Friday, December 7, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington University men’s golfer Dylan Goodwin has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2012 Patriot All-America Invitational Dec. 29-31 at The Wigwam Golf Club Gold Course in Litchfield, Arizona.

The 54-hole stroke play event, which features 84 of the nation’s top collegiate golfers, will benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.

The event highlights top collegians from throughout the country as well as Great Britain and Ireland while honoring United States military heroes.

Players earning PING All-America honors from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III were eligible to participate in the Patriot All-America.

Additionally, a player from the United States Military, Naval and Air Force Academies was invited, along with Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) national award recipients, members of the most recent Palmer Teams, AJGA All- Americans and Toyota Junior Golf World Cup participants currently enrolled as college freshmen.

The Folds of Honor Foundation salutes the sacrifice of fallen and disabled service members by ensuring their families are not left behind. Through scholarships and other assistance, they provide healing and hope to their families and seek to rally the nation in support of those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Each player will use a specially designed red, white and blue golf bag during the event. Inscribed on it will be the name of a fallen soldier that player is representing.  Following the tournament, each player brings the bag home where it will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Folds of Honor Foundation.

At last year’s inaugural event, Alabama sophomore Cory Whitsette won by shooting 14-under 202. Each round was featured on ESPN’s Sports Center.

A senior from Multilteo (graduate of Kamiak High School), Goodwin has earned third-team GCAA PING All-America honors in each of his last two years at WWU. He has led the Vikings in stroke average both seasons, averaging 72.9 in 2011 and 72.5 in 2012.

Twice a GCAA West Region and league all-star, Goodwin was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in 2011 after transferring from the University of Washington.

Born in South Africa to British parents, who also have Canadian citizenship, Goodwin moved to Indonesia before his second birthday and to London when he was six. He also spent a summer in Israel. During the summer of 2004, Goodwin made his latest move to the United States.