Sienkiewicz takes early lead at Patriot All-America

December 29, 2021 | by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com

Chase Sienkiewicz (University of Arizona photo)

A total of 16 golfers are within four strokes of the lead, including U.S. Amateur champion James Piot

Chase Sienkiewicz carded a 7-under 63 on Wednesday to take the first-round lead in the Patriot All-America being held on the Gold Course at the Wigwam Resort just outside of Phoenix.

Sienkiewicz, a junior at the University of Arizona, has a one-stroke lead over four golfers, including 2021 U.S. Amateur champion James Piot of Michigan State, who opened with a 64.

Sienkiewicz birdied four of his first six holes and then peeled off three consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13 and 14 for a flawless 7-under round of 63.

The reigning U.S. Amateur champion also broke fast out of the gates Wednesday morning. After opening with a birdie, Piot eagled the par-4 second and followed with birdies on holes 3, 5 and 8 to move to 6-under on his round. After making his lone bogey of the day on the ninth, Piot made seven consecutive pars before making his fifth birdie on the day on the 17th.

@NavyMGolf team captain Chad Deegan, honoring fallen soldier Navy Lieutenant SEAL Michael P Murphy, is set to tee off today in Rd 1 of the @ThePatriotAllAm.@NavyAthletics pic.twitter.com/U0jaJB8NKk
— Navy Men's Golf (@NavyMGolf) December 29, 2021

The leaderboard is stacked with some of the top collegiate players in the country who are enjoying their winter break in the Phoenix area.

Matthew Riedel, a junior at Vanderbilt who played in just one tournament in the fall, is tied with Piot at 6-under, along with Palmer Jackson of Notre Dame, who finished second at the Stephens Cup in October, and North Carolina freshman David Ford, who had three top-10 finishes in the fall for the fifth-ranked Tar Heels.

Arizona State teammates Preston Summerhays, a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion, and Mason Anderson are two back at 5-under 65.

A total of 32 golfers managed to break par on The Wigwam's Gold Course.

The Patriot All America will continue the next two days with a champion crowned at approximately 4 pm on New Year’s Eve. Throughout the competition, each competitor will honor a fallen soldier from one of the six military branches by carrying a custom PING golf bag with the individual’s name and rank embroidered onto it.

Results: Patriot All-America

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Connor Howe	Ogden, UT	800	66-66-63=195
2	Palmer Jackson	Murrysville, PA	500	64-67-67=198
T3	Hunter Eichhorn	Carney, MI	400	67-63-69=199
T3	Nick Lyerly	Salisbury, NC	400	66-68-65=199
T3	Mason Andersen	Chandler, AZ	400	65-66-68=199

View full results for Patriot All-America

About the Patriot All-America

Sienkiewicz takes early lead at 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 ...