Norton started the day in a three-way tie for the lead with David Perkins of Illinois State and Mason Andersen of Arizona State University, and watched as the top of the leaderboard changed hands throughout the final round. In the end, three birdies in four holes to start the back nine put Norton on top, and when Sam Choi of the University of New Mexico bogeyed the final hole, it allowed Norton to make par and get the win.
"I had a good round yesterday to put me in a position which is what I was hoping for," said Norton. "Didn't really have my best front nine, and hung in there, it wasn’t playing easy, then I got hot on holes 10-13 with three birdies. Coming down the stretch I didn't hit the best of shots, but I grinded it out, committed well, and was able to pull it out in the end."
Choi finished with a 67 to tie for second with Jackson Suber of the University of Mississippi and the 2017 Patriot champion Mason Overstreet of the University of Arkansas.
Noah Norton is the 2019 Patriot All-America Champion 🏆 #PatriotGolfAZ pic.twitter.com/lWMAtzZLry
— Patriot All-America (@PatriotAllAm) December 31, 2019
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.
Norton played in honor of Army Sergeant Michael S. Curry, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.
The new champion was presented with an Air Force style trophy, bomber jacket, and an American Flag that was flown both in an F-16 Fighting Falcon & F-35 Lightning II. He will also receive a sponsor exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s Wichita Open played June 20-23 at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.