EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Alabama’s Kristen Gillman, Davis Riley and Lauren Stephenson picked up a pair of wins for the United States on Day 1 of the 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France on Friday.
The two wins in the Mixed Four-Ball competition helped pace the U.S. to an 8-4 lead over the International team heading into Saturday’s play.
Gillman and Riley were paired together on Friday and teamed up to defeat Wenyung Keh (New Zealand/Washington) and Harry Hall (England/UNLV) of the International team, 2-up. The match was all-square after 13 holes before Gillman and Riley rallied to win on 17 and 18 to take the match.
Stephenson and Ole Miss’ Braden Thornberry picked up the final win for the U.S. following a two-hour weather delay, taking a 1-up decision over Maddie Szeryk (Canada/Texas A&M) and Andy Zhang (China/Florida). The match was all-square through 17 holes before Thornberry clinched the win for the U.S. with a birdie on 18.
Alabama signee Jiwon Jeon (South Korea/Daytona State) and her partner, Lorenzo Scalise (Italy/Tennessee) recorded one of the four wins for the International team, taking a 3-and-2 decision over Sahith Theegala (Pepperdine) and Alana Uriell (Arkansas).
Saturday’s schedule will feature Mixed Foursomes.
Riley and Gillman and Stephenson and Thornberry will play together again on Saturday morning. Stephenson and Thornberry will take on Jeon and Scalise while Riley and Gillman will meet Luis Gagne (Costa Rica/LSU) and Ainhoa Olarra (Spain/South Carolina).
The afternoon Four-Ball pairings will see the three Alabama players teaming up with a trio of Big 12 Conference golfers against their international foes. Stephenson will play with Sophia Schubert (Texas) while Gillman is paired with Kaitlyn Papp (Texas) and Riley teaming up with Brad Dalke (Oklahoma).
The tournament will conclude Sunday with 24 singles matches.
