ATLANTA, Ga. (June 14) — Georgia Tech’s Matt Kuchar won two matches and Bryce Molder captured one Sunday to help the United States team win the Palmer Cup with a 17.5-6.5 victory over Great Britain and Ireland at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.
Kuchar, the Tech junior, defeated Phillip Rowe of Great Britain, one up, in the morning singles match. The pair played again in the afternoon, with Kuchar winning, four and three.
Molder, who just completed his sophomore year with the Rambling Wreck, defeated Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, two and one, in the morning before falling to Britain’s Max Harris, three and one, in the afternoon.
In last year’s event, which pits a team of U.S. amateur players against a team from Great Britain and Ireland in Ryder Cup-style competition, Molder sank a 10-foot birdie putt in the final match that gave the U.S. a 12-12 tie to retain the trophy. The U.S. team won the inaugural Palmer Cup in 1997 by a 19-5 score.
Kuchar and Molder will compete in this week’s U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at the Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club. Kuchar, who finished in a tie for 14th place at last year’s U.S. Open, is paired with Bob Tway and Steve Stricker and will tee off Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and Friday at 1:50 p.m. Molder, playing in his first U.S. Open, will play with Keith Clearwater and Jim McGovern, teeing off Thursday at 10:10 a.m. and Friday at 2:30 p.m.
