JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Cal junior golfer Collin Morikawa split his two matches Friday on the opening day of the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup being held through Sunday at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Team USA and Team Europe are all-square at 5-5 heading into a combined 20 singles matches that will be contested Saturday and Sunday.

"Match play and representing the USA is very exciting," Morikawa said. "It's an honor to wear the red, white and blue, as well as honor the King, Mr. Palmer."

In his Arnold Palmer Cup debut, Morikawa teamed up with former Stanford men's golfer Maverick McNealy for a 2 and 1 victory over Team Europe's Richard Mansell and David Wicks in the morning match of foursomes play. Morikawa contributed several notable approach shots to set up short birdie putts by McNealy on the first, third and 11th holes. Morikawa and McNealy won their first three holes with birdies and never trailed in the match.

In the afternoon, Morikawa and former USC men's golfer Sean Crocker fell in a four-ball match to Team Europe's Fredrik Nilehn and Hannes Ronneblad, 4 and 2. Morikawa and Crocker never led and trailed the remainder of the way after a fourth-hole birdie by the Europeans.

"I played pretty solid in the morning match with Mav but didn't bring it for the second match," Morikawa said. "There were some really good shots throughout the day, but in the second match we just couldn't keep up."

Morikawa will square off with Team Europe's Rory Franssen in a singles match Saturday (9:50 am ET/6:50 am PT) and will have another singles match Sunday against a yet to be determined Team Europe foe.

Morikawa is the sixth Cal player to participate in the Arnold Palmer Cup following previous representatives Peter Tomasulo (2003), Michael Kim (2013), Joël Stalter (2013), Michael Weaver (2013) and Brandon Hagy (2014). Two Cal affiliates – current Alex and Marie Shipman Director of Men's Golf Walter Chun and former head coach Steve Desimone – have coached in the event with Chun an assistant in 2009 and Desimone a head coach in 2014. All but Stalter have represented Team USA.