University of Tennessee Athletics
Skinns Helps Lead Europeans to 2003 Palmer Cup Victory
July 14, 2003 | Men's Golf
July 14, 2003
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- Tennessee All-America golfer David Skinns helped lead Europe to a 14-10 victory over the United States in the 2003 Palmer Cup at The Kiawah Island Club's Cassique Course last week. The win was the first by Team Europe on American soil in the competition's seven-year history.
Held annually since 1997, the Palmer Cup matches two eight-man teams featuring the best collegiate golfers from the United States and Europe against one another in match play. The United States hold a 4-2-1 advantage in the annual Ryder Cup-style series.
The Europeans held a 7-5 lead after day one, and then claimed six of the 12 matches on Friday and halved two others for the win. Skinns halved his first round singles match versus University of California senior Peter Tomasulo Thursday, and then defeated Tomasulo 1-up Friday.
In four-ball match play, Skinns teamed with Wales National Champion David Price Thursday and the pair overcame a four-hole deficit to record a 1-up victory over Tomasulo and Adam Rubinson (TCU), giving Team Europe its first point of the competition. On Friday, Skinns and partner Oliver Wilson (Augusta State) fell 2 and 1 to the team of Dustin Bray (UNC) and Brandt Snedeker (Vanderbilt).
"David performed admirably," Tennessee head coach Jim Kelson said. "He played well and represented [the University of Tennessee] well. I know he was excited to be a part of that winning team. That was a huge victory for Europe. They beat the best collegians in the United States and I think the golf that was played by the Europeans was nothing short of spectacular. It was an incredible performance."
Team Europe's outstanding match-play performance also drew praise from U.S. coach Bruce Heppler.
"I've been to a couple Walker Cups and three or four Palmer Cups and [this year, Europe put on] absolutely the finest international performance I've ever seen," Heppler said. "Those guys holed three iron shots and just putted wonderfully. They deserved to win and should be commended."
Next year's Palmer Cup takes place at Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland.
Europe 14, United States 10
Foursomes Match Results
Ca?izares and Casta?o, EUR defeat Haas and Nallen, USA, 3 and 1
Bray and Snedeker, USA defeat Skinns and Wilson, EUR, 2 and 1
Rubinson and Tomasulo, USA halve Nilsson and Schauman, EUR
Inglis and Price, EUR defeat Hartwick and Moore, USA, 1-up
Day Two Singles Matches Results
Bray, USA defeats Wilson, EUR, 2 and 1
Ca?izares, EUR defeats Snedeker, USA, 3 and 1
Casta?o, EUR defeats Haas, USA, 3 and 2
Skinns, EUR defeats Tomasulo, USA, 1-up
Nallen, USA defeats Schauman, EUR, 2 and 1
Nilsson, EUR defeats Moore, USA, 3 and 2
Hartwick, USA, halves Inglis, EUR
Rubinson, USA defeats Price, EUR, 2 and 1
Players Mentioned
