Brookhaven’s Jacob Ross commits to play in the fifth annual Patriot All-America Golf Invitational
Published 10:30 am Wednesday, December 9, 2015
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – The Patriot All-America, a top amateur event attracting 84 nationally-recognized, elite collegiate PING All-America Golfers, recently announced that Jacob Ross from Brookhaven will compete in the fifth annual tournament from Dec. 27 – 31st in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
“The Patriot All-America is a three-day, 54-hole stroke play golf tournament honoring the military and acknowledging their sacrifices on The Wigwam’s iconic Gold Course,” said Ed Gowan, executive director of the Arizona Golf Association. “It’s the only bowl-like experience for golfers that allows players from all divisions to compete against one another. Each American golfer will carry a commemorative red, white and blue PING golf bag bearing the name, rank and service of a fallen soldier from the community in which they live or attend school, while the special international players will carry white bags with their heroes honored.”
Ross, who attends Mississippi State University, was named a NJCAA Division II First-Team All-American and NJCAA Division II All-Freshman. He also earned the NJCAA Division II PING All-American Honorable Mention with NJCAA Division II All-Central Region Team Honors. He will play in honor of Army Specialist Terrance D. Lee Sr.
Lee, from Moss Point, was killed on June 11, 2005, in Owesat Village, Iraq. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Specialist Lee was 25 years old and is survived by his wife and three children.
The Patriot donates its proceeds to the Folds of Honor Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing post-secondary educational scholarships and assistance for children and spouses of military service men and women lost or wounded in battle. Following the championship the PING bags are auctioned off to the players’ respective schools and the proceeds are donated to the Folds of Honor.
The Patriot All-America was created in partnership with the Arizona Golf Association (AGA), JDM Partners, The Wigwam and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The field is highlighted by more than 45 golfers from Division I schools with several from the top-100. Notables are 2014 Patriot All-America champion Kyle Kochevar of University of Virginia playing in his fourth Patriot, Kyle Mueller of University of Michigan and Sean Crocker of University of Southern California to name a few.