CCU

Men's Golf's Johnson Helps U.S. Reclaim Palmer Cup With Pair of Final Day Wins

       

Men's Golf's Johnson Helps U.S. Reclaim Palmer Cup With Pair of Final Day Wins

American squad cruises to 18-6 victory

(portions courtesy Golf Coaches Association of America)

OWINGS MILLS, MD.  —  Coastal Carolina men's golfer Dustin Johnson won both of his matches on the final day of the 11th Palmer Cup presented by Monster to help the United States reclaim the cup, June 7-8. The United States claimed six of the eight final session singles matches to post an 18-6 victory at Caves Valley Golf Club, advancing their lead in the all-time series to 6-4-1.
        
    “After the success we had yesterday afternoon, it would have been very easy to come out complacent today,” said Team USA Head Coach Mike McGraw. “This morning’s matches were key. If we had been swept this morning, it would have been back to a tight ball game but we got down to business and put ourselves in a great position where we only needed a halve to win back the Palmer Cup.”
        
    Johnson and Chris Kirk (Georgia) claimed the final match of the session against Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) and Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State), 2 and 1. Europe won the first hole after an American bogey but the U.S. would even the score with a birdie on the fifth. Team USA would take the lead after claiming three straight holes beginning on No. 11. Europe would whittle the lead down to 1-up thru 16 after back-to-back American bogeys. Johnson and Kirk would close out the match by winning No. 17.
        
    In singles, Johnson had to go 18 holes to claim the final match of the competition -  2-up - against Jorge Campillo. Johnson posted a double-bogey on the first hole to fall behind but won the next two to claim the lead. Campillo would respond by winning Nos. 6 and 7 to move back ahead. Johnson would manage to even the match after Campillo bogeyed No. 11 but Johnson returned the favor at No. 13 for Campillo to pull back ahead. Johnson would win three of the last four holes - including a concession by Campillo on the 18th green for the victory. For the event, Johnson went 3-1 for the U.S. squad

This was Johnson's second time representing the United States in international competition, as he also played in the Fuji Xerox U.S. versus Japan Collegiate Golf Championship and went 1-1-1 there. Johnson will find out in the next few weeks if he will also represent the U.S. in the upcoming Walker Cup matches, Sept. 8-9 at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland. The biennial international competition, sponsored by the United States Golf Association, features the best amateur players from the United States of America and Great Britain and Ireland. 
        
2007 Palmer Cup presented by Monster at Caves Valley Golf Golf Club - Owings Mills, Md.

United States 18, Europe 6

Day Two Singles Results
Foursomes Matches Pairings
Brian Harman/Billy Horschel, USA def. Jorge Campillo/Pedro Oriol, Europe, 5 and 4
Jonas Blixt/Oscar Floren, Europe def. Luke List/Jamie Lovemark, USA, 5 and 4
Jonathan Moore/Webb Simpson, USA def. Mark Haastrup/Gordon Yates, Europe, 4 and 3
Dustin Johnson/Chris Kirk, USA def. Rhys Davies/Gareth Shaw, Europe, 2 and 1
        
Day-Two Singles Matches Results
Billy Horschel, USA def. Oscar Floren, Europe, 4 and 3
Luke List, USA def. Gordon Yates, Europe, 6 and 5
Brian Harman, USA def. Gareth Shaw, Europe, 1-up
Jonas Blixt, Europe def. Webb Simpson, USA, 1-up
Jamie Lovemark, USA def. Mark Haastrup, Europe, 2 and 1
Jonathan Moore, USA def. Pedro Oriol, Europe, 2 and 1
Dustin Johnson, USA def. Jorge Campillo, Europe, 2-up
Rhys Davies, Europe def. Chris Kirk, USA, 4 and 2