Cappelen wins twice at Palmer Cup

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Sebastian Cappelen of the University of Arkansas men’s golf team picked up a pair of wins for Team Europe in the Palmer Cup at Stanwich Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Friday to help the Europeans to a one-point lead in the event.

Needing to finish off his foursomes round after rain halted competition on Thursday, Cappelen and his partner Ignacio Elvira started three up after eight holes. The duo dropped one hole to begin things, but matched their opponents for the next four holes before back-to-back-to-back wins gave the tandem a five and three victory.

Shortly after the conclusion of foursomes, the teams took the course for singles play where Cappelen was matched up with Russell Henley (Georgia). Falling behind on the first hole, Cappelen was never out of it and hung around through 14 holes before going all square. He would lose the next hole, but come back with a birdie on 17 to make the match all square once more. On 18, Cappelen would sink a birdie putt to take his one and only lead of the day and earn another point for the Europeans. Of the 18-hole round, Cappelen would be all square for just three holes, lead on 18 and trail his opponent for 14, falling behind by as many as two holes midway through the round.

Cappelen concludes competition at the Palmer Cup on Saturday with another round of singles action. His final round will be a rematch with Henley as he attempts to earn three points for his squad.

In other men’s golf news, sophomore Austin Cook fired a one-under par, 71, in the Arkansas State Golf Association’s Stroke Play Championship. Cook was even par through nine holes, but could have been better as he missed a pair of makeable putts. On the back side of the course, the Jonesboro, Ark., native was consistent with his par putts and sank a birdie on 12 to get to his one-under par round.

Cook continues action at the championship on Friday with a 9:40 a.m. tee time as he seeks to defend his 2010 ASGA stroke play title.