NORMAN, OKLA. – John Fields from the University of Texas will coach the United States and Team Europe will be led by David Inglis of Northwestern University and Scotland at the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup. The 20th anniversary Arnold Palmer Cup will be played at Atlanta Athletic Club June 9-11. Andrew DiBitetto of the University of North Carolina will serve as assistant coach for Team USA while Alan Murray of Ireland and the University of Washington will hold the role for Europe.
Fields is a two-time recipient of the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips, 2012 NCAA Champion and GCAA Hall of Fame Member. He became the Longhorns’ golf coach in August 1997, and has guided UT to six top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships and eight appearances in the top 10 in the final rankings. He also has produced 18 PING All-Americans at Texas who have earned a total of 27 All-America honors.
The 2015-16 season was one to remember, as Fields guided the Longhorns to seven team wins and two runner-ups, including a runner-up finish at the 2016 National Championship in extra holes. Texas won its fourth-straight Big 12 Championship and advanced to its 10th-straight NCAA Championships under fields. Fields was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and landed three golfers on the All-Big 12 team, including junior Beau Hossler.
“Coaching the Arnold Palmer Cup team is a career goal and an huge honor,” said Fields. “I am thrilled to be associated with the Palmer name and what it means to collegiate golf. Our team will be prepared for success with the anticipation of representing the United States at the highest level of competitive golf and sportsmanship.”
Inglis will become the first Arnold Palmer Cup player to become head coach in the matches. He represented Great Britain & Ireland in 2001 and was a member of the first European team, winners of the 2003 matches. He also served as an assistant coach in the matches in 2011 and 2012, helping the squad make a huge final day comeback to claim the Cup.
Inglis joined Northwestern as its assistant coach prior to the 2010-11 season and was elevated to head coach in 2014. In 2016 he guided the Wildcats to the Stillwater NCAA Regional and a win at the Marquette Invitational.
A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Inglis was a four-time champion of the Western Athletic Conference and three-time PING All-American during his undergraduate career from 2000-04 at the University of Tulsa. He also earned Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar honors from the in 2003-04.
“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to coach the European team at this year’s Arnold Palmer Cup,” stated Inglis. “I was fortunate to be part of the first ever European team in 2003 and now to be coaching the last European team is a dream come true. I’ve already spoken with (assistant coach) Alan Murray and we are both excited to get working on putting the team together and getting ready for Atlanta in June.”
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About 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 male university/college golfers matching the United States against Europe. In 2018, the participants will include corresponding women golfers who will be added to both the USA and International teams and will thus become the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
Since its inception, 101 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on either the PGA or European Tours, 22 alumni have gone on to represent Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, and 47 have claimed 173 victories on the PGA or European Tours. The United States leads the series 10-9-1.
Arnold Palmer Cup is supported by Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. The Arnold Palmer Cup provides a platform for perpetuating Arnold Palmer’s commitment to youth development and the growth of amateur/collegiate golf. For more information, please visit ArnoldPalmerCup.com.
About Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation
It all began in the 1960’s when Arnold Palmer’s go-for-broke style of golf bolstered a legion of fans, coined by the press as Arnie’s Army. Palmer's charisma and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness endeared him to millions around the world. Over the past four decades, the Palmer family have contributed time and resources to support their passion of helping others and in so doing have made a profound impact on many lives. Founded in 2015, Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation has been entrusted to continue Arnold Palmer’s legacy of philanthropy by investing in the health, well-being and development of children & youth. For more information, or to join Arnie's Army, please visit ArniesArmy.org or contact 407-876-3944.