Palmer Cup begins

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Sebastian Cappelen of the University of Arkansas men’s golf team began play at the prestigious Palmer Cup on Thursday with a round of four ball contested at Stanwich Country Club in Greenwich, Conn.

Cappelen is one of eight members of Team Europe who is playing the United States in a Ryder Cup style tournament. Members of both squads are all collegiate players and Cappelen’s participation is the second time in two years that a member of the Arkansas Razorback men’s golf team has played in the event after David Lingmerth participated a year ago.

Playing with Ignacio Elvira of Texas A&M, Cappelen and his partner were all square with Bank Vongvanij (Florida) and Andrew Yun (Stanford) through five holes. The Americans took the par four sixth with a birdie, but the Europeans tied it up with a birdie on seven. Another birdie by the Americans on eight gave them a one hole lead until the 10th hole where another European birdie tied the match. All square through 11, the two squads traded birdies on 12 and 13 before the Americans went up one hole on 14 and closed the match out with a birdie on 16 and matching pars on 17.

The second round of the opening day saw Cappelen and Elvira team for a second time. The foursomes portion of the tournament pitted the Europeans against Blayne Barber (Auburn) and Alex Carpenter (Abilene Christian). That round began much better for the European pair as they took a one hole lead after a birdie on two. The tandem won each of the next two holes to go up three before the Americans finally got one back with a birdie on the par five fifth. The margin would remain at two for two more holes before the Europeans birdied eight to again go up three.

Thunderstorms halted play after Cappelen and his partner completed the eighth hole. Play will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Friday with singles play starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of foursomes. Competition concludes with another round of singles on Saturday. Team USA currently leads the competition 3-1, but Team Europe leads in three of the four foursome matches still on the course.

Closer to Fayetteville, sophomore Austin Cook looks to defend his 2010 Arkansas State Golf Association stroke play title on Friday with the first round of competition. Cook tees off at 12:20 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday at Shadow Valley Country Club in Rogers, Ark.