LAHINCH, Ireland – Virginia golfers Ben James and Amanda Sambach helped Team USA defeat Team International 32.5 to 27.5 to win the Arnold Palmer Cup for the second consecutive year The three-day competition was held at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland.
The win was USA’s first on international soil since 2018 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France, and second since 2010 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland.
During Sunday’s singles competition, Sambach posted a 2&1 win against Adela Cernousek (Texas A&M). She fell behind early, losing the first two holes but had the match even by the fifth hole. Cernousek held a one-shot advantage after eight holes and then Sambach took her first lead on the 10th hole and never trailed again.
James tied Max Kennedy (Florida State) to earn a half point for Team USA. With Kennedy holding a 1Up advantage after the 14th hole, James tied it up with a birdie on the 15th hole and then both players made par over their final three holes.
Both Sambach and James were making their second consecutive Palmer Cup appearances. They helped Team USA to victory last season at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa.
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 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, DP World, or LPGA Tours; 34 have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, or Solheim Cup and more than 75 have claimed over 315 victories on the PGA, DP World, or LPGA Tours, including 2022 major champions Jennifer Kupcho (The Chevron Championship) and Justin Thomas (PGA Championship). The United States leads the Palmer Cup series 13-12-1.
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.
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