AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State’s Henrik Norlander has been selected to represent Europe in the 2009 Palmer Cup presented by Fisher Capital, according to a recent announcement from the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate
golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be played June 3-5
at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colo. The Europeans trail
the all-time series, 6-5-1, but claimed last summer’s event
14-10 in Scotland.
Jorge Campillo of Indiana, Arizona State’s Stephan Gross,
Texas A&M’s Andrea Pavan, Chris Paisley and Robin
Wingardh of Tennessee, Tim Sluiter of Southern California and
Leonardo Motta of IULM Milan will join Norlander as members of the
Team Europe squad.
"This is a huge deal for Henrik and some well-deserved recognition
for what he’s accomplished in two short years here at
ASU,” said Jaguar head coach Josh Gregory. “To be able
to represent not only his country, but all of Europe -- well, it's
just about the highest honor any player can ever receive.
It’s a big moment for him and for our program.”
Spain’s Campillo will be competing in his third Palmer Cup
(2007 and 2008) while Sluiter of The Netherlands will appear in his
second (2008). Gross, Motta, Pavan, Paisley, Wingardh and Norlander
will be making their first appearance.
Norlander, who became the first freshman in school history to earn
All-America honors last season, leads ASU in stroke average this
season at 71.71 and has recorded five top-10 finishes, eight
top-20’s (in 10 events) and 15 rounds of par or better.
With his selection, he becomes the sixth player to represent
Augusta State in international amateur competition. Previously,
Robert Duck (England), Jamie Elson (England), Oliver Wilson
(England), Kalle Edberg (Sweden) and Scott Jamieson (Scotland)
played for either Europe and/or Great Britain/Ireland in the Palmer
Cup or Walker Cup.
Cherry Hills has hosted seven USGA competitions and two PGA
Championships, most famously the 1960 U.S. Open, when Arnold Palmer
shot a final-round 65 to win his lone U.S. Open.
Cherry Hills, Winged Foot Golf Club and Hazeltine National Golf
Club are the only courses to have hosted the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior
Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open.
Team USA Bud Cauley, Alabama Morgan Hoffmann, Oklahoma State Trent Leon, Oklahoma State Jamie Lovemark, Southern California Adam Mitchell, Georgia Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech Mike Van Sickle, Marquette Steve Ziegler, Stanford Team Europe Jorge Campillo, Indiana (Spain) Stephan Gross, Arizona State (Germany) Leonardo Motta, IULM Milan (Italy) HENRIK NORLANDER, AUGUSTA STATE (SWEDEN) Chris Paisley, Tennessee (England) Andrea Pavan, Texas A&M (Italy) Tim Sluiter, Southern California (The Netherlands) Robin Wingardh, Tennessee (Sweden)