Sienkiewicz takes early lead at Patriot All-America
Chase Sienkiewicz (University of Arizona photo)
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.
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.
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.
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