Lingmerth named to Palmer Cup

FAYETTEVILLE – Senior David Lingmerth of the Arkansas men’s golf team was named to the European team of the prestigious Palmer Cup, an international collegiate golf competition between the United States and Europe.

A native of Tranas, Sweden, Lingmerth leads the Razorbacks in stroke average this season at a near school record 71.41 and was an honorable mention All-American as a junior last season. Lingmerth is one of eight golfers from across the nation that was selected to play for Team Europe at this year’s Palmer Cup on June 24-26 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

"This is a tremendous honor for David," Arkansas head coach Brad McMakin said. "He is the first Razorback to be named to a Palmer Cup team and it is well deserved. He has had a great season and his work ethic is second to none. I am very happy for him and this is a great way for him to close out his collegiate career."

Lingmerth’s 2009-10 season includes 10 top 10 finishes in 12 tournaments including a tie for 10th at the Southeastern Conference Championships last weekend. He has been Arkansas’ top individual in eight tournaments including the last four and took medalist honors at the Battle at the Beach in mid February when he shot a final round 64, one stroke off the Arkansas school record for a single round. His three-day score at the Battle at the Beach, 205, was also one stroke off Arkansas’ school record for a tournament.

The Palmer Cup is a Ryder Cup-style competition that takes the top European and American golfers and places them in a series of competitions on the golf course from foursome matches to singles competition. Named for former collegiate golfer and PGA Tour legend Arnold Palmer, the first Palmer Cup was played in 1997 at the Bay Hill Golf Club in Florida. Former participants in the tournament include Luke Donald, Rory Sabatini, Charles Howell III, Ben Curtis and Bryce Molder. An even competition through the years, the overall record of the competition is tied 6-6-1 with the European squad owning victories in each of the last two competitions.

Lingmerth and the Razorbacks are back in action at the NCAA Regional Championships May 20-22.