Four Irish players have been named on the International team for the Arnold Palmer Cup match against the United States at Lahinch from July 5-7.

Maynooth scholars Kate Lanigan and Ryan Griffin, who recently won their respective orders of merit in The R&A Student Tour Series, are joined on the 24-strong International team by the University of Louisville's Max Kennedy and the University of Miami's Sara Byrne for the clash between some of the world's top college stars.

Lahinch Golf Club was initially scheduled to host the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2020, but the event was postponed until this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Griffin, who plays out of Ballybofey & Stranorlar, and Royal Dublin's Kennedy have recently excelled on the international stage, playing in LIV Golf's Promotions Event in Abu Dhabi late last year.

Kennedy won his second US collegiate title last month when he captured the General Hackler Championship and a precious start in the PGA Tour's $4 million Myrtle Beach Classic in May.

Griffin won the R&A Student Series Order of Merit earlier this month after he won the final event at St Andrews by three shots and he's looking forward to returning to the side alongside Kennedy after both featured last year.

Arnold Palmer with the Arnold Palmer Cup trophy

"I am delighted to get picked again this year,' Griffin said. "It was definitely my biggest goal since the start of the first Student Series event in September to win the Order of Merit again to get myself back on the team for the Palmer Cup in Lahinch.

"Lahinch is such a special place to me because everything about it is unbelievable, from the people there to the atmosphere around the course. Just being right in the town is just great.

"To have Barry Fennelly as the captain of the men's team makes it even more special, as we have a great relationship already from my years in Maynooth. So all in all, it'll be a fantastic week for it in Lahinch come July.

"Hermitage star Lanigan made the cut in last year's KPMG Women's Irish Open at Dromoland Castle and finished tied for second last weekend in the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open at Royal Troon.

"I am absolutely delighted to have been selected for the team," Lanignan said. "It's great to have a fellow Maynooth student in Ryan and to play under captain Barry [Fennelly].

"So it's great to have some Maynooth representation there. Obviously, the event is extremely prestigious.

"It's amazing when you see the names that have have played it before, all on the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour. So it's obviously amazing to follow in their footsteps.

"It'll be great to have lots of Irish representation with Sara and Max. I'm looking forward to that. And obviously, Lahinch is a spectacular venue.”

Douglas Golf Club's Byrne won her second AIG Irish Women's Close title last year before finishing as the leading amateur in the KPMG Women's Irish Open.”

“Everything about Lahinch is unbelievable from the people there to the atmosphere around the course.”

— Ryan Griffin

"Being selected was such an honour," Byrne said. "It's been a goal of mine for the last couple of months to really perform and give myself a chance to make the team, especially having it in Lahinch.

"Having it at home is a cherry on top; I'm so excited to compete in front of a real home crowd. It feels nice to know I had a bit of pressure to have some good rounds in the last few tournaments to give myself a chance, and knowing I performed well enough is really satisfying.”

From its foundation in 1997 until 2017, the event was only contested by men, with the USA facing Great Britain and Ireland until 2003 when Europe won for the first time at Kiawah Island.

Since 2018, it has been contested between a United States team and an International team representing the rest of the world, with 12 men and 12 women on each side. The Internationals won in 2019, 2020 and 2022 before falling 32-28 to the USA at Laurel Valley last year.

Since its inception, 44 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup or Solheim Cup.

Past participants include major winners Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Lilia Vu, Wyndham Clark, Allisen Corpuz and Brian Harman, as well as 2023 FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland.

“Having it at home is the cherry on top; I’m so excited to be able to compete in front of a real home crowd. ”

— Sara Byrne

Maynooth University's Barry Fennelly is the head coach of Team International with Cork native Aaron O'Callaghan, associate head coach at Wake Forest, acting as an assistant coach.

Lahinch, which will host the Walker Cup in 2026, should prove a worthy venue. It has staged many great championships over the years, including the Irish Open, the Home Internationals, and the annual South of Ireland."I know there'll be lots of local support," Lanigan said. "I've heard the town has already booked out, so we're really looking forward to getting down there. "The course is in amazing condition. I was playing it there a few weeks ago. They already have the signs up, and the members are already excited.

"So it's great to have a major international event in the club as they're also getting ready to host the Walker Cup. It's a super venue.”

The United States leads the Palmer Cup series 14-12 with one match tied. This will be the fifth Irish staging of the match following wins for the USA at Doonbeg (2002) and Royal Portrush (2010) and for Europe at Ballybunion (2004) and Royal County Down (2012).

The USA is sending a star-studded team headed by world amateur number one Gordon Sargent, sixth-ranked Preston Summerhays and women's world number 10 Rachel Kuehn, who ties the Palmer Cup record with her fifth appearance.

“I’ve heard the town has already booked out, so we’re really looking forward to getting down there. The course is in amazing condition.”

— Kate Lanigan

Team International (University), country

Bastien Amat (University of New Mexico), France
Josele Ballester (Arizona State University), Spain
Carla Bernat (Kansas State University), Spain
Emma Bunch (New Mexico State University), Denmark
Sara Byrne (University of Miami), Ireland
Adela Cernousek (Texas A&M University), France
Hannah Darling (University of South Carolina), Scotland
Santiago de la Fuente (University of Houston), Mexico
Wenyi Ding (Arizona State University), China
Ryan Griffin (NUI Maynooth), Ireland
Filip Jakubcik (University of Arizona), Czech Republic
Maria José Marin (University of Arkansas), Colombia
Max Kennedy (University of Louisville) Ireland
Kate Lanigan (NUI Maynooth), Ireland
Julia Lopez Ramirez (Mississippi State University), Spain
Caitlyn Macnab (University of Mississippi), South Africa
Paula Martín (Sampedro Stanford University), Spain
Omar Morales (UCLA), Mexico
Jacob Skov Olesen (University of Arkansas), Denmark
Louise Rydqvist (University of South Carolina), Sweden
Calum Scott (Texas Tech University), Scotland
Mirabel Ting (Florida State University), Malaysia
Ben van Wyk (Univesity of Georgia), South Africa
Sampson Zheng (University of California), China

Head Coaches: Rhyll Brinsmead (Australia), Barry Fennelly (NUI Maynooth, Ireland);
Assistant Coaches: Stew Burke (Kansas State, Scotland); Aaron O’Callaghan (Wake Forest, Ireland)

Team USA (University)

Zoe Campos (UCLA)
Luke Clanton (Florida State University)
Maisie Filler (University of Florida)
David Ford (University of North Carolina)
Ian Gilligan (University of Florida)
Megha Ganne (Stanford University)
Melanie Green (University of South Florida)
Ben James (University of Virginia)
Jackson Klutznick (Emory University Denver)
Jackson Koivun (Auburn University)
Rachel Kuehn (Wake Forest University)
Michael La Sasso (University of Mississippi)
Jack Lundin (University of Missouri)
Anna Morgan (Furman University)
Mary Kelly Mulcahy (University of Findlay)
Farah O’Keefe (University of Texas)
Catherine Park (University of Southern California)
Kiara Romero (University of Oregon)
Amanda Sambach (University of Virginia)
Gordon Sargent (Vanderbilt University)
Latanna Stone (Louisiana State University)
Preston Summerhays (Arizona State University)
Brendan Valdes (Auburn University)
Jackson Van Paris (Vanderbilt University).

Head Coaches: Garrett Runion (LSU), Matt Thurmond (ASU);
Assistant Coaches: Dudley Hart (University of Florida), Alexis Rather (Louisiana State University).