March 26, 2001
Retiring Texas A&M men's golf coach Bob Ellis has been named coach of the United States team for the 2001 Palmer Cup presented by CSFBdirect set for June 27-28 at storied Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.
The Palmer Cup, named for golf legend Arnold Palmer, generally is regarded as the Ryder Cup of college golf. The event pits the eight best college golfers from the United States against the best from Great Britain and Ireland in various daily competition formats. In its fifth year of existence, the event will be televised by The Golf Channel.
"I'm extremely excited about coaching the American team in the Palmer Cup," Ellis said. "It's a great honor to be a part of an event that bears Arnold Palmer's name. I'm looking forward to working with some outstanding young men and coming away with a victory this summer."
Ellis was selected for the position by the Golf Coaches Association of America, which elected him to the GCAA Hall of Fame in 1998. Ellis will retire this season after 27 years as A&M's head coach. A four-time conference coach of the year, Ellis has led A&M to 23 NCAA appearances. The Aggies have finished in the top 10 at nationals four times, including a school-record fourth-place in 1982. Ellis also has international experience, leading the U.S. to victory at the 1995 World Junior Championships in Japan.
Baltusrol Golf Club has been the site of 15 United States Golf Association Championships, including a record seven U.S. Opens in 1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980 and 1993. Designed by legendary architect A. W. Tillinghast, the club also has played host to four U.S. Amateurs (1904, 1926, 1946 and 2000) and two U.S. Women's Opens (1961 and 1985).
Skidmore College athletic director and golf coach Tim Brown will serve as the U.S. team manager. Keith Williams, National Coach for England, will coach the Great Britain-Ireland team while former European Walker Cup captain Clive Brown will serve as team manager.
Great Britain and Ireland defeated the United States last year at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England when Phillip Rowe sank a 20-foot birdie put on the last hole of the final match for a 12 ˝ to 11 ˝ victory. The United States won the first three Palmer Cup titles.