The Progression Continues at Rich Harvest Farms, Western Amateur August of 2015, The UL LPGA International Crown July of 2016, The NCAA Men’s and Woman’s Golf Championships May of 2017. See RichHarvestFarms.com for more information.              _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the Palmer Cup at Rich Harvest Farms.

USA 18 EUROPE 12 Final at RHF.                                         Palmercup.org

Team USA has returned the Palmer Cup to the United States, with an 18 to 12 victory over Team Europe at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove.

Europe fought hard during Sunday’s singles matches, and was the winner on Sunday by a score of 5 1/2 to 4 1/2. But that was not enough to over take the commanding seven point lead the USA had built up over the first two days of play. Defending Western Amateur Champion Beau Hossler who went out in the third match of the day, clinched the cup winning point when he defeated Pep Angles 2 & 1. Hossler who plays on the University of Texas golf team, will return to Rich Harvest Farms this August to play in the Western Amateur.

The key heading into the final day was that the USA had built up a a seven point lead after the first two days at 13.5 to 6.5. Team USA won 7.5 out of a possible 10 points on Saturday flipping a couple of matches on the 18th hole into key points. The USa did the same thing on Sunday or the score would have been a little closer, but the outcome was not in doubt.

Coach Bruce Heppler holds the Palmer Cup trophy for Team USA.

Heavy rains fell over night and into the early hours at Rich Harvest Farms, leaving some playing area’s a little on the wet side. But it had no outcome on the matches.

Europe tried to mount the improbable rally, when Clement Sordet went out first and defeated Andres Albertson by a 2 & 1 score.

But Hunter Stewart of the USA turned things around quickly against the hot handed Thomas Detry who plays his college golf for the University of Illinois.With some U of I supporters cheering him on, Detry found that Stewart was too much for him falling by a 4 & 3 score.

Team USA’s Beau Hossler with caddie, after clinching the Palmer Cup.

Then it was time to put the Palmer Cup back into the hands of the USA. Hossler who was 2 DN on the back nine rallied early to make the match All-Square.

On the 15th hole Angles approach shot plugged a green side bunker, and failed on his first attempt to get out. His second attempt flew long and just over the green. Hossler putted up close and the hole was conceded. Then on the par 3, 16th hole, Hossler hit the green leaving a 30 foot putt over a ridge, but Angles missed the green left and his ball was in the weeds and at the base of a tree. Under the advice of Coach Jan Van deVelde, Angles went back to the tee and hit his third shot just short of the green. After Hossler putted up to two-feet, and Angles chip came up short of the hole he conceded the putt and Hossler was 2 UP with two holes to play.

Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich, with Team USA at the closing ceremonies.

The 17th hole saw Hossler hit the back fringe with his approach shot, and Angles just miss the green short right. After Hossler putted up to inside two feet, and Angles could not hole his chip shot, the hole was halved and the match was over and the Palmer Cup was back in the hands of the USA.

Maverick McNealy playing behind Hossler , was defeated by Europe’s Adrian Meronk 3 & 2. But after play was concluded, McNealy was awarded by a vote of his teammates the invitation to play in the 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on the PGA Tour. His caddie from Rich Harvest Farms will join him in Orlando next March.

After Ollie Schneiderjans won his match 5 & 3 over Max Rottluff, the Europeans came on to win the next three matches. Before Robby Shelton defeated Mattias Eggenberger, 4 & 3 to give the USA another point. The final match saw Lee McCoy rally from 2 Dn with 2 holes to play to earn a half point against top rated amateur Jon Rahm. McCoy got up and down from a greenside bunker to make a six foot birdie to win the match after Rahm missed his birdie from 15 feet.

Click here to hear interviews with Team USA players Maverick McNealy, and Beau Hossler, followed by Coach Bruce Heppler.

The 2016 Palmer Cup matches will held at the Formby Club on the Irish Sea in England, before returning to the USA in 2017 and the Atlanta Athletic Club.