Vandœuvres, Switzerland - Team USA gained ground Saturday afternoon at Golf Club de Genéve by outscoring Team International 7-5 in Mixed Foursomes to tie the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup at 18 after 36 matches.
The thrilling afternoon began with Match 25. Josele Ballester/Carolina Chacarra of Team International was 2-up against Nick Gabrelcik/Rachel Heck of the United States through 14, but birdies on three of the last four holes gave the United States the lead after 17. Ballester made the Internationals’ par putt on 18 to tie it at match’s end.
“Whether we were up or down, we stayed positive and in it mentally,” Heck said. “If you would’ve told us on 14 that we’d tie, we would’ve taken it. I’m really proud of how we fought.”
After Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen/Chiara Tamburlini defeated Gurleen Kaur/Walker Lee to give Team International an 18-14 lead, four strong finishes gave the United States energy heading into tomorrow’s final round.
“We had a hot start, and if we lost a hole, we got over it fast and kept it going,” said Amari Avery, who defeated Kajsa Arwefjäll/Albin Bergstrom 4 & 3 with Gordon Sargent. “We made a sloppy bogey at the 15th and they made big momentum putts to tie the holes on 16, 17, and 18, but we were able to win on No.1 and cruise from there,” Sargent said.
Americans Michael Thorbjornsen/Rose Zhang, paired together for the second time in three rounds, birdied 8 (their 17th hole of the round) to go 1-up on Adrien Dumont de Chassart/Ashley Lau in the compelling Match 34. Both parred 9 to cut the United States deficit to 18-17.
The round concluded with one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament thus far. Rachel Kuehn parred the 16th hole with a momentus reaction after Team International’s Frederik Kjettrup hit a tee shot off the flagstick, then her American and Wake Forest counterpart Michael Brennan sunk a triumphant 30-foot par putt to tie the 17th hole and maintain their 1-up lead over Kjettrup/Aline Krauter.
“This tournament brings out the emotion and competitiveness in all of us,” said Kuehn. “Frederik’s tee shot staying out gave us some life for Michael to make that putt.”
Kuehn’s words for Brennan prior to his putt were simple: “it’d be a great time to roll one in.” “And it worked out very nicely.”
Both teams parred 18 to finish the day all square.
“It’s easy when you’re paired with a partner this good, but I’m glad we could close it out down the stretch."
Gabrelcik said that he and his teammates can build from today’s action heading into tomorrow’s final round.
“We’re going to take how we played today and go into tomorrow with confidence,” he said.
Final round pairings are listed below. For more information about the Palmer Cup, visit arnoldpalmercup.com.
Round 4 ~ Singles Pairings
7:30 am - Hole #1
Julia Lopez Ramirez (International) vs. Brooke Seay (USA)
7:30 am - Hole #10
Benedetta Moresco (International) vs. Latanna Stone (USA)
7:40 am - Hole #1
Alexandra Forsterling (International) vs. Erica Shepherd (USA)
7:40 am - Hole #10
Aline Krauter (International) vs. Rachel Heck (USA)
7:50 am - Hole #1
Archie Davies (International) vs. Dylan Menante (USA)
7:50 am - Hole #10
Josele Ballester (International) vs. Palmer Jackson (USA)
8:00 am - Hole #1
Christo Lamprecht (International) vs. Travis Vick (USA)
8:00 am - Hole #10
Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (International) vs. Johnny Keefer (USA)
8:10 am - Hole #1
Lorna McClymont (International) vs. Amari Avery (USA)
8:10 am - Hole #10
Frederik Kjettrup (International) vs. Michael Thorbjornsen (USA)
8:20 am - Hole #1
James Leow (International) vs. Cole Sherwood (USA)
8:20 am - Hole #10
Ashley Lau (International) vs. Calynne Rosholt (USA)
8:30 am - Hole #1
Amelia Williamson (International) vs. Rose Zhang (USA)
8:30 am - Hole #10
Ludvig Åberg (International) vs. Nick Gabrelcik (USA)
8:40 am - Hole #1
Fred Biondi (International) vs. Sam Bennett (USA)
8:40 am - Hole #10
Chiara Tamburlini (International) vs. Olivia Mitchell (USA)
8:50 am - Hole #1
Carolina Chacarra (International) vs. Antonia Malate (USA)
8:50 am - Hole #10
David Kitt (International) vs. Jake Doggett (USA)
9:00 am - Hole #1
Adrien Dumont de Chassart (International) vs. Michael Brennan (USA)
9:00 am - Hole #10
Kajsa Arwefjäll (International) vs. Anna Morgan (USA)
9:10 am - Hole #1
Heather Lin (International) vs. Rachel Kuehn (USA)
9:10 am - Hole #10
Albin Bergstrom (International) vs. Gordon Sargent (USA)
9:20 am - Hole #1
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (International) vs. Walker Lee (USA)
9:20 am - Hole #10
Hsin-Yu Lu (International) vs. Gurleen Kaur (USA)
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 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 Arnold 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, European, or LPGA Tours; 32 have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, or Solheim Cup and more than 65 have claimed over 285 victories on the PGA, European, or LPGA Tours, including three major champions in both 2020 and 2021. The United States leads the Palmer Cup series 13-11-1.
The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation supports the Palmer Cup, which provides a platform for perpetuating Arnold Palmer’s commitment to youth character development and the growth of amateur/collegiate golf. For more information, please visit arnoldpalmercup.com.
About the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation champions its namesakes' legacy through grantmaking and initiatives that support children’s health, youth character development, and nature-focused wellness. Learn more at palmerfoundation.org.
Rolex and the Arnold Palmer Cup
Through an unwavering commitment to the game of golf for more than 50 years, Rolex has developed one of the broadest and longest-standing relationships between brand and sport. These strong ties date back to 1967 when Rolex partnered with legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, making him the first official Rolex Golf Testimonee. The charismatic American holds a special place in golf history thanks as much to his natural talent and successful playing career as to his pioneering role in the sport. Since that pivotal bond began, Rolex has gone on to establish partnerships at every level of the sport, including with the governing bodies responsible for advancing the sport and with the finest players, from The Big Three to the New Guard who lead today’s rankings. The decision to partner with the Arnold Palmer Cup was thus a natural progression for the Swiss watchmaker and a tribute to Arnold Palmer’s inspiring legacy.
About Rolex
An unrivaled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacturer. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized around the world for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance, and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history. Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops, and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly, and finishing of the movement, case, dial, and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport, and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
About Nike
The exclusive footwear, apparel, headwear, and glove supplier of the Arnold Palmer Cup, our mission is what drives us to do everything possible to expand human potential. We do that by creating groundbreaking sport innovations, by making our products more sustainably, by building a creative and diverse global team, and by making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.