From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics

Junior Jason Li (Sewickley, Pa./Sewickley Academy) of the Carnegie Mellon University men's golf team will participate in the ninth annual Patriot All-America Tournament December 29-31. The 54-hole event is being played at The Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Li is one of seven NCAA Division III student athletes in the field of 84 PING All-Americans from the previous season in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as All-Americans from the NAIA, NJCAA and AJGA ranks that will compete in the event. Additionally, a member from each of the U.S. military academies has been invited to participate.

Prior to the competition, golfers will participate in a formal opening ceremony on Saturday where each golfer receives and carries a commemorative PING golf bag that bears the name and branch of a fallen or wounded hero from their hometown or school. Additionally, all of the golfers have the opportunity to visit Luke Air Force Base, the training center for our nation's F-16 and F-35 fighter pilots. There, they meet with the General, fighter pilots and crew, and tour the base while participating in activities rarely seen by civilians.

Li will be representing Army Sergeant First Class Raymond R. Buchan. Buchan, 33, of Johnston, Pennsylvania, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division based in Schweinfurt, Germany and served during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. On July 1, 2007, SFC Buchan and another soldier died of wounds sustained from enemy small-arms fire in Ta'meem, Iraq. This was his second tour of duty in Iraq.

First round tee times are set to begin Sunday, December 29 at 9:30 a.m. MT with second round play scheduled for 9:30 a.m. MT Monday, December 30. Competition will conclude Tuesday, December 31 with a 9:30 a.m. MT start time.

Li was named to the NCAA Division III PING All-America first team following the 2018-19 season after he placed 11th individually at the NCAA Division III Championships. He is tied for the school's lowest round after carding a 66 at the Golfweek Fall Invitational in October. Li leads the Tartans with a 71.6 average through 11 rounds this season and has carded even-par or lower in seven.

For more information on the event, log onto patriotallamerica.com.