VANDERBILT’S CLAGGETT, FLORIDA’S GILLIGAN WIN 2023 PATRIOT ALL-AMERICA

Congratulations to Vanderbilt University sophomore Tillie Claggett and University of Florida junior Ian Gilligan for taking home victories in the 2023 Patriot All-America at Wigwam Golf Club over the weekend.

Claggett fired a Patriot All-America Women’s Division record -9 (61) in Sunday’s final round to capture the prestigious Folded Flag trophy and Bomber Jacket at 12-under par, while Gilligan capped off a wire-to-wire Men’s Division win with a -final round 2-under par 68 to finish 12-under for the tournament as well.

Brigham Young University freshman Cooper Jones also went wire-to-wire to win the 2023 Thunderbolt at Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club in Surprise, firing a -4 (68) in the final round to finish at -16 overall (200).

View the final 2023 Patriot All-America leaderboard here, and check out the final 2023 Thunderbolt leaderboard here.

The Thunderbirds were once again a major sponsor of the Patriot All-America Invitational, a unique event that features PING All-Americans from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and NJCAA; as well as 2022 First Team All-America Seniors from the AJGA and other special invitees. The 54-hole amateur event is known as the first of its kind to combine the talents of 150 nationally recognized men and women golfers simultaneously at one tournament.

The Patriot All-America honors fallen or severely wounded soldiers and first responders in collaboration with the Folds of Honor Foundation. The golfers receive a golf bag provided by PING Corporation at the event’s opening ceremony emblazoned with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member whom they shall represent. Participants also receive a card with the soldier’s story so they can become familiar with that soldier. The golf bags are then sold by the players’ college or university with proceeds donated to Folds of Honor to support the families affected. Thunderbolt players will also represent Folds of Honor soldiers and First Responders with biographies on cards attached to their bags.

Named after the Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt, The Thunderbolt has been added to accommodate those players that met the initial eligibility but did not make it into The Patriot. The Thunderbolt consists of players who are ranked in the top 1000 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), are PING Second, Third and Honorable Mention All-Americans from Divisions II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA, or are AJGA Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Americans. An invitation to The Thunderbolt does not preclude a player from later receiving an invitation to The Patriot, and all golfers in the Thunderbolt field will be added to the alternate list for The Patriot.

For all information on The Patriot All-America and The Thunderbolt, including history and future sponsorship opportunities, visit patriotallamerica.com.

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