wyatt.
Catlin, who shot a 3-over 74 on Wednesday, had climbed back to even through the first 17 holes on Thursday but bogeyed the 18th to settle for a 2-under second round. Catlin is playing in memory of Staff Sgt. Ronnie L. Sanders, who died Feb. 3, 2007 near Taji, Iraq. Sanders, whose hometown was Thibodaux, La., was 26 when a bomb detonated under his vehicle.
The inaugural event concludes with Friday’s final round.