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Ole Miss' Joe David Earns Top Five Finish At Patriot All-America Invitational
LITCHFIELD
PARK, Ariz. – Ole Miss senior golfer Joe David concluded the 2011 year
in style this week in Arizona earning a top five finish in the
inaugural Patriot All-America Invitational at the Wigwam Golf Club.
The Madison, Tenn., native tied for fifth with a 3-under 72-67-71—210
at the Par 71, 7006 yard Gold Course.
After shooting 1-over in the first round, David bounced back with a
4-under 67 that included five birdies to move up to a tie for
ninth. In the final round, he carded three birdies.
“It was cool. It was a different kind of tournament to play in.
You kind of just go out there and have fun and really don’t have any
pressure,” David said. “The weather was great.
“I came into the tournament and didn’t think I was as prepared as I
needed to be. I was just coming here to have fun and play the
best I could. I had some rusty spots along the way, but for the most
part I played well.”
Every year, there are a few tournaments in between the fall and spring
seasons that offer collegiate golfers a chance to keep the competitive
fire going until the spring season starts. It seems this one
enjoyed a successful debut.
“For the first year it was very organized, and I thought they
[tournament organizers] did a great job,” David said. “It’s good
to keep the cobwebs off and it keeps you in the frame of mind you need
to be in for the rest of the golf year.”
The Patriot All-America featured 84 of the top collegiate golfers from
across the nation, and included 21 of the world’s top-100 ranked
amateurs.
Alabama’s Cory Whitsett won the event with an impressive 14-under
69-64-66—199. His teammate, Bobby Wyatt, took second with a
69-66-67—202. Two players tied for third and one other tied
with David for fifth.
The Wigwam Golf Club, along with the Arizona Golf Association (AGA) and
the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), partnered with the
Folds of Honor Foundation to host this event. To show support for
Folds of Honor, each golfer carried a commemorative PING golf bag
bearing the name of a fallen soldier.
David played in honor of Army 1st Sergeant Michael J. Bordelon (Morgan
City, La.) who died in 2005 from injuries sustained April 23, 2005, in
Mosul, Iraq.
“It was very humbling,” David said. “It was a reminder that golf
is just a game we play. There are a lot more important things in
life. When it comes down to it, it’s just a game.”
PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA INVITATIONAL – LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz.
1.
Cory
Whitsett
69-64-66--199
2. Bobby
Wyatt
69-66-67--202
T3. Austin
Cook
70-70-69--209
T3. Julian
Suri
71-68-70--209
T5. Joe
David
72-67-71--210
T5. Paul
McConnell
76-65-69--210
T7. Johannes
Veerman
68-69-74--211
T7. Richy
Werenski
72-69-70--211
T7. Andrew
Yun
69-75-67--211
T10. Evan
Beck
72-68-72--212
T10. Ben
Klaus
73-67-72--212
T10. Patrick
Rodgers
73-69-70--212
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