Patriot All-America Golf Invitational opens with Wings of Blue jumpers

While attendance at Sunday’s opening ceremonies for the Patriot-All America Golf Invitational was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event continued its decade-long tradition of paying homage to the nation’s heroes with splashes of color from the sky.

Precisely at 3:30 p.m., master of ceremonies Jeff Munn welcomed 84 players and others at the Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park to the collegiate tournament presented by Valley Toyota Dealers and hosted by the West Valley Mavericks Foundation, Arizona Golf Association and Golf Coaches of America.

Two minutes later, six members of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Wings of Blue Parachute Team began descending onto the club’s driving range as Technical Sgt. Paul Willis narrated their story.

As team members continued their slow fall to earth, a color guard from nearby Luke Air Force Base presented the colors and retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Powell sang the National Anthem. 

The last Wings of Blue jumper touched down with a large American flag during the anthem’s final strains.

At 3:41 p.m., the golfers were introduced in tandem with fallen service members whose names will be represented on each player’s golf bag throughout the tournament.

After recognition of sponsors and dignitaries, an overview of the tournament and alumni statistics, speakers including West Valley Mavericks Foundation President Justin James; Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, commander of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke; and Folds of Honor founder Dan Rooney took to the podium one after the other.

The tournament, which will run through Thursday, Dec. 31, at the golf club’s Gold Course, 451 N. Old Litchfield Road, will benefit Folds of Honor and Mavericks foundation charities.

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Earlier Sunday, players teamed up with local amateur golfers who paid a $500 entry fee each to play 18 holes on the Gold Course as part of the Am-Am.

They spent Monday playing practice rounds on the course after breakfast at Litchfield’s on the grounds of The Wigwam Resort, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd. Dinner at the Old Pueblo Restaurant, 102 N. Old Litchfield Road, across from the resort, followed.

Official tournament play will run Tuesday to Thursday, and will be live-streamed at patriotallamerica.com and on the Mavericks’ YouTube channel.

For more on each day’s schedule, the full list of players and more information on the annual tournament, visit patriotallamerica.com/event-info.