Ellis Leads U.S. Team in Palmer Cup
Jun 26, 2001 | Men's Golf
June 26, 2001
Former Texas A&M men's golf coach Bob Ellis will coach the United States team against Great Britain-Ireland in the Fifth Annual Palmer Cup Wednesday and Thursday at famed Baltusrol Golf Club.
Ellis, who retired this spring after 27 years at A&M, hopes to regain the trophy after Great Britain-Ireland defeated the U.S., 12.5-11.5, last year in Hoylake, England. A member of the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame, Ellis led the Aggies to 14 NCAA Championship appearances.
Named after professional golf legend Arnold Palmer, the competition pits the top eight college players from the U.S. against the top eight from Great Britain and Ireland in a Ryder Cup-style match play format. U.S. representatives are nominated by the Golf Coaches Association of America and selected by the organization's All-America committee.
"It's an honor to be selected by my peers to coach in such a prestigious international event that bears Mr. Palmer's name," Ellis said. "We have a group of very talented young players and we're excited about representing the United States in competition."
The U.S. team will consist of Nick Cassini and Erik Compton of the University of Georgia, John Engler and Lucas Glover of Clemson University, Scott Lander of UNLV, Bryce Molder of Georgia Tech, Jeff Quinney of Arizona State and Chris Wisler of East Tennessee State. Cassini, Engler, Glover and Wisler also were members of last year's team.
The inaugural Palmer Cup was conducted in 1997 at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla., with the U.S. posting a 19-5 victory. In 1998, the teams battled to a 12-12 tie at storied St. Andrews, Scotland, followed by a 17.5-6.5 U.S. victory in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1999.
Ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 golf courses in the United States, Baltusrol has played host to 15 United States Golf Association championships, including a record seven U.S. Opens in 1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980 and 1993.
The Golf Channel will air a tape delayed two-hour highlight show on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. (CT). The show will re-air at 10 p.m. on Sept. 6 and again at 8 a.m. on Sept. 15.
NOTE: Competition results will be available via the internet at www.bluegolf.com and www.collegiategolf.com.
