LIGONIER, Penn. – There will be heavy representation of Sun Devil Golf at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup, taking place June 8-10 at Laurel Valley Golf Club.
SUN DEVILS AT THE PALMER CUP
For the sixth consecutive year, Sun Devil Golf will be featured at the premier international amateur event featuring only collegiate golfers. As was the case in 2022, both the men's and women's programs will send participants to compete in the Palmer Cup's return to the United States. Sun Devil Women's Golf's Ashley Menne will represent Team USA along with Sun Devil Men's Golf's Preston Summerhays.
"We are thrilled to have two terrific Sun Devils make the Palmer Cup," Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "It is such a great accomplishment. To have both Ashley and Preston representing Team USA and Arizona State on home soil is very special."
HOW IT WORKS
The top six golfers from the final Palmer Cup Ranking from both the United States and International men and women automatically qualified for selection. The rest of the field was determined by the Palmer Cup committee, with a total of 24 golfers named to each team. They will compete in the Ryder Cup-style international collegiate event between the United States and International Team starting on Thursday, June 8.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT (PAIRINGS TBD)
Thursday, June 8: Round 1 - Mixed Fourball
Friday, June 9: Round 2 - Morning Foursome; Round 3 - Afternoon Mixed Foursome
Saturday, June 10: Round 4 - Singles Matches
SELECTION PROCESS
Ashley Menne was one of six United States female committee selections, after finishing just outside the automatic qualifying threshold. After not even being included in the initial rankings released in the Fall, Menne came in at No. 8 in the final United States female Palmer Cup rankings, making a dramatic climb throughout the Spring.
Preston Summerhays was one of six United States male rankings selections after finishing No. 4 in the Palmer Cup standings. Summerhays maintained a spot in the Top-10 of the rankings the entire campaign and earns the bid by virtue of ending in the Top-6 of the U.S. Palmer Cup male rankings.
TEAM USA
The Arizona natives Summerhays and Menne join Calynne Rosholt (2022) and Jeff Quinney (2001) as the only Sun Devils to get selected to the United States' team, with both programs known for their ability to attract and develop International golfers historically.
PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE
"It is a privilege to be able to play for Team USA at the Palmer Cup," Ashley Menne remarked. "It will be fun to compete with Preston against some of the top amateurs in the World. We are proud to represent Arizona State and the Sun Devil Golf programs."
ALL-AMERICAN DUO
Both Ashley Menne and Preston Summerhays earned All-American status following impressive seasons in the Maroon & Gold. Preston Summerhays was named a PING Division I First Team All-American, while Ashley Menne was tabbed a Second Team All-American by the WGCA. The duo will now combine forces as part of Team USA at the Palmer Cup starting on Thursday. They will also return to Tempe next year as key pieces of their respective programs heading into 2023-24.
2022 RECAP
Sun Devil Women's Golf's Alexandra Forsterling along with Team International defeated Calynne Rosholt and Team USA, 33-27, to earn the win in the 25th edition of the Arnold Palmer Cup.
Forsterling teamed up with Stanford's Eileen Krauter to earn a win in the Saturday morning foursome matches. She also claimed a point for the International side when she won her Sunday singles matchup, 4&3, over Duke's Erica Shepard. Sun Devil Men's Golf's Josele Ballester and James Leow was also a part of the triumphant International squad.
On the Team USA side, Rosholt emerged victorious from her Saturday morning foursome match, pairing up with Dallas Baptist's Olivia Mitchell to register a point for the American side. Rosholt also finished tied with Michigan's Ashley Lau in the Sunday singles match. In total, Sun Devil Women's golfers accounted for 3.5 points (3 wins, 1 tie) at the Palmer Cup.
2020 RECAP
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.
The International side claimed 14 of the 24 points up for grabs during the singles matches on the final day to seal the victory. 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. Sun Devil Men's Golf's David Puig (Spain) was also a member of the victorious International Team.
HISTORY OF THE 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 Palmer Cup has been played at some of the world's greatest courses, including The Old Course at St. Andrews, The Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Baltusrol, The Honors Course, and Cherry Hills. Beginning with the 2018 matches at Evian Resort Golf Club, the Palmer Cup is the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
Since its inception, over 125 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on the PGA, DP World, or LPGA Tours; 34 have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, or Solheim Cup and more than 75 have claimed over 315 victories on the PGA, DP World, or LPGA Tours, including 2022 major champions Jennifer Kupcho (The Chevron Championship) and Justin Thomas (PGA Championship). The United States leads the Palmer Cup series 13-12-1.
ABOUT LAUREL VALLEY GOLF CLUB
The 7,427-yard, par 72 course spans 280 acres nestled between the Laurel Ridge Mountains and Chestnut Ridge Mountain. Originally designed by Dick Wilson, Laurel Valley was renovated by one of its founders, and western Pennsylvania native, Arnold Palmer. Laurel Valley previously hosted the 1965 PGA Championships and 1975 Ryder Cup, as well as the 1989 US Senior Open and 2005 Senior PGA Championship.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The Arnold Palmer Cup social media channels will have coverage of the event on Twitter & Instagram (@ArnoldPalmerCup) as well as their Facebook (facebook.com/ArnoldPalmerCup). A live stream of the action will be provided at the following link. For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Golf programs, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf & @SunDevilMGolf), like our Facebook pages (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/ & facebook.com/sundevilmgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com).