It's all USA on day two of the Palmer Cup Matches

June 9, 2023 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

- Palmer Cup photo

Team USA flips an International lead into a big red, white and blue advantage heading into 24 singles matches on Saturday

By Mike Dudurich for AmateurGolf.com

A day after sleeping on 6.5-5.5 lead after one round of the Arnold Palmer Cup, the International team was taken out behind the barn and taught a serious lesson by an American team that put all of its skill and power on display at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa.

On Friday, those wearing the red, white and blue lit up the skies with birdies and eagles and entire today’s final round with a 23.5-12.5 advantage with 24 singles matches to be played.

The intent of the event is to create a competition between American college-age golfers and a similarly constructed team of international players. Most years good competition ensues but a much more important aspect of the Arnold Palmer Cup is the long-lasting friendships that are formed.

“Both sides want to win, obviously, but you really do create friendships and relationships that are special,” said Nick Gabrelcik. “It’s been fun. You get together with people you don’t see all year. And that’s what Mr. Palmer would have wanted to see that happen.”

He turned out to be one of Team USA’s studs on the first two days of the competition. He and partner Jenny Park posted victories of 4&3, 2&1 and 4&3.

He related an interesting story about how the duo played the monstrous, 597-yard, 18th hole at Laurel Valley to complete their first nine of their second round of the day.

“We communicated well the whole time and we talked about how to approach that one for sure,” he said. “We asked Jenny if we got her to within 180-200 yards could she make the green. She said no, so I hit 3-wood off the tee, she hit a good shot to the bottom of the hill, I knocked a wedge to a couple feet, and we made birdie.”

- Palmer Cup photo

The Americans did that a lot on a very unpredictable weather day. There was sun, there were clouds, a few sprinkles, spurts of wind. Just about everything except snow flurries. As play wound down in the afternoon, there was even a short rain event, something that hadn’t happened in western Pennsylvania in over 20 days.

The USA’s day got off to a flying start when the team won seven of the first 12 matches to lead the International team, 13-11, heading into the afternoon Mixed Foursomes format.

- Palmer Cup photo

The Americans lost the first match of the morning but then rattled off six consecutive victories. The teams of Ashley Menne/Megan Schofill and Gabrecik/Gordon Sargent got the team rolling with the latter duo making five birdies, including three of the final seven holes.

“We stayed patient throughout the day and, after telling each other to trust in what we were doing, eventually knew our good golf would be good enough,” Gabrecik said.

The highlight of the morning was a hole-in-one by Sampson Zheng on the par 3 fifth hole. It sparked him and Josele Ballester’s 5&3 win over the USA’s Tommy Kuhl and Derek Hitchner.

Today’s final round gets underway at 7:30 a.m. with matches going off the first and the 10th tees. The final group gets started at 9:20.

Final round pairings - Singles

7:30 am (#1)

Emilia Migliaccio (United States) vs. Lauren Walsh (International)

7:30 am (#10)

Cole Anderson (United States) vs. Herman Sekne (International)

7:40 am (#1)

Tommy Kuhl (United States) vs. Christo Lamprecht (International)

7:40 am (#10)

Amanda Sambach (United States) vs. Charlotte Heath (International)

7:50 am (#1)

Antonia Malate (United States) vs. Lottie Woad (International)

7:50 am (#10)

Caleb Surratt (United States) vs. Christiaan Maas (International)

8:00 am (#1)

Maxwell Moldovan (United States) vs. Tyran Snyders (International)

8:00 am (#10)

Megan Schofill (United States) vs. Julia Lopez Ramirez (International)

8:10 am (#1)

Rachel Kuehn (United States) vs. Chiara Tamburlini (International)

8:10 am (#10)

Derek Hitchner (United States) vs. Mats Ege (International)

8:20 am (#1)

Gordon Sargent (United States) vs. Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (International)

8:20 am (#10)

Olivia Mitchell (United States) vs. Caitlyn Macnab (International)

8:30 am (#1)

Ashleigh Park (United States) vs. Caley McGinty (International)

8:30 am (#10)

Alex Price (United States) vs. Max Kennedy (International)

8:40 am (#1)

Nick Gabrelcik (United States) vs. Sampson Zheng (International)

8:40 am (#10)

Jennie Park (United States) vs. Carla Bernat (International)

8:50 am (#1)

Amari Avery (United States) vs. Mirabel Ting (International)

8:50 am (#10) David Ford (United States) vs. Santiago de la Fuente (International) 9:00 am (#1)

Ben James (United States) vs. Frederik Kjettrup (International)

9:00 am (#10)

Crystal Wang (United States) vs. Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn (International)

9:10 am (#1)

Zoe Campos (United States) vs. Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (International)

9:10 am (#10)

Preston Summerhays (United States) vs. Ryan Griffin (International)

9:20 am (#1)

Austin Greaser (United States) vs. Josele Ballester (International)

9:20 am (#10)

Ashley Menne (United States) vs. Lorna McClymont (International)

About the Palmer Cup

It's all USA on day two of the Palmer Cup Matches

The annual Ryder Cup-style competition features top men and women collegiate players from the United States against their International counterparts. Each team will be comprised of 12 men's and 12 women's golfers. Day one will feature Mixed Four-Ball...

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