Team U.S.A. holds off International comeback to win 27th Arnold Palmer Cup
LIGONIER (KDKA) -- The Arnold Palmer Cup is back in the hands of Team U.S.A., who held off a comeback from Team International, clinching victory on Saturday afternoon at Laurel Valley Golf Club.
Fueled in part by a dominant performance during mixed foursomes on Friday, the Americans won the tournament by a score of 32-28 on home soil after falling short last year in Switzerland.
Team International got the better of the Americans in the fourth round of singles play, outscoring them 15 & 1/2 to 8 & 1/2 on the day, but Team U.S.A.'s margin going into the day was enough to hold off the comeback charge.
The deciding points for Team U.S.A. were earned when Zoe Campos tied her match with Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
"I know we struggled out there a bit with the individual matches (today), but I'm glad to get it done," Campos said. "Honoring Mr. Palmer is something I'll never forget."
Four points for Gabrelcik
One of Team U.S.A.'s anchors was three-time Arnold Palmer Cup competitor Nick Gabrelcik.
Gabrelcik helped earn four points for the Americans, going 4-0 in his matches.
On Thursday, Gabrelcik and Jennie Park defeated Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn and Sampson Zheng 4&3 in mixed four ball play.
On Friday, Gabrelcik and Gordon Sargent earned a point with a 2&1 victory over Ryan Griffin and Max Kennedy in a foursome match. During mixed foursome play, Gabrelcik and Park would team back up and earn a 4&3 win over Hinson-Tolchard / Christiaan Maas and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
Gabrelcik's tournament would wrap up with a 1UP singles match win over Sampson Zheng.
Albatross Alert
Team U.S.A.'s Ben James provided some fireworks during his singles match, making an albatross by holing out with a 7-iron from 178 yards from the fairway with his second shot on the Par 5 3rd hole.
"I didn't see it go in, but the pitch mark was like three feet in front of it, so I imagine that I landed it and it hopped in," said James."I stayed in control and drove really well after being up early. I kept it in the fairway and gave myself opportunities to make birdie. This week was definitely one of the best memories of my life."
James would use his albatross and his eagle he scored three holes later to help propel him to a 3&2 win over Frederik Kjettrup.
A proper birthday present
For Team U.S.A.'s Rachel Kuehn, what better way to celebrate your birthday than winning a championship while representing your country?
Kuehn, who turns 22 years old today, is already having quite the year, having won the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Women's Team Golf Championship with Wake Forest, and now winning the Arnold Palmer Cup.
Five-time Palmer Cup player
Emilia Migliaccio competed in the Arnold Palmer Cup for a record fifth-time this week and got to play her singles match against Wake Forest teammate Lauren Walsh. "It was really special that we got to play all 18 holes together in our last amateur tournament," said Migliaccio. "To have Lauren and Rachel (Kuehn), two of my closest friends, here is something we'll always remember."
"I feel the legacy of Arnold Palmer here at the Palmer Cup. This week, you're constantly reminded of the values that are important. Everyone wants to win and we're all extremely competitive, but it's about the bigger picture and the camaraderie between both teams. Each Palmer Cup has kind of felt that way, but to be able to do what I did, not play college golf for a year and come back was really, really special. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
U.S. Open preparation
A number of players who competed for their countries in the Arnold Palmer Cup will be in the national spotlight next weekend when golf's toughest test takes center stage at the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, Gordon Sargent, Preston Summerhays, Maxwell Moldovan, and Karl Vilips will all be among the 17 amateurs in the field when play gets underway on Thursday.
"U.S.A. on 3!"
The Americans' win on home turf at Laurel Valley was a total team effort with the coaching staff in particular praising the players for how quickly they came together as a group.
Until next year, when international bragging rights are back up for grabs across the Atlantic in Ireland, for now, the Arnold Palmer Cup is back in the hands of the Americans.
With the win, the United States leads the Palmer Cup series 14-12-1.
