Hurley and Phelan get Palmer Cup call up
NUIM’s Gary Hurley will make his Palmer Cup debut in June. Waterford natives Gary Hurley (NUI Maynooth) and Kevin Phelan (North Florida) have been named in the European Palmer Cup team for the annual Ryder Cup-style clash with the USA at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware from June 7-9.
For the Americans, California’s Michael Kim led the six U.S. players selected by the Palmer Cup Ranking. He was joined by North Florida’s Sean Dale, Patrick Rodgers of Stanford, New Mexico’s James Erkenbeck, Alabama’s Cory Whitsett and Cal’s Michael Weaver off the ranking.
Committee selections were Daniel Berger of Florida State, Abilene Christian’s Alex Carpenter and Alabama’s Justin Thomas. Bobby Wyatt of Alabama was coach Jay Seawell’s coach’s pick.
On the European side, Julien Brun of TCU (France), Iowa State’s Scott Fernandez (Spain), Pedro Figueiredo (Portugal) and Pontus Widegren (Sweden) of UCLA, UCF’s Greg Eason (England) and California’s Joel Stalter (France) were the six selected from the Palmer Cup Ranking.
Graeme McDowell with the winning USA side at Royal Portrush in 2010. Waterford native Phelan and Nova Southeastern’s Ben Taylor (England) were committee selections while Hurley qualified for Team Europe by winning The R&A Foundation Scholars’ Tournament.
Arkansas’ Sebastian Cappelen was coach Andrew Coltart’s coach’s pick.
Carpenter, Rodgers and Thomas have each previously represented the United States in the Palmer Cup. Widegren will become just the fourth golfer to play in four Palmer Cups while European teammates Cappelen and Brun are competing in their third and second, respectively.
Figueiredo is the first player from Portugal to play in the event while Dale, Phelan, Eason and Fernandez were the first golfers from their schools selected.
Europe won the 2012 Palmer Cup at Royal County Down, 13½ – 10½, by winning seven of eight singles matches on the final day.
Kevin Phelan in action. Team USA
Michael Kim
California, Sophomore, Del Mar, Calif.
School record four wins this season
Lowest finish this season T-11
Ranked No. 1 by both Golfstat and Golfweek
Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist
Led Cal to nine wins in 10 tournament
2012 PING Honorable Mention All-America
Sean Dale
North Florida, Senior. Jacksonville, Fla.
Medalist at Jones Cup
Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist
North Florida Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Four top-five finishes in five spring tournaments
Two-time PING All-America
Joins teammate Kevin Phelan as first UNF golfers in Palmer Cup
Patrick Rodgers
Stanford, Sophomore. Avon,
Ind.Second Palmer Cup (2-1-1 record)
Three wins this season
Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist
2012 PING First-Team All-America
2011 Walker Cup
James Erkenbeck
New Mexico, Senior. San Diego, Calif
Tied for first at Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters
Six additional top-10 finishes
Cory Whitsett
Alabama, Junior. Houston, Texas
Three wins this season
Four additional top-10 finishes
Golfweek National Golfer of the Week – April 8
Two-time PING All-America
Michael Weaver
California, Junior. Fresno, Calif.
US Amateur Runner-up
Five top-10 finishes
Led Cal to nine wins in 10 tournaments
2011 PING Honorable Mention All-America
Daniel Berger
Florida State, Sophomore. Jupiter, Florida
Two wins this season
Four additional top-five finishes
Dixie Amateur Medalist
Co-ACC Golfer of the Month
Alex Carpenter
Abilene Christian, Senior. Little Rock, Ark.
Second Palmer Cup (0-4)
Five wins this season (20 for his career)
Ninth place is lowest finish in 11 events
Three-time PING All-America
2011 Division II Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year)
Four-time Lone Star Conference Player of the Year
Justin Thomas
Alabama, Sophomre. Goshen, Ky.
Second Palmer Cup (2-1-1)
Two wins this season
Three additional top-10 finishes
T-7 at World Team Amateur
Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist
2012 Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year
2012 PING First-Team All-America
Bobby Wyatt
Alabama, Junior. Mobile, Ala.
Medalist at Sunnehanna Amateur
Six top-10 finishes this season
Ninth place is lowest finish in 11 events
2012 Third-Team PING All-America
Ranked in the top five in both the WAGR and Scratch Players world amateur rankings
Team Europe
Julien Brun
TCU, Sophomore. Antibes, France
Second Palmer Cup (2-1-1)
Three wins this season
Four additional top 10s
Won Challenge Tour’s ALLIANZ Golf Open
T-4 World Team Amateur
Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist
2012 PING First-Team All-America
Scott Fernandez
Iowa State, Sophomore. Granada, Spain
Tied for medalist at Furman Intercollegiate
Only one finish outside top five in eight events
Member of the Spanish National Team
Pedro Figueiredo
UCLA, Senior. Azeitao, Portugal
First Palmer Cup participant from Portugal
Two wins this season
2012 PING Second-Team All-America
Greg Eason
UCF, Junior. Leicester City, England
First player from UCF selected for Palmer Cup
Two wins this season
Five additional top 10 finishes
Twice named C-USA Golfer of the Week this season
2012 PING Honorable Mention All-America
Pontus Widegren
UCLA, Senior. Danderyd, Sweden
Fourth Palmer Cup (6-5-1)
Only fifth golfer to compete in four Palmer Cups
One win this season
T-4 European Amateur
2011 PING Honorable Mention All-America
Joel Stalter
California, Junior. Amneville, France
Two wins this season
Three additional top 10s
Member of French National Team
Kevin Phelan
North Florida, Senior. Waterford, Ireland
Won John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
T-4 European Amateur
Joins teammate Sean Dale as first UNF golfers in Palmer Cup
Ben Taylor
Nova Southeastern, Junior. Leatherhead, England
First golfer from Nova Southeastern selected for Palmer Cup
Three wins this season
Only one finish outside top eight in nine events
2012 Division II Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year)
Gary Hurley
NUI Maynooth. Waterford, Ireland
Qualified for Palmer Cup by winning The R&A Foundation Scholar’s Tournament
Second at World University Golf Championship
Irish Intervarsity Champion
Members of Irish National Team
Sebastian Cappelen
Arkansas, Junior. Odense, Denmark
Third Palmer Cup (4-2-2)
Won Patriot All-America Invitational
Four top-10 finishes this season
Two-time PING All-America