STANFORD, Calif. – Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf, and Herb Page of Kent State, will coach the International team at the inaugural 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup at Evian Resort Golf Club in France, it was announced Wednesday.
They will oppose a United States side coached by Therese Hession of Ohio State and Ryan Hybl of Oklahoma in a men's and women's Ryder Cup-style competition pitting top American collegiate players against counterparts from around the world. The matches are set for July 6-8.
"It is a privilege to be the head coach for the first Arnold Palmer Cup International women's team," said Walker. "The format is unique and offers the participants a rare opportunity to compete on some of the world's best golf courses alongside the top collegiate players, male and female, from the U.S. and the world."
The Scotland-born Walker, now starting her sixth season at Stanford, has led the Cardinal to unprecedented success, guiding it to five consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships. Her team has reached the NCAA semifinals for three straight years and captured the program's first national title in 2015, earning Walker WGCA National Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors.
Stanford was runner-up in 2016 and tied for third in 2017.
Since her arrival on The Farm, the Cardinal has claimed 18 full-field victories and produced 13 All-Americans.
The 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup, named for the legendary and charismatic Arnold Palmer, will feature men and women competing side-by-side as partners. It was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and The Golf Coaches Association of America, and the inaugural competition was played in 1997 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Since then, 101 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to play on the PGA Tour and European Tour, and 22 have represented the USA or Europe in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. The U.S. leads the series, 11-9-1.
"Mr. Palmer always had a love of international competition and believed in the camaraderie the game could bring to all people but especially youth, and this new format is reflective of his spirit for the game," Walker said. "I am honored and excited to compete for the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2018."
The Arnold Palmer Cup is supported by Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation, and provides a platform for perpetuating Arnold Palmer's commitment to youth development and the growth of amateur and collegiate golf. For further information, visit ArnoldPalmerCup.com.