Dec. 30, 2011
By Greg Archuleta
UNM Assistant Communications Director
Litchfield Park, Ariz. — John Catlin’s Christmas spirit worked overtime this week.
The University of New Mexico junior golf received the honor of playing the inaugural Patriot All-America invitational at The Wigwam Golf Course. Catlin tied for 32nd in the invitation-only event, finishing with a 5-over-par 218 (74-69-75).
The event took place Wednesday through Friday.
“I don’t play golf in the middle of winter too often,” Catlin said Friday with a laugh by phone from Litchfield Park. “It was nice to be able to play in an event at this time of the year, just to stay sharp.”
The Patriot All-America is the product of a collaborative effort by the Arizona Golf Association, The Wigwam, the Golf Coaches Association of America and the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the 54-hole amateur event for current men’s collegiate golfers. The GCAA administered invitations for the event.
Each participant in the Patriot All-America Invitational represented a fallen or severely wounded service member. Every player received a golf bag at the event’s opening ceremony with the name his respective service member.
Catlin played in honor of Ronnie L. Sanders, a 26-year-old Staff Sergeant from Thibodaux, La. Sanders was killed Feb. 3, 2007 from a bomb that detonated under his vehicle near Taji, Iraq.
After the event, Patriot Invite organizers were to auction off the bags, with the proceeds going to a post-secondary education fund for spouses and children of the honored soldiers.
“That was an honor, to carry a bag with his name on it and be able to represent him,” Catlin said. “I just would’ve liked to have played better.”
Catlin finished 19 strokes behind the winner, Corey Whitsett of Alabama. Whitsett won the even with a 14-under 199. Catlin’s best round came Thursday with a 2-under 69. He struggled in the front nine on Friday but rebounded with a 1-under effort in the final nine holes.
“I hit the ball well all tournament,” Catlin said, “but I putted pretty poorly.”
While Catlin was hoping for a better showing, Lobo coach Glen Millican said the chance for Catlin to play in the event was the most significant aspect of the event.
“To have any one of our players represent the University of New Mexico is pretty special to us – for a lot of reasons other than golf,” Millican said. “It was a great honor for him to be invited, and it was really helpful for him to play over the break. Playing against some of the better players in the nation can only help his game.”
Catlin agreed, saying the time between the last tournament of the fall (the Royal Oaks Intercollegiate on Nov. 1-2 and the upcoming Ping Arizona Intercollegiate on Jan. 30-31, can take a toll on a player’s game.
“It’s hard, if you don’t play in a tournament for a few months, to be in top form when you start playing in the spring.”
For Catlin, spending a few days away from his holiday vacation time in Sacramento, Calif., was well worth his time.
“It was very cool to be chosen to play in an event like this,” Catlin said. “It was an honor to represent the University of New Mexico.”