April 23, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - For the second consecutive year Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers will compete in the Palmer Cup at Wilmington Country Club, as announced Tuesday by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
The Palmer Cup, named in honor of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, invites the top six men’s collegiate golfers who are citizens of the United States and Europe. Those players will be among the 10 individuals selected to represent each team.
“It’s an honor to be selected again and to be considered one of the 10 best collegiate American players this season,” said Rodgers, a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist. “It’s a testament to hard work and consistent play over the course of the season and I am very excited to represent my country this summer.”
Rodgers, who has a 70.5 stroke average in nine events (27 rounds), has collected six top-10 finishes including three collegiate titles on the season and fifth overall. The sophomore is a 2012 PING First Team All-American and competed in the 2011 Walker Cup, becoming the ninth Stanford golfer to receive that honor.
Rodgers becomes the third Stanford golfer to compete in at least two Palmer Cups. Philip Rowe, the Stanford Enlight Foundation Assistant Coach, competed for four years (1999-2002), while Andrew Yun played in 2011 and 2012.
“The camaraderie is very unique in golf,” Rodgers said about his favorite part about competing in the 2012 Palmer Cup. “The team got along great and we felt very close at the end of the week. There are very few times in golf when you compete with another player in a team format and I really enjoyed having some support out there on the course.”
This year, Rodgers is joined by Michael Kim of California, Sean Dale of North Florida, James Erkenbeck of New Mexico, Cory Whitsett of Alabama and Michael Weaver of California off the 25-player ranking. Committee selections were Daniel Berger of Florida State, Alex Carpenter of Abilene Christian, and Justin Thomas of Alabama. Bobby Wyatt of Alabama was the coach’s pick.
“I think we have a great squad this year,” Rodgers said. “We didn’t get it done last year so I am looking forward to winning.”
Rowe will serve as the assistant coach for Europe at the 2013 and 2014 Palmer Cups.
Since the Palmer Cup’s inception in 1997 six Stanford players have competed and Conrad Ray, The Knowles Family Director of Golf, coached the U.S. team in 2008.
Stanford’s Palmer Cup alumni have been Joel Kribel (1997), Rowe (Player in 1999-2002, Assistant Coach in 2013 and 2014), Ray (Coach, 2008), Steve Ziegler (2009), Chung (2010), Yun (2011 and 2012) and Rodgers (2012 and 2013).
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