Taylor Bell Set to Shine at the 2024 Patriot All-America Invitational!

LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. –– The nationally acclaimed golfer from Florida A&M, Taylor Bell, is prepared to compete in the 2024 Patriot All-America Invitational to conclude the year of 2024 before ushering in the new year.

The Patriot All-America Invitational showcases PING All-Americans from the last season across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, along with NAIA, NJCAA, AJGA ranks, and international team members along with special guests. The event occurs yearly from December 27-31 at The Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park.

This 54-hole amateur competition held at the Wigwam Resort is the first of its kind, merging the skills of 150 nationally recognized golfers (84 men and 72 women) in a festive bowl-like atmosphere. It arises from a collaborative effort of the Arizona Golf Association, the West Valley Mavericks, the Golf Coaches Association of America, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association, and the Wigwam Golf Resort alongside the tournament’s benefactor, the Folds of Honor Foundation.

A distinctive feature of this Championship is its commitment to honoring our military heroes. During the opening ceremony, each golfer is presented with and carries a commemorative PING golf bag that features the name, rank, and branch of a fallen or injured hero. Moreover, all players have the opportunity to visit Luke Air Force Base, where our nation’s F-16 and F-35 pilots are trained. There, they engage with the General, fighter pilots, and crew and explore the base while participating in activities typically not accessible to civilians.

The players carry the bag and pay tribute to that soldier for the entire week. At the end of the event, the bags are returned to the player’s school, where they are auctioned, with proceeds benefiting the Folds of Honor charity.

Bell will pay tribute to James B. Lackey. Senior Master Sergeant James Lackey, aged 45, from Green Clove Springs, Florida, was a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, stationed at Hurlburt Field, FL. He lost his life on April 9, 2010, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, in the crash of a CV-22 Osprey.

SMSgt Lackey graduated from Lincoln High School in 1983 and joined the Air Force in 1986. He began as a maintenance crew chief, and in 1992, he started MH-53 flight engineer training, flying on the PAVE LOW, a now-retired long-range special operations and rescue helicopter. In 2006, he commenced his training as a CV-22 flight engineer.

Almost 14 years following his passing, SMSgt. Lackey and Major Randall Voas, who also died in the crash, were honored posthumously with the Distinguished Flying Cross. Their exemplary airmanship during an emergency landing safeguarded the lives of two crew members and fourteen servicemen aboard the aircraft. This was the second commendation for SMSgt Lackey, having previously received one for his combat actions in 2002.

Lackey is survived by his spouse, Cassie, along with their sons, Brandon, Alex, and Nick.

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