Bill Clinton (left) with the International Palmer Cup team (GCAA photo)
The International team claimed 13 of the 24 points up for grabs during Sunday’s singles matches, becoming the first visiting team to win on U.S. soil since 2009. The United States still leads the all-time series, 12-10-1.
The Internationals earned points in four of the first five matches of the day at the Alotian Club in Roland, Ark., with victories from Agathe Laisne, Alex del Rey, Lorna McClymont, and Sofia Garcia.
The United States would make things up during the afternoon, getting points from a 2-and-1 Will Gordon victory, and a 5-and-4 win for Malia Nam.
Leading late down the stretch, Leonie Harm hit her second shot on the par-4 18th to four feet, setting her up for a birdie opportunity to get their team to 30 points of the needed 30.5 to win the tournament.
Harm eventually knocked down the birdie, while a dominant 6-and-5 closing victory from Ana Belac sealed the Internationals’ first victory since 2016, ending the United States streak of back-to-back titles.
Alex Scott of Traverse City, Mich. and Leonie Harm of Gerlingen, Germany were named recipients of the Michael Carter Award, which is presented to the Arnold Palmer Cup participant that best represents the qualities and ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and upholding of the game.
Chun An Yu of Taoyuan, Taiwan, was selected by both teams to receive the Arnold Palmer Cup exemption to the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard while Julie McCarthy of Swords, Ireland was presented an invite to the Evian Championship this July.
Sunday’s singles results
Laisne, International def. Chang, United States, 3 and 1
del Rey, International def. Eckroat, United States, 3 and 2
Pichaikool, International tied Hammer, United States
McClymont, International def. Lau, United States, 3 and 2
Garcia, International def. Carlson, United States, 2 up
Scott, International tied Grimmer, United States
Gordon, United States def. Yu, International, 2 and 1
Go, International def. Pap, United States, 1 up
Nam, United States def. Stormo, International, 5 and 4
Kuest, United States def. Schmid, International, 1 up
Smalley, United States def. Kanaya, International, 2 up
Naveed, International def. Parmerter, United States, 3 and 2
Harm, International tied Migliaccio, United States
Ramirez, International def. Wu, United States, 3 and 2
Martin, United States def. Greville, International, 6 and 5
McCarthy, International def. Cooper, United States, 2 and 1
Khinhult, International def. Kim, United States, 3 and 2
Scott, United States def. Nyfjall, International, 3 and 1
Cummins, United States def. Aoshima, International, 1 up
Ruffels, International def. Harford, United States, 2 and 1
Benton, United States def. Jeon, International, 5 and 4
Phillips, United States def. Nakajima, International, 3 and 2
Gagne, International tied Augenstein, United States
Belac, International def, Galdiano, United States, 6 and 4
View results for Palmer Cup