June 2, 2009
DENVER -
California's Walter Chun is the assistant coach for the American collegiate team that plays in the prestigious Palmer Cup, held June 4-5 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colo. The event, which pits the top-eight American collegiate golfers against their European collegiate counterparts, is named for golfing great Arnold Palmer and considered the collegiate version of the Ryder Cup. The United States leads the all-time series, 6-5-1.
Chun, a two-time Golden Bears captain who completed his fifth year as a Cal assistant in 2009 after being named the nation's top assistant coach following the 2007-08 season, will work with Matt Thurmond, head coach at the University of Washington, to coach the American team.
"It's quite an honor to be here representing my country, the University of California, my parents and family, everyone that's been involved," Chun said. "There's a lot of pride here in wanting to take the Palmer Cup. Bringing it back to this side of The Pond is our goal."
Last year at Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Links, the Europeans moved to within one victory from tying the all-time series with their 14-10 win.
Cal's Peter Tomasulo was a member of the U.S. team in 2003. This year's American team will consist of Bud Cauley of Alabama, Erik Flores of UCLA, Morgan Hoffmann and Trent Leon of Oklahoma State, Adam Mitchell of Georgia, Cameron Tringale of Georgia Tech, Mike Van Sickle of Marquette and Steve Ziegler of Stanford.
Representing the Europeans will be Jorge Campillo of Indiana, Stephan Gross of Arizona State, Leonardo Motta of IULM Milan, Augusta State's Henrik Norlander, Chris Paisley and Robin Wingardh of Tennessee, Texas A&M's Andrea Pavan and Tim Sluiter of Southern California.
"It's the experience of a lifetime and something every player should aspire to achieve," said Chun. "It's worth all the hard work you put in day in and day out. If we come out on top Friday afternoon, it's all the more rewarding."
The par-72 course that will play at approximately 7,600 yards has been the site of seven USGA competitions and two PGA Championships. It is one of only three courses, with Winged Foot and Hazeltine National, to have hosted the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women's Open.
Originally designed by William Flynn, Cherry Hills drew fame after the 1960 U.S. Open, when Palmer shot a final-round 65 to win his only Open title.
