Monday, April 17, 2006

(April 17, 2006) - ETSU junior Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales) has been selected to compete in his third Palmer Cup, June 29-30 on the 6,544-yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club. This year's event will mark the 10th Palmer Cup overall, an annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe.

European head coach Peter Mattsson, who named the team last week, said Davies will be joined by Oscar Floren of Texas Tech, Mark Haastrup of Georgia State, Stephen Lewton of N.C. State, Joost Luiten of Randstad Topsport Academie Rotterdam, Pablo Martin of Oklahoma State and Richard Ramsey of Stirling.

"We have players with a wide range of abilities from across Europe," said Mattsson, the director of coaching for the English Golf Union. "Several of our players have links experience, which will be of great benefit, and a good mix between players based out of the United States and Europe."

Davies, who is ETSU's all-time leader in victories with seven and arguably the most successful men's golfer in Buccaneer program history, holds a Palmer Cup record of 3-4-1, including a 3-1 mark when Europe defeated the U.S. at Ballybunion in 2004.

Cañizares, a senior from Manilva, Spain, will be competing in his fourth Palmer Cup. The Palmer Cup all-time leader in victories and points, the former NCAA champion has a 9-3 career record in the event. Martin, hailing from Malaga, Spain, will be participating in his second Palmer Cup after going 1-2-1 last year at Whistling Straits Irish Course.

Floren (Sweden), Haastrup (Denmark), Lewton (England), Luiten (The Netherlands) and Ramsey (Scotland) will be competing in their first Palmer Cup.