Fassi, Ortiz win; USA leads Palmer Cup in France

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Arkansas All-Americans Maria Fassi and Alvaro Ortiz picked up a win for the International Team, but Team USA leads after opening round mixed four-ball match play at the Arnold Palmer Cup on Friday.

Fassi and Ortiz were paired in Match 12 on the first day of play at Evian Resort Golf Club. They picked up a 2&1 win over their Team USA counterparts after Fassi eagled the ninth hole breaking an all square tie.

The duo won the 10th hole as well and never trailed on the second half of the golf course.

“A win is always great, and I think it’s just sweeter when you come from behind,” Fassi said. “It was an amazing journey for 17 holes and it was nice to get the point for our team.”

“It’s awesome to share the course with her (Fassi),” Ortiz said. “We’ve been friends for a long time both from Mexico and from Arkansas. It was a very fun day. They (Team USA) got out to a hot start and it was nice to make a comeback and get the point.”

Razorback Dylan Kim paired with Zach Bauchou dropping their match 4&3 to K.K. Linbhasut and Pimnipa Panthong. Team USA trailed from the first green before falling in 15 holes.

Recently graduated Razorback Alana Uriell teamed with Sahith Teegala and they dropped their match 3&2 to Lorenzo Scalise and Jiwon Jeon. The International Team grabbed the lead on the first hole and never trailed in the match.

Team USA is up 8-4 after play was interrupted for two hours due to weather. When play resumed, Chandler Phillips and Lilia Vu started the Team USA charge with a 6&4 victory.

The Internationals would move the score to 5-2 with a 3&2 Jiwon Jeon and Lorenzo Scalise victory and a 4&3 triumph by Thailand’s KK Limbhasut and Pimnipa Panthong.

The two sides would split the next four matches before the USA’s Braden Thornberry clinched the final match with birdie on No. 18 and move the American lead to 8-4.

Two rounds of competition will be held tomorrow with mixed foursomes teeing off at 7:30 am and four-ball at 1:30 pm.

Both rounds will commence off tees No. 1 and 10. Kim and Uriell change playing partners for the Mixed Foursomes matches while Fassi and Ortiz remain paired. Teams again change up for the afternoon Four-Ball pairings.

Arnold Palmer Cup
Evian Resort Golf Club
July 6
USA 8, International 4

Mixed Four-Ball Results
Match 1:
Jennifer Kupcho/Matthew Wolff, United States def. Viktor Hovland/Olivia Mehaffey, International, 4&2
Match 2:
Chandler Phillips/Lilia Vu, United States def. Jovan Rebula/Albane Valenzuela, International, 6&4
Match 3:
Andrea Lee/Collin Morikawa, United States def. Hurly Long/Patty Tavatanakit, International, 2&1
Match 4:
Kristen Gillman/Davis Riley, United States def. Harry Hall/Wenyung Keh, International, 2-up
Match 5:
Stephen Franken/Emilia Migliaccio, United States def. Stefano Mazzoli/Dewi Weber, International, 3&1
Match 6:
Jiwon Jeon/Lorenzo Scalise, International def. Sahith Theegala/Alana Uriell, United States, 3&2
Match 7:
Brad Dalke/Jamie Freedman, United States def. Jaravee Boonchant/Fredrik Nilehn, International, 3&1
Match 8:
KK Limbhasut/Pimnipa Panthong, International def. Zach Bauchou/Dylan Kim, United States, 4&3
Match 9:
SM Lee/Kaitlyn Papp, United States def. Ronan Mullarney/Chloe Ryan, International, 2-up
Match 10:
Luis Gagne/Ainhoa Olarra, International def. Shintaro Ban/Mariel Galdiano, United States, 1-up
Match 11:
Lauren Stephenson/Braden Thornberry, United States def. Maddie Szeryk/Andy Zhang, International, 1-up
Match 12:
Maria Fassi/Alvaro Ortiz, International def. Sophia Schubert/Justin Suh, United States, 2&1

Saturday Mixed Foursomes Pairings
Match 13: 7:30 am (#1)
Jovan Rebula/Albane Valenzuela, International vs. Jennifer Kupcho/Matthew Wolff, United States
Match 14: 7:30 am (#10)
Jiwon Jeon/Lorenzo Scalise, International vs. Lauren Stephenson/Braden Thornberry, United States
Match 15: 7:44 am (#1)
Hurly Long/Patty Tavatanakit, International vs. Chandler Phillips/Lilia Vu, United States
Match 16: 7:44 am (#10)
Stefano Mazzoli/Dewi Weber, International vs. Andrea Lee/Collin Morikawa, United States
Match 17: 7:58 am (#1)
Viktor Hovland/Olivia Mehaffey, International vs. Shintaro Ban/Mariel Galdiano, United States
Match 18: 7:58 am (#10)
Ronan Mullarney/Chloe Ryan, International vs. Jamie Freedman/Sahith Theegala, United States
Match 19: 8:12 am (#1)
Maddie Szeryk/Andy Zhang, International vs. Dylan Kim/Justin Suh, United States
Match 20: 8:12 am (#10)
KK Limbhasut/Pimnipa Panthong, International vs. Brad Dalke/Alana Uriell, United States
Match 21: 8:26 am (#1)
Luis Gagne/Ainhoa Olarra, International vs. Kristen Gillman/Davis Riley, United States
Match 22: 8:26 am (#10)
Harry Hall/Wenyung Keh, International vs. Zach Bauchou/Sophia Schubert, United States
Match 23: 8:40 am (#1)
Maria Fassi/Alvaro Ortiz, International vs. Stephen Franken/Emilia Migliaccio, United States
Match 24: 8:40 am (#10)
Jaravee Boonchant/Fredrik Nilhen, International vs. SM Lee/Kaitlyn Papp, United States

Saturday Four-Ball Pairings
Match 25: 1:30 am (#1)
Jiwon Jeon/Chloe Ryan International vs. Jennifer Kupcho/Lilia Vu, United States
Match 26: 1:30 am (#10)
Stefano Mazzoli/Lorenzo Scalise, International vs. Braden Thornberry/Matthew Wolff, United States
Match 27: 1:44 am (#1)
Olivia Mehaffey/Maddie Szeryk, International vs. Mariel Galdiano/Andrea Lee, United States
Match 28: 1:44 am (#10)
Luis Gagne/Andy Zhang, International vs. Shintaro Ban/Collin Morikawa, United States
Match 29: 1:58 am (#1)
Albane Valenzuela/Dewi Weber, International vs. Sophia Schubert/Lauren Stephenson, United States
Match 30: 1:58 am (#10)
Hurly Long/Ronan Mullarney, International vs. Justin Suh/Sahith Theegala United States
Match 31: 2:12 am (#1)
Wenyung Keh/Patty Tavatanakit, International vs. Jamie Freedman/Alana Uriell, United States
Match 32: 2:12 am (#10)
Hary Hall/Jovan Rebula, International vs. Zach Bauchou/Chandler Phillips, United States
Match 33: 2:26 am (#1)
Jaravee Boonchant/Pimnipa Panthong, International vs. Dylan Kim/Emilia Migliaccio, United States
Match 34: 2:26 am (#10)
KK Limbhasut/Alvaro Ortiz, International vs. Stephen Franken/SM Lee, United States
Match 35: 2:40 am (#1)
Maria Fassi/Ainhoa Olarra, International vs. Kristen Gillman/Kaitlyn Papp, United States
Match 36: 2:40 am (#10)
Viktor Hovland/Fredrik Nilehn, International vs. Brad Dalke/Davis Riley, United States