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Kim, Shepherd & Whithaus Lead U.S. to Arnold Palmer Cup Victory
6/13/2021 9:14:00 PM | Women's Golf
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – The Duke University women's golf trio of Gina Kim, Erica Shepherd and Jon Whithaus helped lead the United States to a 33-27 victory over the International squad at the Arnold Palmer Cup over the weekend, which was played at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
Kim and Shepherd combined for a 7-1 ledger over three days to help the USA snap a streak of two straight wins for the International team. Whithaus, who is the associate head coach at Duke, was an assistant coach for the U.S.
"I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to represent the USA in such a prestigious event," said Kim. "I'm so thankful to the many people who helped this event run smoothly and I'm extremely happy to play some solid golf to help my team win. It's been one of the best weeks ever."
In Sunday's singles round to close the event, Kim went out first for the U.S., against Ana Pelaez Trivino. Kim, who is from Chapel Hill, N.C., dropped the first two holes, but came back to win the next two and would not trail the rest of the way. She shot 4-under-par through 16 holes on her way to collecting a 3&2 victory. Kim was a perfect, 4-0, in her matches for the USA.
A product of Greenwood, Ind., Shepherd dropped her opening match of the Arnold Palmer Cup in the mixed fourball with Sam Bennett, but responded by winning her next three matches for the U.S. In the singles match Sunday against Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Shepherd shot 3-under-par through 16 holes on her way to totaling a 3&2 victory. The match was tied for the first seven holes and then Shepherd won holes No. 8-10 to take a 3UP lead and never looked back.
"I had an incredible time this week repressing the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup," said Shepherd. "It was so special to share the experience with Gina and Jon and especially getting to play alternate shot with Gina. Getting the win with Team USA this was such a cool feeling because it was us versus the world and we came out on top. So quite literally we felt like we were on top of the world. I'm so grateful that I got to be on this team with some of the best golfers and people in the world!"
Kim and Shepherd teamed together for Saturday's morning foursomes and were dominant against Virunpat Olankitkunchai and Emily Price. Kim and Shepherd opened action on No. 10 and never trailed, after birding hole No. 12.
Team USA entered Sunday singles matches with a 20-16 lead. It marked the 13th win of the competition for the U.S., and the first since 2018.
Duke Results:
Day One
Mixed Fourball
Hugo Townsend/Beatrice Wallin def. Erica Shepherd/Sam Bennett 4&3
Gina Kim/Pierceson Coody def. Julian Perico/Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 1UP
Day Two
Foursomes
Kim/Shepherd def. Olankitkunchai/Price 3&2
Mixed Foursomes
Shepherd/Bennett def. Price/Pagdin 5&4
Kim/Coody def. Walsh/Fitzpatrick 2&1
Day Three
Singles
Kim def. Ana Pelaez Trivino 3&2
Shepherd def. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 3&2
#GoDuke
Kim and Shepherd combined for a 7-1 ledger over three days to help the USA snap a streak of two straight wins for the International team. Whithaus, who is the associate head coach at Duke, was an assistant coach for the U.S.
"I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to represent the USA in such a prestigious event," said Kim. "I'm so thankful to the many people who helped this event run smoothly and I'm extremely happy to play some solid golf to help my team win. It's been one of the best weeks ever."
In Sunday's singles round to close the event, Kim went out first for the U.S., against Ana Pelaez Trivino. Kim, who is from Chapel Hill, N.C., dropped the first two holes, but came back to win the next two and would not trail the rest of the way. She shot 4-under-par through 16 holes on her way to collecting a 3&2 victory. Kim was a perfect, 4-0, in her matches for the USA.
A product of Greenwood, Ind., Shepherd dropped her opening match of the Arnold Palmer Cup in the mixed fourball with Sam Bennett, but responded by winning her next three matches for the U.S. In the singles match Sunday against Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Shepherd shot 3-under-par through 16 holes on her way to totaling a 3&2 victory. The match was tied for the first seven holes and then Shepherd won holes No. 8-10 to take a 3UP lead and never looked back.
"I had an incredible time this week repressing the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup," said Shepherd. "It was so special to share the experience with Gina and Jon and especially getting to play alternate shot with Gina. Getting the win with Team USA this was such a cool feeling because it was us versus the world and we came out on top. So quite literally we felt like we were on top of the world. I'm so grateful that I got to be on this team with some of the best golfers and people in the world!"
Kim and Shepherd teamed together for Saturday's morning foursomes and were dominant against Virunpat Olankitkunchai and Emily Price. Kim and Shepherd opened action on No. 10 and never trailed, after birding hole No. 12.
Team USA entered Sunday singles matches with a 20-16 lead. It marked the 13th win of the competition for the U.S., and the first since 2018.
Duke Results:
Day One
Mixed Fourball
Hugo Townsend/Beatrice Wallin def. Erica Shepherd/Sam Bennett 4&3
Gina Kim/Pierceson Coody def. Julian Perico/Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 1UP
Day Two
Foursomes
Kim/Shepherd def. Olankitkunchai/Price 3&2
Mixed Foursomes
Shepherd/Bennett def. Price/Pagdin 5&4
Kim/Coody def. Walsh/Fitzpatrick 2&1
Day Three
Singles
Kim def. Ana Pelaez Trivino 3&2
Shepherd def. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 3&2
#GoDuke
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/ Women's Golf
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