Women’s and Men’s Final Standings and story are below
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. – The Arizona women and Alabama men captured victories at the 2024 Folds of Honor Collegiate on Wednesday at American Dunes Golf Club.
Recording the tournament’s best round of six-under 282, Arizona elevated past 36-hole leaders Florida State to win the inaugural women’s championship. Along with individual runner-up Carolina Melgrati, the Wildcats, who held the 18-hole lead and were one shot back heading into the final round, were guided on Wednesday by sophomore Charlotte Back. The Heidelberg, Germany, native used five birdies and a four-under 68 to record a T6 finish.
Folds of Honor Founder and CEO Lt. Col Rooney presented Arizona with their team championship trophies after the round.
“This Team Champions trophy is inspired by the Top Gun trophy that we give out as Fighter Pilots,” Rooney said. “Congratulations to Arizona for being our Top Guns out here. We’ve got a trophy for each one of you. Phenomenal golf from start to finish. On behalf of Jack Nicklaus, who designed this course, called very impressed with your play. Most importantly, we’ve got about $750,000 worth of Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients at the University of Arizona. Congratulations for winning the most heroic college golf tournament, the Folds of Honor Collegiate.”
First-year head coach Giovana Maymon knows how capable and special her Wildcats are.
“I have fighters,” she emotionally said. “We never gave up. This is special. It’s the first one. I’m so thankful to be at Arizona. These kids are special for me. I’ve only gotten to know them over the last three months and they’ve worked hard all summer and their lives for these moments. I’m so thankful for all of these kids and for the kids back home that make us better everyday. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
“From the course, the volunteers, the people, and the weather, this has been a special week,” Maymon continued. “It’s an honor to be here on 9/11. The people, the volunteers, the welcoming ceremony, the college-am, how they’ve communicated and how much they cheer. This is an amazing event with amazing conditions. American Dunes and the Folds of Honor really are one of a kind. America is a second home to me, so it’s really special and a privilege to be here. You get goosebumps every time you see the American flag and hear Taps.”
Women’s Final Standings
Florida State junior Mirabel Ting birdied five of her final six holes to claim medalist honors with a six-under 210 (70-72-68).
“I felt pretty good after 13,” the Miri, Malaysia, native said. “I hit a good second shot on 14 and made the putt. I went to 15 and it just kept going. I got a little bit nervous and said ‘why so many birdies coming in and not going out?’. I was just wondering, but Ryan (Heisey), my assistant coach, was with me. I’m glad that he was there.”
Lt. Col Rooney presented Ting her individual championship trophy after the round.
“Thanks to Gentex Corporation for making the coolest trophy in all of college golf,” said Rooney. “This dark visor on here, we call it ‘dark visor down’ when we’re going to combat. Five birdies in a row coming down the stretch; Dark visor down closing out all the distractions and getting it done. I am honored to present this to you on behalf of the over $1 million in Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients at Florida State University. Well played and I’m very proud of you. Congratulations.”
“This is a very special tournament and was my first time here,” Ting continued. “I feel very honored and special to be able to win today. I’m probably going to hang this Fighter Pilot helmet in Coach’s (Amy Bond) office and make her wear it in practice so that she remembers that I won this event.”
Colorado State senior Lacey Uchida converted a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th hole Wednesday.
“My coach told me to hit a 115 shot,” said the Hilo, Hawaii, native. “I hit it a little left of my target, but there was some cut-spin on it. It hit the green and started rolling back to the pin. We couldn’t see it from the bottom, but then I saw my coach and her parents at the top. They started screaming that it went in the hole, so it was pretty awesome. I wish I saw it go in, but we’re so far down, so we couldn’t see it. It felt unbelievable. I can’t believe that happened.”
With a 12-under 840 and leads after each round, Alabama won the third annual Folds of Honor Collegiate men’s championship.
Lt. Col Rooney presented Alabama with their team championship trophies after the round.
“On behalf of Jack Nicklaus and what’s about $3.5 million worth of Folds of Honor recipients at Alabama, we’re really proud of how you played. Congratulations.”
2016 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame inductee and Alabama Head Coach Jay Seawell has the motto that every day starts at zero.
“We knew that it was going to be a great battle,” he said. “Illinois is a great team and proved that last year. Jackson Buchanan had a great summer and Coach Small is the best in the business. I told our boys to expect it and wanted to see how they would handle it. They handled it amazingly. I am really proud of them and how they handled the battle that we had in front of us.”
“I am really proud of Jones (Free),” continued Seawell. “He struggled the first two days but did an amazing job leading us on the golf course today with a seven-under 64 under the heat. Winning is so cool, but especially here. This a very special tournament, and you could feel that from the moment we arrived. Folds of Honor is an incredible organization that helps many families of military heroes, and we were told they have helped 737 young folks attend the University of Alabama on scholarships. My family has been in the military. One of my grandfathers was a Naval Aviator and the other was in the Army, getting shot twice during World War II. My father was in the Army also, so I have a good understanding of what they do within my own family. I think it’s something people need to be educated about. Sometimes if you’re away from it, you just don’t know. I love that our boys were educated a lot on what other people do and how they sacrifice for them to be able to play this game. To have that perspective to start our season is something that’s very special for our team. We played on an incredible golf course against great teams.”
With 14 birdies and one eagle on the week, Alabama junior and 36-hole leader Dominic Clemons claimed the individual title. The Cambridge, England native, and Stetson transfer finished with a nine-under 204 (69-66-69) while becoming the first Alabama golfer since Justin Thomas in 2011 to earn medalist honors in his first tournament with the Crimson Tide.
Lt. Col Rooney presented Clemons his individual championship trophy after the round.
“This is a fighter pilot helmet and officially the coolest trophy in all of college golf,” said Rooney. “So Gentex, who makes all of our helmets as fighter pilots, made a two-off, one for the women and one for the men. This is the most heroic college golf tournament in America and this is the most heroic trophy. Dominic, congratulations, brother. Great playing and we’re proud of you.”
In his live interview on Golf Channel, Clemons mentioned how needing to pick up the pace of play affected the remainder of his round.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t feel too comfortable out there on the back nine because I knew that we had to get the speed up,” Clemons said. “I kind of felt like a fellow of the line, but I did the job, and that’s what you have to do. Coach said he wanted this, so had to do the job and serve it up.”
Crimson Tide teammates Jack Mitchell, the 18-hole leader after a seven-under 64 in his first collegiate round, and Jonathan Griz recorded T7 finishes by finishing with a two-under 211 each.
Men’s Final Standings
