Isaiah Jackson (Memphis Athletics photo)
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. (Dec. 30, 2018) –
Isaiah Jackson maintained a share of the lead Sunday in the second round of the Patriot All-America Classic, but the name of the co-leader changed. As defending champion Mason Overstreet dropped from a share of the lead into a share of 12th,
Alex Scott took his place.
Jackson, who plays for Memphis, followed an opening 3-under 67 at Wigwam’s Gold Course with a 2-under 68 that included a double bogey on the first hole. Scott, who plays for Grand Valley State (an NCAA Division II school) had just the opposite – an opening 68 followed by a 67.
The one-of-a-kind tournament pays tribute to fallen and wounded soldiers through a tradition that allows participants – top collegians from all divisions – to play in honor of a fallen or severely injured soldier by carrying a golf bag bearing the name of that soldier. Before the tournament, participants receive a card with the soldier’s story, so they can be familiar with who that person was, what they represented and how they were killed or wounded in action.
Jackson had back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to close out his round. He is playing in honor of his great grandfather U.S. Army Private First Class Willie B. McGill. Private First Class McGill was killed in combat action on Dec. 4, 1944.
“I’m just gonna do the same old, same old, come out and try to hit around the fairways, wedge it good hopefully and try to make a couple of putts,” Jackson said of his final-round game plan. “Stick my Trident gum in and we’re gonna go, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Scott began the day a shot off the lead, but caught up with five birdies – a total that included back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. Scott is playing in honor of U.S. Army Corporal Jordan E. Goode of Kalamazoo, Mich. On Aug. 11, 2007, in Zormat, Afghanistan, Corporal Goode was killed when a roadside bomb detonated beneath the truck he was driving. He was 21 years old.
“I putted really well today. I had one three-putt on the front nine, but that would have been tough for anybody,” Scott said. “I made a bomb to save par on one and I made a bomb on number two to make birdie. I probably made more feet of putt in my first two holes today than I did all day yesterday. That kept me on my feet, kept me going.”
Quade Cummins, who plays for the University of Oklahoma, (70-66) and Jackson Suber of Ole Miss (69-67) both sit one-shot back at 4-under 136. Suber is looking to become the second Ole Miss Rebel to win the Patriot All-America, joining teammate Braden Thornberry who was the 2015 Patriot All-America champion.
Overstreet, meanwhile, shot a 3-over 73 and sits at even par, five shots back.
Information from the Patriot All-America used in this report
ABOUT THE Patriot All-America
The Wigwam and the Golf Coaches Association
of America (GCAA), in partnership with the
Folds of Honor Foundation present the Patriot All-
America Invitational. It's one of the most unique
events
in all of golf.
84 top collegiate players named to the PING All-
America team in NCAA Division I,II and III, NAIA
and
NJCAA, AJGA, one player from each military
academy
and select international players compete in a 54-
hole
championship.
Each player honors our military by carrying a bag
with
the name, rank and service of a fallen or severely
wounded soldier embroidered on the pocket.
Following
the championship, the bags go to the players’ school
for auction, with proceeds benefiting the Folds of
Honor.
View Complete Tournament Information