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, whose 255-yard albatross on the par-5 10th hole shot him to the top of the leaderboard, part of a -7 (28) back nine. “I knew I needed to get something going – I didn’t know how much – but the albatross really kicked things into gear.”