Rising seniors Gordon Sargent and Jackson Van Paris traveled across the pond to Lahinch, Ireland, to represent Team USA in the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup from July 5-7. Each year, the tournament consists of the top international and American collegiate golfers as they face off in a series of match play formats. Van Paris and Sargent were two of 24 competitors (12 men and 12 women) competing for the United States, and the duo helped Team USA to win for the second-straight year, 32.5-27.5.
Sargent, competing in his second Palmer Cup, went 3-1-0 on the weekend while Van Paris went 2-2-0 in his Palmer Cup debut. The Vanderbilt pair began the weekend on the right foot, both earning victories over their international counterparts in the mixed four-ball. Sargent teamed up with USA’s Anna Morgan to defeat the international pair they faced, Emma Bunch and Filip Jakubcik, 4&2. Similarly, Van Paris and USA’s Mary Kelly Mulcahy won their match over Carla Bernat and Josele Ballester 1-up on the 18th hole.
On Saturday morning, Sargent and Van Paris both fell in their foursome matches. In perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the day, Sargent and Ole Miss’ Michael La Sasso fell to Arizona State’s Josele Ballester and Wenyi Ding, 2&1. Van Paris and his partner, Jack Lundin, also fell 1-up in the morning wave of matches.
However, on Saturday afternoon, both Sargent and Van Paris righted the ship, earning wins in the mixed foursome matches. Sargent and Morgan won 2&1 while Van Paris and Mulcahy won 2-up.
While Vanderbilt’s stars had a winning record through two days, the overall standings stood at 18-apiece with just singles matches remaining. On a chilly Sunday in Ireland, Team USA would need every point it could get to triumph over the international squad.
Sargent came out of the gates firing, securing a 5&4 victory over Bastien Amat. Van Paris couldn’t quite come out with the victory, falling 1-up to Calum Scott. Despite his loss on the final day, Van Paris still had a very successful Arnold Palmer Cup debut.
When all was said and done, the Commodores’ contributions were enough: The United States team emerged victorious on international soil in one of the most highly anticipated amateur golf events of the year.
Both Van Paris and future PGA TOUR player Sargent will be competing in several amateur and professional events in the coming months before Vanderbilt’s fall season begins. Van Paris recently advanced to the finals of the North and South Amateur Championships in his hometown of Pinehurst, N.C.
Sargent will also compete on the professional stage at The Open Championship at Royal Troon from July 18-21.
