ORLANDO, Florida – Sun Devil Women's Golf's Linn Grant and Olivia Mehaffey along with Team International earned the win in the 24th edition of the Arnold Palmer Cup, defeating Team USA by a final tally of 40.5-19.5.
For the third consecutive day, the International side proved to be the stronger group, claiming 14 of the 24 points up for grabs during Wednesday's singles matches. The win trims the United States all-time lead in the series to 12-11-1. It is the second straight win for the International side on American turf.
Grant (Sweden) and Mehaffey (Ireland) were key contributors to the win, with their consistent play allowing the International Team to maintain a healthy lead throughout the tournament. After jumping out to a 9-3 advantage after the Mixed Fourball competition on the first day, the International side never looked back, cruising to a victory at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
The win comes at one of the most prestigious amateur golf events of the year, featuring the top male and female collegiate golfers from around the world. Sun Devil Men's Golf's David Puig (Spain) was also a member of the victorious International Team.
MIXED FOUR BALL COMPETITION (DAY ONE)
The teams were divided into male and female pairs for the mixed four ball competition. Olivia Mehaffey and her partner Caolan Rafferty from Maynooth University, got off to an excellent start. They defeated the United States team of Quade Cummins and Jaime Jacob 1 up to secure a full point for their squad. Tied through 17 holes, Mehaffey and Rafferty managed to pull out the match thanks to par on the final hole. Linn Grant and her partner, fellow Swede Vincent Norman from Georgia Southwestern State, made up a one-hole deficit on 18 to earn a tie with the American team of Julia Johnson and Garett Reband.
FOURSOMES (DAY TWO – MORNING)
The females and males teamed up separately for the foursome matchups, taking place the morning of the second day. Linn Grant and fellow Swede Maja Stark from Oklahoma State found themselves in a familiar spot, competing together for a championship. The duo did what they normally do, taking care of business in only 15 holes, earning the victory over Allyson Geer and Emilia Migliaccio 4&3. Olivia Mehaffey and her partner Kaleigh Telfer of Auburn enjoyed similar success, defeating Team USA's Megan Schofill and Addie Baggarly 3&2 in only 16 holes. The Sun Devils helped Team International earn two full points, as they won the session in impressive fashion, 10..5-1.5.
MIXED FOURSOMES (DAY TWO – EVENING)
In the same format as the morning matches, the teams paired up males and females for the mixed foursome matches in the afternoon session. Mehaffey and Grant had the same partners as the first day, once again joining forces with their fellow countrymen for the International side. Grant and Norman tied their match, while Mehaffey and Rafferty suffered their first loss of the event. The International Team still managed to win the session by a score of 7-5.
SINGLES (DAY THREE)
The final session of the event featured singles matches, capping the tournament with a head-to-head style. Linn Grant proved why she is the No. 4-ranked female amateur in the World, controlling her match with Allisen Corpuz from USC on her way to winning 3&1 in 17 holes. Grant jumped out to a lead on the first hole and never looked back, securing a crucial victory for her side. The International Team not only needed to win matches to clinch the title, they needed to prevent United States victories. Olivia Mehaffey did just that, earning a tie in her battle with fellow All-American Rachel Kuehn from Wake Forest. The International side won 7 of the 12 single head-to-head rounds, sealing the victory in the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup.
DYNAMIC DUO
Mehaffey and Grant represent one of the top returning duos in collegiate golf. They both currently sit in the Top-16 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings and have gained experience this offseason participating in several significant professional and international tournaments. The 2020 All-Americans were a force last season, helping the Sun Devils win three events and finish in the Top-5 at all eight tournaments. They are joined by a cast of talented teammates that give Sun Devil Women's Golf one of the deepest lineups in the country. With the guidance and leadership of 2017 National Coach of the Year Missy Farr-Kaye and Associate Head Coach Michelle Estill, Arizona State is in good hands as they make a run at the 2021 NCAA Championship.
STATE OF GOLF
The state of Arizona has proven to be one of the top places to hold major golf tournaments. Arizona State University and Grayhawk Golf Club will host the 2021 through 2023 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Golf Championships on Golf Channel in Scottsdale, Ariz. It becomes the first time a university and golf course will host the championships for three consecutive seasons.
It will be the first time ASU has hosted an NCAA Golf Championship since the women hosted in 1992. This becomes the first time either the men's or women's championship has been hosted in the southwest since the 2012 men's tournament in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and the 2008 women's tournament in New Mexico.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com).
ABOUT THE ARNOLD PALMER CUP
The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla., in 1997. The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men's and women's university/college golfers matching the United States against a team of International players. The Arnold Palmer Cup has been played at some of the world's greatest courses including The Old Course, The Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Baltusrol, The Honors Course, and Cherry Hills. The 2018 matches at Evian Resort Golf Club became the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
Since its inception, over 100 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on either the PGA Tour, European Tour or LPGA, 29 have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, and more than 60 have claimed over 250 victories on the PGA or European Tours, including three major championships in 2020. The United States leads the series 12-10-1.
For the third consecutive day, the International side proved to be the stronger group, claiming 14 of the 24 points up for grabs during Wednesday's singles matches. The win trims the United States all-time lead in the series to 12-11-1. It is the second straight win for the International side on American turf.
Grant (Sweden) and Mehaffey (Ireland) were key contributors to the win, with their consistent play allowing the International Team to maintain a healthy lead throughout the tournament. After jumping out to a 9-3 advantage after the Mixed Fourball competition on the first day, the International side never looked back, cruising to a victory at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
The win comes at one of the most prestigious amateur golf events of the year, featuring the top male and female collegiate golfers from around the world. Sun Devil Men's Golf's David Puig (Spain) was also a member of the victorious International Team.
MIXED FOUR BALL COMPETITION (DAY ONE)
The teams were divided into male and female pairs for the mixed four ball competition. Olivia Mehaffey and her partner Caolan Rafferty from Maynooth University, got off to an excellent start. They defeated the United States team of Quade Cummins and Jaime Jacob 1 up to secure a full point for their squad. Tied through 17 holes, Mehaffey and Rafferty managed to pull out the match thanks to par on the final hole. Linn Grant and her partner, fellow Swede Vincent Norman from Georgia Southwestern State, made up a one-hole deficit on 18 to earn a tie with the American team of Julia Johnson and Garett Reband.
FOURSOMES (DAY TWO – MORNING)
The females and males teamed up separately for the foursome matchups, taking place the morning of the second day. Linn Grant and fellow Swede Maja Stark from Oklahoma State found themselves in a familiar spot, competing together for a championship. The duo did what they normally do, taking care of business in only 15 holes, earning the victory over Allyson Geer and Emilia Migliaccio 4&3. Olivia Mehaffey and her partner Kaleigh Telfer of Auburn enjoyed similar success, defeating Team USA's Megan Schofill and Addie Baggarly 3&2 in only 16 holes. The Sun Devils helped Team International earn two full points, as they won the session in impressive fashion, 10..5-1.5.
MIXED FOURSOMES (DAY TWO – EVENING)
In the same format as the morning matches, the teams paired up males and females for the mixed foursome matches in the afternoon session. Mehaffey and Grant had the same partners as the first day, once again joining forces with their fellow countrymen for the International side. Grant and Norman tied their match, while Mehaffey and Rafferty suffered their first loss of the event. The International Team still managed to win the session by a score of 7-5.
SINGLES (DAY THREE)
The final session of the event featured singles matches, capping the tournament with a head-to-head style. Linn Grant proved why she is the No. 4-ranked female amateur in the World, controlling her match with Allisen Corpuz from USC on her way to winning 3&1 in 17 holes. Grant jumped out to a lead on the first hole and never looked back, securing a crucial victory for her side. The International Team not only needed to win matches to clinch the title, they needed to prevent United States victories. Olivia Mehaffey did just that, earning a tie in her battle with fellow All-American Rachel Kuehn from Wake Forest. The International side won 7 of the 12 single head-to-head rounds, sealing the victory in the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup.
DYNAMIC DUO
Mehaffey and Grant represent one of the top returning duos in collegiate golf. They both currently sit in the Top-16 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings and have gained experience this offseason participating in several significant professional and international tournaments. The 2020 All-Americans were a force last season, helping the Sun Devils win three events and finish in the Top-5 at all eight tournaments. They are joined by a cast of talented teammates that give Sun Devil Women's Golf one of the deepest lineups in the country. With the guidance and leadership of 2017 National Coach of the Year Missy Farr-Kaye and Associate Head Coach Michelle Estill, Arizona State is in good hands as they make a run at the 2021 NCAA Championship.
STATE OF GOLF
The state of Arizona has proven to be one of the top places to hold major golf tournaments. Arizona State University and Grayhawk Golf Club will host the 2021 through 2023 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Golf Championships on Golf Channel in Scottsdale, Ariz. It becomes the first time a university and golf course will host the championships for three consecutive seasons.
It will be the first time ASU has hosted an NCAA Golf Championship since the women hosted in 1992. This becomes the first time either the men's or women's championship has been hosted in the southwest since the 2012 men's tournament in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and the 2008 women's tournament in New Mexico.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com).
ABOUT THE ARNOLD PALMER CUP
The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla., in 1997. The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men's and women's university/college golfers matching the United States against a team of International players. The Arnold Palmer Cup has been played at some of the world's greatest courses including The Old Course, The Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Baltusrol, The Honors Course, and Cherry Hills. The 2018 matches at Evian Resort Golf Club became the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
Since its inception, over 100 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on either the PGA Tour, European Tour or LPGA, 29 have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, and more than 60 have claimed over 250 victories on the PGA or European Tours, including three major championships in 2020. The United States leads the series 12-10-1.