Patriot All-America Invitational, Web.com Tour's Air Capital Classic Extend Sponsor Agreement

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Champions of the next three Patriot All-America Invitational collegiate golf tournaments will receive a sponsor exemption into the Web.com Tour’s Air Capital Classic (ACC) thanks to the two tournaments extending their exemption agreement through the 2020 ACC.

“We’re thrilled to extend our sponsor exemption agreement with the Air Capital Classic through the 2020 tournament,” said Karen Conway, executive director, Patriot All-America Invitational. “As we see Patriot All-America alumni win major championships and compete on golf’s highest levels, we’re grateful to the Air Capital Classic for affording Patriot All-America champions the opportunity to play in their outstanding event. The experience gained by competing in this tournament is invaluable and will help launch professional careers.”

In the first year of the sponsor exemption agreement, 2016 Patriot All-America Invitational champion Cameron Champ of Texas A&M University earned the exemption into the 2017 Air Capital Classic. Champ, however, qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills which meant 2016 Patriot All-America Invitational runner-up Zach Olsen of Oklahoma State played in the Air Capital Classic. Olsen finished tied for 27th at the Air Capital Classic after firing a final round 7-under 63 – the lowest final round by anyone in the field.

The Patriot All-America Invitational, played at The Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz., December 27-31, is regarded as a top amateur event internationally, attracting PING All-America golfers from all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and NJCAA rankings as well as from universities outside the United States.  The tournament is a collaboration between the Arizona Golf Association (AGA), JDM Partners and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) in partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation. The 2017 Patriot All-America will be the 7th annual tournament.

The Air Capital Classic will be played June 21 - 24 at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kan., and is part of the Web.com Tour’s schedule of events. Two Patriot All-America alums have won the Air Capital Classic, including 2016 Air Capital Classic champion Ollie Schniederjans (2011 and 2012 Patriot participant) and 2014 Air Capital Classic champion Sebastian Cappelen (2011, 2012 and 2013 Patriot participant and 2012 Patriot champion).

The 2017 Patriot All-America Invitational 54-hole, stroke play competition will be played December 29, 30 and 31 with a champion crowned at approximately 4 PM on New Year’s Eve.

Current PGA TOUR stars who have played in The Patriot All-America Invitational during their college careers, include: 2017 US Open champion Brooks Koepka (2011), 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas (2011), Patrick Rodgers (2011), Daniel Berger (2012) and Bryson DeChambeau (2013).

Past Patriot All-America champions include:
2016: Cameron Champ, Texas A&M
2015: Braden Thornberry, University of Mississippi
2014: Kyle Kochevar, University of Virginia
2013: Kyle Westmoreland, Air Force Academy
2012: Sebastian Cappelen, University of Arkansas
2011: Cory Whitsett, University of Alabama

Invitations to The Patriot All-America are primarily based on individuals earning PING All-America honors the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III as well as the NAIA and NJCAA Divisions I and II. Additionally, a member from each of the United States Military Academies will be invited as well as GCAA national award recipients, members of the most recent Arnold Palmer Cup Teams and AJGA All-Americans and Toyota Junior Golf World Cup participants currently enrolled in their freshman year of college.

In its seventh year, The Patriot All-America continues to receive tremendous community support by a variety of local businesses and organizations including the West Valley Mavericks and The Thunderbirds, host organization of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

In cooperation with the Folds of Honor Foundation, the golfers in The Patriot All-America will continue the tradition to represent a fallen soldier. Every participant will receive a golf bag at the event’s opening ceremony with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member whom they shall represent. At the conclusion of the tournament, the golf bags will be shipped to players’ schools and auctioned with all proceeds benefitting the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while in active service.