Some tournament victories are more memorable than others.
Isaiah Jackson, a former Red Bay High School golf standout who attends the University of Memphis, found that out recently at the Patriot All-America Invitational in Arizona.
Jackson was overjoyed to win the tournament against a field consisting of college players from all classifications (Division I, II III, NAIA and junior college) who were named All-America from the previous season. More importantly, it’s who and what he was representing that made the win that much sweeter.
The Patriot All-America Invitational honors fallen or severely injured soldiers. Each player has the name of one of those soldiers on his golf bag throughout the 54-hole event played at the WigWam resort in Phoenix.
The name on Jackson’s bag was U.S. Army Private First Class Willie B. McGill, his great grandfather who was killed in World War II combat action on December 4, 1944.
“It’s one of the most meaningful tournaments I have played in,” Jackson said during a recent phone interview. “It’s unbelievable that a group of people come together and honor our military the whole week of the tournament. They came up with the idea to put the names of fallen soldiers and injured soldiers on the bag, to let their names be honored for risking their lives and giving their lives for our country.
“Just from that standpoint is it amazing, but for what it represents and stands for is unreal,” Jackson added. “On top of that I was able to honor my great grandfather. I actually requested him and (his name) was on my bag. That was pretty special for me.”
Jackson shot rounds of 67-68-70 to beat the 84-player field. He won by three shots over Oklahoma’s Quade Cumming and Grand Valley’s Alex Scott, who each finished at 208.
University of North Alabama golf team member Jackson Wedgeworth was also in the field. Wedgeworth, who finished tied for 19th place at 216 was honoring Stephen D. Bicknell.
Jackson said having his grandfather’s name on his golf bag provided a calming influence.
“I really wanted to represent his name well and to the best of my ability,” Jackson said. “I hope I did. Most of the time if I hit a bad shot or something I get upset with myself a little bit. But at that tournament, you are there representing a fallen soldier and it’s hard to get upset when you hit a bad shot or play bad. Not only do you have a great time, but that tournament stands for so much more than just golf. It was an absolutely amazing week.”
Jackson qualified for the tournament for the second straight season after earning All-America honors during his two years at Meridian (Miss.) Community College. He signed with Memphis after his sophomore season but was still eligible to play in the Patriot event.
After missing the cut at the U.S. Amateur in August at Pebble Beach, Jackson said he made it a personal goal to win the Patriot.
He got into the U.S. Am field as an alternate at the last minute.
“I had no idea I was going to Pebble Beach until two days before the tournament started,” he said. “I hadn’t been practicing like I should have because I was on kind of in a break in my schedule before school started. It caught me off guard.”
Jackson turned that disappointment into motivation. He compiled a 70.4 stroke average in 15 rounds at Memphis in the fall and capped the year with the Patriot win.
“I made a personal goal after August when I missed the cut in the US Am that I wasn’t going unprepared , or the lack of being prepared wasn’t going to keep me from playing well again,” he said. “I busted my butt the rest of the year and hit that (tournament) in full stride. It was awesome.”
Now, Jackson is taking the confidence from the win and looking forward to a strong spring at Memphis.
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