FSU sports information:
Florida State sophomore Bella Bugg begins play Sunday in the Patriot All-America Invitational at the Wigwam Golf Resort as the second-year Seminole golfer realizes an opportunity to play in one of college golf’s most unique events. The Patriot All-America Invitational features PING All-Americans from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, the NAIA, NJCAA, and AJGA ranks as well as international team members, and special invitees.
Tee times and results for the event can be found at Golf Genius.
The unique aspect of Patriot All-America Invitational is the golfers play to honor our military heroes. At Saturday’s opening ceremony, Bugg received, and will carry throughout the event, a commemorative PING golf bag that bears the name, rank, and branch of a fallen or wounded hero.
Bugg will honor Wentz J. Shanaberger III, a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, throughout the tournament.
Shanaberger III, of Naples, Fla., was assigned to the 21st Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIIIth Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. He was killed March 24, 2004, when his convoy came under attack by individuals using small arms and an improvised explosive device. They were investigating a suspicious vehicle near Baghdad, Iraq.
SSG Shanaberger was raised in the Tampa area and joined the Army as soon as he graduated from Zephyrhills High School. His primary duties with the Army had always been as a military policeman, but he also had completed training with the 82nd Airborne and the elite Ranger program. SSG Shanaberger did tours in Kuwait during Desert Storm and in Bosnia, Korea and Panama in his 14 years in the Army.
SSG Shanaberger left behind his wife, Corey, and five children, Scott, Jesse, Jack, Audrey, and Grace.
“Playing in the Patriot tournament is a wonderful opportunity for me to end the year on a high note,” said Bugg. “The field is amazing. I am most excited to represent Staff Sergeant Wentz J. Shanaberger III who passed away serving our country. It is my honor to play for a man who gave his life to protect the freedoms we all treasure as Americans.”
The Patriot All-America Invitational began in 2011 as an opportunity for 84 male PING All-Americans to have a bowl-like experience via an end of year championship. As the event gained strength and popularity, the field was expanded in 2021 to include 44 top female All-Americans and again in 2022 to include 66 female golfers.
Alice Hodge, who won her first professional tournament earlier this month at the NXXT Women’s Open on the NXXT Women’s Pro Winter Series, finished in a tie for fourth place at the 2023 Patriot Invitational.
Each of the three rounds of the 54-hole tournament begin at 11:30 (ET) Bugg begins play in round 1 at 11:50 (ET) from tee No. 10.
Florida State sophomore Bella Bugg begins play Sunday in the Patriot All-America Invitational at the Wigwam Golf Resort as the second-year Seminole golfer realizes an opportunity to play in one of college golf’s most unique events. The Patriot All-America Invitational features PING All-Americans from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, the NAIA, NJCAA, and AJGA ranks as well as international team members, and special invitees.
Tee times and results for the event can be found at Golf Genius.
The unique aspect of Patriot All-America Invitational is the golfers play to honor our military heroes. At Saturday’s opening ceremony, Bugg received, and will carry throughout the event, a commemorative PING golf bag that bears the name, rank, and branch of a fallen or wounded hero.
Bugg will honor Wentz J. Shanaberger III, a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, throughout the tournament.
Shanaberger III, of Naples, Fla., was assigned to the 21st Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIIIth Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. He was killed March 24, 2004, when his convoy came under attack by individuals using small arms and an improvised explosive device. They were investigating a suspicious vehicle near Baghdad, Iraq.
SSG Shanaberger was raised in the Tampa area and joined the Army as soon as he graduated from Zephyrhills High School. His primary duties with the Army had always been as a military policeman, but he also had completed training with the 82nd Airborne and the elite Ranger program. SSG Shanaberger did tours in Kuwait during Desert Storm and in Bosnia, Korea and Panama in his 14 years in the Army.
SSG Shanaberger left behind his wife, Corey, and five children, Scott, Jesse, Jack, Audrey, and Grace.
“Playing in the Patriot tournament is a wonderful opportunity for me to end the year on a high note,” said Bugg. “The field is amazing. I am most excited to represent Staff Sergeant Wentz J. Shanaberger III who passed away serving our country. It is my honor to play for a man who gave his life to protect the freedoms we all treasure as Americans.”
The Patriot All-America Invitational began in 2011 as an opportunity for 84 male PING All-Americans to have a bowl-like experience via an end of year championship. As the event gained strength and popularity, the field was expanded in 2021 to include 44 top female All-Americans and again in 2022 to include 66 female golfers.
Alice Hodge, who won her first professional tournament earlier this month at the NXXT Women’s Open on the NXXT Women’s Pro Winter Series, finished in a tie for fourth place at the 2023 Patriot Invitational.
Each of the three rounds of the 54-hole tournament begin at 11:30 (ET) Bugg begins play in round 1 at 11:50 (ET) from tee No. 10.
