Opening ceremonies at the Palmer Cup
GCAA photo

But stranger things have happened than a potential European comeback -- anyone who has followed the Ryder Cup knows that.

Today USA needed just two points to reclaim the Cup, and they got those, and two and a half more, for a convincing 18-12 victory. The contest was held at Rich Harvest Farms, which first came onto the radar by hosting the Solheim Cup. The ascendent course, designed and built by Jerry Rich on his own property, will also host the Western Amateur in early August. In 2016 it will host the LPGA's inaugural The Crown, and in 2017, the NCAA Division I Championships. How did they win these major events?

"Patience," said Jerry Rich. "Lots of patience."

Hunter Stewart’s 4 and 3 victory against Thomas Detry put the Americans one match away from reclaiming the cup. Stewart won the first hole with birdie but Detry claimed the next hole and took the lead thru No. 4. Stewart squared the match with birdie at the sixth and took the lead for good birdie at No. 8.

Clement Sordet kept Europe’s hopes alive briefly after downing Anders Albertson, 2 and 1 in the first match. Sordet won the first hole and led throughout.

But the United States wasted no time in clinching the Palmer Cup with near simultaneous victories by Beau Hossler and Ollie Schniederjans.

Hossler defeated Pep Angles, 2 and 1, while Schneiderjans bested Max Rottluff, 5 and 3. Neither player gained more than a 1-up advantage in the Hossler-Angles match until Hossler won three straight holes beginning at No. 14. Schniederjans won his the first hole and never trailed.

Both Schiederjans (McCormack Medal exemption) and Hossler (a sectional qualifier) will now head for Chambers Bay to compete in the U.S. Open. Also heading that direction are Kyle Jones, Lee McCoy, and Jack Maguire.

Hunter Stewart and Robby Shelton of Team USA became the 15th and 16th players to post a 4-0 record at a Palmer Cup. It was the first time that multiple players went undefeated and untied since Europe accomplished the same feat in 2006.

A tie in the final match (Jon Rahm and Lee McCoy) meant that Europe could at least leave knowing they "won the day" 5 1/2 to 4 1/2. The overall record now stands 10-8-1 in favor of USA.

Steven Crane of Chicago represented AmateurGolf.com at the event, and noted the high level of integrity and class in which the teams conducted themselves.

"It was wonderful to be out there -- my wife and I had a great time today," said Crane. "I was very impressed by the way both teams conducted themselves."

Crane also told us that USA Captain Bruce Heppler enjoyed leading the young team.

"I tried to recruit many of these guys," joked Heppler.

-- MATCH NOTES --

MICHAEL CARTER AWARD: Matthias Schwab of Rohrmoos, Austria, and Hunter Stewart of Lexington, Ky., were named recipients of the award, which is presented to the Palmer Cup participant that best represents the qualities and ideals sportsmanship, integrity and upholding of the game.

ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL EXEMPTION: The USA team was given the opportunity to select one player to compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour next March. Their pick? Maverick McNealy of Stanford. The Haskins Award winner is likely to see action in more than a few Tour events in the near future. And the special exemption is further evidence that Arnold Palmer is committed to growing the Palmer Cup.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Georgia Tech coach Bruce Heppler captained the winning USA side, while Jean van de Velde (most famous for his tragic loss at the British Open in 1999) was captain of the European side.

ARNOLD PALMER: Scott Wellington from Arnold Palmer Enterprises explained that Mr. Palmer really appreciated shaking hands with each competitor Friday at the start of the event.

NEXT YEAR: The 2016 Palmer Cup will be played at the Formby Golf Club in England.

-- ABOUT THE PALMER CUP --

In 1997 Arnold Palmer was approached by the Golf Coaches Association of America regarding lending his name to an international collegiate event between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. The event would use a Ryder Cup-style format and bring together the top eight collegiate players in the United States against their counterparts from GB&I. Palmer, a former collegiate player himself, has been called America’s greatest Ambassador for the game of golf. With his blessing and the support of the Arnold Palmer Golf Company, the inaugural event was played at his own Bay Hill Club in Florida in June 1997.

“I had long thought that an international competition such as this would enrich the lives of young men through the universal bond of the great game of golf. This year is particularly significant since it comes on the centennial anniversary of the founding of golf on the college level,” said Mr. Palmer.

Originally founded as a men's only competition, women will be added to the mix starting in 2016.