CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Fresh off his first semester at Virginia, first-year Ben James (Milford, Conn.) is included in the initial Palmer Cup standings released this week. James figures No. 18 on the list for the United States’ squad.
The top six golfers from the spring’s final ranking from both the United States and International men and women shall be among the individuals selected to compete in the Palmer Cup, which will be hosted by Laurel Valley Golf Club June 8-10.
Using Golfstat’s NCAA Player Ranking as a base, the Palmer Cup Ranking awards bonus points for wins and high finishes and a penalty for poor finishes. The ranking also contains a strength of schedule component.
The remaining six spots for the United States will consist of five committee picks, including at least one non-Division I golfer and a coaches pick. The balance of the International team also includes five committee selections, including at least one representative from The R&A Student Tour Series and a coaches pick.
This week James is in Jupiter, Fla., participating in the Walker Cup Practice Session. There are a total of 16 collegiate players at the event. He is the highest ranked of the three freshmen invited to the session.
An invitation to the Walker Cup practice session does not guarantee selection to the team. Players not invited will also be considered for inclusion on the team.
The Walker Cup is contested in odd-numbered years and features teams of the top men’s amateur golfers in a competition between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. It is organized by the R&A and USGA. The USA leads the overall series that began in 1922, 38-9-1, but it has been tremendously competitive over the last three decades, with the USA holding just a 10-7 advantage in the Match since 1989. The R&A will select the 10 members of the GB&I Team, which represents England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The 49th Match will be played on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, Sept. 2-3, 2023.
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