April 20, 2005
NORMAN, Okla. -- Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State, East Tennessee State's Rhys Davies, Kalle Edberg and Scott Jamieson of Augusta State, Oklahoma State's Pablo Martin and Alex Norén, David Skinns of Tennessee and Georgia State's Steve Tiley have been named to represent Europe in the 2005 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced European Head Coach Magnus Grankvist. Grankvist, a member of the Swedish Golf Federation, will be assisted by David Llewellyn of Wales. The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be played June 8-9 on the 7,201 yard, par 72 Whistling Straits Irish Course. The Europeans trail the all-time series, 4-3-1, but have claimed the last two Palmer Cups.
"I am truly looking forward to the Palmer Cup presented by Monster," said Grankvist. "I think it will be a great competition with some outstanding young players. I know the Americans really want to win back the Palmer Cup, but I think we have an extremely strong team with a good mix of players who are used to this format."
Canizares, a junior from Manilva, Spain, will be competing in his third Palmer Cup. He has compiled a 6-2 record over the past two competitions - including a 4-0 record in singles matches - and needs only one more win to become the events all-time leader in victories and 1 1/2 points to set the Palmer record for most team points won. He has claimed three tournament victories this season.
He has posted a 71.66 stroke average has four top-10 finishes this year. He won the 2003 NCAA Championship and has six collegiate tournament victories.
Davies, Norén and Skinns will be competing in their second Palmer Cups. Davies and Norén helped lead Europe to victory last year at Ballybunion while Skinns was part of a winning effort at Cassique in 2003. Davies - who has won four tournaments this season and finished in the top three in three others - went 3-1 last year while Norén was 1-3. Skinns - who recently won the SEC Championship - went 2-1-1 in 2003. Davies, a sophomore, hails from Bridgend, Wales, while seniors, Norén and Skinns are from Stockholm, Sweden, and Lincoln, England, respectively.
Edberg, Jamieson, Martin and Tiley are all newcomers to Palmer Cup competition. Edberg, a senior and native of Stockholm, Sweden, claimed medalist honors in his first tournament of the season - the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. A senior from Glasgow, Scotland, Jamieson placed first at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate and second at the ASU Invitational presented by Administaff. A freshmen hailing from Malaga, Spain, Martin has won the PING/Golfweek Preview and the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational and placed in the top 10 in four other tournaments. Tiley, a junior from Canterbury, England, took medalist honors at The Nelson Invitational and the Conrad Rehling Spring Invitational.