Team USA takes International King's Cup
12 Aug 2021
by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Glasson Golf Club
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Courtesy of United States Golf Challenge
Winning for the first time on Irish soil, Team USA dominated singles play at Glasson Golf Club in Athlone, Ireland to retain the International King’s Cup played annually in honor of Mr. Arnold Palmer.
After two days of intermittent rain, 16 singles matches were contested on a blustery, dry day. Going into the day with a 56-point deficit, Team Ireland only needed to win 10% of the 576 points available to even the contest. Team USA won eight of the 15 singles matches while one was halved, earning enough points to win the Cup.
Team USA got off to a strong start, going 5-1-2 in the tightly contested four-ball matches. Seven of the eight matches went to at least the 17th hole, while David Conyers and his wife Dr. Jill Kostick closed out the father-son team of John and Edmond Ryan on the 16th hole.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates. I also couldn’t be prouder of our Irish counterparts!," Conyers wrote on Facebook. “The spirit of the competition was exactly as it’s named for, The King, Arnold Palmer.”
The Americans increased their lead on the second day, going 5-2-1 in foursomes.
The Senior A team of Curt Faas, Litchfield, Ill., and Wayne Franklin, Abilene, Tex., led the American charge, contributing 42 net points over the course of the three days.
This year’s Spirit of Arnie award, which is given to the player on either team who best represents the spirit of Mr. Palmer, is Eddie Neer of Novelty, Ohio.
The International King’s Cup is an annual competition held in honor of golf’s greatest ambassador – Mr. Arnold Palmer whose Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Commitment to Excellence represent the ideals for which the game of golf is known.
The 3-day competition replicates the format of the Ryder Cup®. Eight 2-person teams from two age divisions and 4 flights will compete in match play in Foursomes, Four-ball, and Singles.
Team USA 2022 will be selected at the USGC King’s Cup National Championship, Oct. 11-13 at The Hermitage, Nashville Tennessee. The last USGC National Qualifier is the Music City Challenge presented by the American Heartland Tour, Sept. 19-21.
International King’s Cup Results
Day 1 Fourball:Team USA 154, Team Ireland 134
Day 2 Foursomes: Team USA, 163, Team Ireland 125
Day 3 Singles:Team USA 302, Team Ireland 274
Total: Team USA 619, Team Ireland 533
ABOUT THE
The International King’s Cup is a Team Match Play
competition currently played every year between an
Irish National team and an American National team.
Additional international teams will compete in the
future.
Teams must advance from Local Qualifying and then
a final National Qualifier.
Each National Team is made up of 2 person teams in
two age Divisions with four Flights per Division. The
Senior Division is for players 55 years of age and
older. The Open Division is for players under 55. A
player 55 or older may play in the Open Division.
Each Division is made up of four flights based on
Team Index. Each flight is as follows. Championship
flight = 4.9 and under, A-flight = 5.0 to 9.9, B-flight
= 10.0 to 14.9, C-flight = 15.0 and above.
The format is a modified team match-play. Each
flight of each team plays every hole in that day’s
format. Day 1 is a best-ball format, Day 2 is modified
alternate shot, Day 3 is singles matches. Each hole is
worth 2 points. Winning a hole is worth 2-points, a
half is worth 1-point and a loss of a hole is worth 0-
points.
At the end of each match each flight totals their
points. When all the flights have finished their
matches the total points from each flight are added
together to form an overall total for the team that
day. The team with the most overall total points after
the 3 days of competition wins the International
King’s Cup. In the event of a tie, the team currently
holding the Cup retains the Cup.
View Complete Tournament Information