LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Texas A&M junior Cameron Champ knocked in a one-foot putt for par on a second playoff hole Sunday to win the 2016 Patriot All-America Invitational over Zachary Olsen of Oklahoma State at the Wigwam Golf Club.
Â
Champ entered the final round tied for sixth, three-shots back of second round leader Sahith Theegala. During his final round, Champ shot a 4-under par 66 (203) that included six birdies and two bogeys to get into the playoff. Meanwhile, Olsen entered the final round tied for eighth, four-shots back. Olsen shot a 5-under par 65 (the best round of the day) to qualify for the playoff.
Â
During the playoff, both Champ and Olsen made par on the 488-yard, par-4 first hole. On the second playoff hole, a 391-yard par 4, Champ put his second shot to within 15-feet, while Olsen had a 20-foot putt for birdie. Both golfers missed their birdie putts. Olsen lipped-out a three-foot comeback putt for par, while Champ knocked-in his one-footer for the win.
Â
Champ, ranked 96th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, hails from Sacramento, Calif.
Â
"When I marked my ball, I didn't think he was going to miss his putt," said Champ. "He ended up missing and I just tapped-in and that was it. It means a lot to me to win this event. We were able to get ahold of the family that I played for (Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell), which was nice."
Â
A field of 84 elite golfers competed in the 54-hole, stroke-play competition on The Wigwam's famed Gold Course. In cooperation with the Folds of Honor Foundation, each golfer playing in the Patriot All-America represented a fallen soldier by carrying a golf bag with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member. The golf bags will now 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.
Â
The Arizona Golf Association (AGA), JDM Partners and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) partner with the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the sixth annual tournament. The tournament receives tremendous community support by a variety of local businesses and organizations including The Thunderbirds, host organization of the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the West Valley Mavericks civic group.
Â
Joining Champ in the field at the event was Texas A&M teammate Kavan Eubank, who shared 41st place in the final standings at seven-over par.
Â
Champ, Eubank and the rest of the Aggie golf team return to competition Jan. 23-34 when they participate in the Arizona Intercollegiate at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz.
Â
Â
TOP 10 FINAL RESULTS:
Pos. Name                          School                         Total
1     Cameron Champ         Texas A&M                -7 (203)*
2     Zachary Olsen              Oklahoma State         -7 (203)
T3   Nick Hardy                  Illinois                       -6 (204)
T3   Sahith Theegala           Pepperdine               -6 (204)
T5   Sean Crocker               Southern California   -5 (205)
T5   Cooper Dossey            Baylor                       -5 (205)
T7   Nahum Mendoza III     San Diego State         -4 (206)
T7   Andrew Whalen          Northwestern           -4 (206)
9     Shintaro Ban               UNLV                         -3 (207)
10   Jordan Gumberg         Arizona                      -2 (208)
*won on second playoff hole
Â
Â
PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA INVITATIONAL
FINAL ROUND QUOTES CAMERON CHAMP
--
On his final round:
"I just wanted to get off to a good start. I knew I was a few behind, but I knew the conditions (wet) could cause the leaders to fall back. I got off to a good start, like I said. I was 1-under through six holes. I made a bogey on seven, but then came right back with birdie, birdie. I knew I was still a few behind so I just kept pushing on. I wasn't trying to force anything. I got to 16 and I knew that was where some opportunities were and I was able to stick one in there close and make that putt. And then on 17, I just really attacked. I knew I had to make birdie. I did the same thing, I hit it within 10 feet of the hole and was able convert. Coming down 18, I blocked my drive a little right and had a little tough approach shot, but I hit it short of the green and was able to get up and down for par then obviously heading to the playoff."
Â
On the playoff, specifically the second playoff hole:
"We both hit great drives. He kinda pulled hit his (second shot) a little bit, or just a little left of the pin. I hit mine to about 15-feet. I saw that he rolled his (putt) by about three or four feet. I knew my putt was a downhill slider. I didn't want to get too greedy with it and do the same thing he did. So, I just kinda cozied it up there, if it went in, it went in. When I marked my ball, I didn't think he was going to miss his putt. He ended up missing and I just tapped in and that was it."
Â
On the softer conditions due to the overnight rain:
"Yes, especially with the pins today. In certain spots, they would zip hard if you had any spin on them. Especially on 16, I landed on the slope and it still stayed on the green. So I definitely think it was an advantage. You saw Zack played really well and some of the other guys played really well. I think it gave us a little more of an advantage to attack pins today and go lower."
Â
On playing in this event before, and if it gave him any kind of an advantage:
"It did. I played it my freshman year and just to see the difference in my maturity between then and now, I think helped me a lot. I knew the course. I knew it would set up well for me. I just had to execute the shots. So, yes it definitely helped me."
Â
On his grandfather being a veteran and the tie to this event:
"My dad grew up on a base, so it was a big military family. He (grandfather) retired after I was born. For me it was big because I knew it meant a lot to him to serve his country. It means a lot to me. We were able to get ahold of the family that I played for (Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell) which was nice. Just to learn their story."
Â
On the exemption into the Air Capital Classic:
"That's big, it's really exciting. I've never played in the Web.com. I've tried to qualify a few times, but was never able to make it so this is really exciting to be able to play in my first one. And, also my gramps who's going to be able to caddie for me. He's getting up there in age, I'm going to let him caddie for me. You never know when his time is up, so you know, I just wanted to give him a chance to caddie for me and have a good week."
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Champ entered the final round tied for sixth, three-shots back of second round leader Sahith Theegala. During his final round, Champ shot a 4-under par 66 (203) that included six birdies and two bogeys to get into the playoff. Meanwhile, Olsen entered the final round tied for eighth, four-shots back. Olsen shot a 5-under par 65 (the best round of the day) to qualify for the playoff.
Â
During the playoff, both Champ and Olsen made par on the 488-yard, par-4 first hole. On the second playoff hole, a 391-yard par 4, Champ put his second shot to within 15-feet, while Olsen had a 20-foot putt for birdie. Both golfers missed their birdie putts. Olsen lipped-out a three-foot comeback putt for par, while Champ knocked-in his one-footer for the win.
Â
Champ, ranked 96th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, hails from Sacramento, Calif.
Â
"When I marked my ball, I didn't think he was going to miss his putt," said Champ. "He ended up missing and I just tapped-in and that was it. It means a lot to me to win this event. We were able to get ahold of the family that I played for (Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell), which was nice."
Â
A field of 84 elite golfers competed in the 54-hole, stroke-play competition on The Wigwam's famed Gold Course. In cooperation with the Folds of Honor Foundation, each golfer playing in the Patriot All-America represented a fallen soldier by carrying a golf bag with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member. The golf bags will now 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.
Â
The Arizona Golf Association (AGA), JDM Partners and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) partner with the Folds of Honor Foundation to host the sixth annual tournament. The tournament receives tremendous community support by a variety of local businesses and organizations including The Thunderbirds, host organization of the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the West Valley Mavericks civic group.
Â
Joining Champ in the field at the event was Texas A&M teammate Kavan Eubank, who shared 41st place in the final standings at seven-over par.
Â
Champ, Eubank and the rest of the Aggie golf team return to competition Jan. 23-34 when they participate in the Arizona Intercollegiate at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz.
Â
Â
TOP 10 FINAL RESULTS:
Pos. Name                          School                         Total
1     Cameron Champ         Texas A&M                -7 (203)*
2     Zachary Olsen              Oklahoma State         -7 (203)
T3   Nick Hardy                  Illinois                       -6 (204)
T3   Sahith Theegala           Pepperdine               -6 (204)
T5   Sean Crocker               Southern California   -5 (205)
T5   Cooper Dossey            Baylor                       -5 (205)
T7   Nahum Mendoza III     San Diego State         -4 (206)
T7   Andrew Whalen          Northwestern           -4 (206)
9     Shintaro Ban               UNLV                         -3 (207)
10   Jordan Gumberg         Arizona                      -2 (208)
*won on second playoff hole
Â
Â
PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA INVITATIONAL
FINAL ROUND QUOTES CAMERON CHAMP
--
On his final round:
"I just wanted to get off to a good start. I knew I was a few behind, but I knew the conditions (wet) could cause the leaders to fall back. I got off to a good start, like I said. I was 1-under through six holes. I made a bogey on seven, but then came right back with birdie, birdie. I knew I was still a few behind so I just kept pushing on. I wasn't trying to force anything. I got to 16 and I knew that was where some opportunities were and I was able to stick one in there close and make that putt. And then on 17, I just really attacked. I knew I had to make birdie. I did the same thing, I hit it within 10 feet of the hole and was able convert. Coming down 18, I blocked my drive a little right and had a little tough approach shot, but I hit it short of the green and was able to get up and down for par then obviously heading to the playoff."
Â
On the playoff, specifically the second playoff hole:
"We both hit great drives. He kinda pulled hit his (second shot) a little bit, or just a little left of the pin. I hit mine to about 15-feet. I saw that he rolled his (putt) by about three or four feet. I knew my putt was a downhill slider. I didn't want to get too greedy with it and do the same thing he did. So, I just kinda cozied it up there, if it went in, it went in. When I marked my ball, I didn't think he was going to miss his putt. He ended up missing and I just tapped in and that was it."
Â
On the softer conditions due to the overnight rain:
"Yes, especially with the pins today. In certain spots, they would zip hard if you had any spin on them. Especially on 16, I landed on the slope and it still stayed on the green. So I definitely think it was an advantage. You saw Zack played really well and some of the other guys played really well. I think it gave us a little more of an advantage to attack pins today and go lower."
Â
On playing in this event before, and if it gave him any kind of an advantage:
"It did. I played it my freshman year and just to see the difference in my maturity between then and now, I think helped me a lot. I knew the course. I knew it would set up well for me. I just had to execute the shots. So, yes it definitely helped me."
Â
On his grandfather being a veteran and the tie to this event:
"My dad grew up on a base, so it was a big military family. He (grandfather) retired after I was born. For me it was big because I knew it meant a lot to him to serve his country. It means a lot to me. We were able to get ahold of the family that I played for (Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell) which was nice. Just to learn their story."
Â
On the exemption into the Air Capital Classic:
"That's big, it's really exciting. I've never played in the Web.com. I've tried to qualify a few times, but was never able to make it so this is really exciting to be able to play in my first one. And, also my gramps who's going to be able to caddie for me. He's getting up there in age, I'm going to let him caddie for me. You never know when his time is up, so you know, I just wanted to give him a chance to caddie for me and have a good week."
Â
Â
Â
Â