Litchfield, Ariz. – The champion’s trophy of the Patriot All-America Amateur Championship is in the hands of a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket for the second time in three years. Junior Connor Howe posted a 9-under-par 63 in Friday’s final round to come from behind and record a three-stroke victory in the 11th annual event at Wigwam Golf Club.
Howe, who finished ninth in this event last December, joined former Yellow Jacket teammate Noah Norton as champions of the Patriot All-America. Norton was victorious in 2019.
After beginning the day two shots off lead and tied for fourth place, Howe scored a double-eagle on the par-5 10th hole, sparking a 7-under-par back nine for the junior from Ogden, Utah, and a final-round 63, tying the tournament record for low round. Howe posted a 54-hole total of 15-under-par 195, three strokes clear of Parker Jackson, a sophomore at Notre Dame.
It was Howe’s second win in a major amateur event, following his victory at the Southeastern Amateur in the summer of 2020.
“I didn’t know where I stood with the rest of the field coming up 18, so I just wanted to give myself a good look and not make any big numbers, and that’s what I did,” said Howe, who made his albatross with a 255-yard second shot on the par-5 10th. “I knew I needed to get something going – I didn’t know how much – but the albatross really kicked things into gear.”
Howe had made the turn at -8, two shots off the lead, before landing a 3-iron just short of the hole, finding the cup after one hop. He would go on to make four more birdies to finish the back nine at -7, the lowest closing nine in Patriot All-America history.
“I just started putting well – I made some putts on 12 and 13 and I had some good looks at birdie – and I capitalized,” said Howe.
Howe’s Tech teammate, Christo Lamprecht, also competed in the event and tied for eighth place, posting rounds of 67-68-66 for a 9-inder-par total of 201.
The Patriot All-America honors fallen or severely wounded soldiers in partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation. The golfers received a golf bag donated by PING Corporation at the event’s opening ceremony this past Sunday emblazoned with the name and branch of service of a fallen or injured military member whom they shall represent. Participants also received a card with the soldier’s story so they can be familiar with that soldier.