We’re All In This Together

It will be one of the highlights of my career working alongside such talented contributors at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup in Mr. Palmer’s backyard. So much credit goes to the media squad of Alex Gelman, Carson Racich, Marty Lafica, and Cavender Neutze for turning eyes our way and helping create one of the most memorable weeks for many👀 Thank you to the Laurel Valley Golf Club staff and all who played a part in being so welcoming and having the course in superb condition. Teamwork IS the dreamwork, and until next time, see below for photos from the week (June 2 - June 13): (picture by Carson Racich) The male GCAA staff members lodged on the second floor of the clubhouse at Laurel Valley Golf Club. The atmosphere felt quite similar to staying on the second floor of my grandparents' house in Grand Haven, Mich., or returning to college. A mixture of both, I would say. There was a room per person to sleep in (first image) and shower rooms and bathrooms to share (second and third images). Players/coaches were housed in the below cottages. Our tournament office was in the middle building in the second image. Safe to say everyone got their steps in and calves engaged while on-site:) (picture by Alex Gelman) Arnold Palmer and Laurel Valley Golf Club have a rich history together. Mr. Palmer co-founded Laurel Valley, which is located about 12 miles from his hometown of Latrobe, Penn., and later renovated it. The 1975 Ryder Cup was held there, and Mr. Palmer captained Team USA to victory. His team included World Golf Hall of Fame members Billy Casper, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Gene Littler, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, and Tom Weiskopf, as well as major winners Al Geiberger and Lou Graham, future PGA TOUR broadcaster Bob Murphy, and 82-time PGA TOUR winner Sam Snead's nephew, J.C. Snead. That Ryder Cup was the only team event held at Laurel Valley until this Palmer Cup. Palmer and Nicklaus, two of the greatest to ever swing a golf club, have their own historical past at Laurel Valley. The pair won both the 1970 National Four-Ball Championship and 1971 National Team Championship there, and signed photographs of them together are displayed throughout the club. What might be most memorable, however, was what you can view below from the 1965 PGA Championship. Other highlight events hosted at Laurel Valley Golf Club include the 1989 U.S. Senior Open 2005 Senior PGA Championship. After a couple days on the course getting prepared for tournament play, the opening ceremonies kicked everything off. ⬇️ (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) My job pre-ceremonies was to go over the script with the evening's MC, Golf Channel's Todd Lewis. Through the time crunch, Todd took the time to nail each pronunciation, and it was a pleasure getting to work with him and talk about the day's previous news (PGA TOUR and LIV Golf merger). (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) After a few speeches, opening round pairings were announced. The Arnold Palmer Cup is the only major tournament where men and women are featured playing side-by-side as partners. The first round is Mixed Four-Ball, meaning all four players in the match (two male and two female) play their own balls throughout the round. The winner is the team with the lowest aggregate score over the amount of holes played. The next two rounds are Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes, respectively, where two teams of two apiece compete in a match using only one ball per team. Alternate shots are taken until the hole is completed. The two pictures above involved Julia Lopez Ramirez and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (first image) grouped together in their match and Amari Avery and Gordon Sargent (second image) together in theirs. Both groupings knew each other well, as they both went 2-0 in the 2022 Palmer Cup when paired together. (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Carson Racich) These two have been in a relationship for well over two years, if you can't tell. (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA's Ashleigh Park and her Oregon and Team USA head coach Derek Radley (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA's Caleb Surratt with his Tennessee head coach and Team International assistant coach Brennan Webb (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA's Antonia Malate with her San Jose State and Team USA assistant coach Kortnie Barrett (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Two Team USA team photos (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Two Team International team photos (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Before heading down to the 10th tee for the opening ceremonies, players and coaches received a fireside chat presented by Rolex with World Golf Hall of Fame members Curtis Strange and Nancy Lopez, who are pictured in the middle of the two above photos. I got to sit in on the last 10 or so minutes of the chat, and it was cool to hear how they met so many years ago and how Nancy looked up to Curtis when they were in college. Tournament play began on Thursday, June 8, at 7:30 am EST. While Alex handled group photos and 1st-hole tee shots and Carson on-the-course action shots, I was on the practice range snagging any angles I could. North Carolina and Team USA teammates Ford, left, and Austin Greaser (Karl tweaked his back during Wednesday's College-Am. He practiced on Thursday as if he were to play, gave it his all in practice, but decided to sit the tournament out to be in his best shape for the next week's U.S. Open. After all of that and going to the doctor twice with my coworker, I'm happy that he both got to enjoy his stay and play in the U.S. Open). (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) Team International’s Max Kennedy provided fireworks in the day’s final match to finish with fellow Ireland native Lauren Walsh. Needing to win the 18th hole to halve their match against Team USA’s Zoe Campos and Maxwell Moldovan, Kennedy hit the 198-yard approach shot two feet to the hole, which he eagled to halve the match and maintain Team International's 6.5-5.5 lead after 12 matches.   “That was special,” Kennedy said. “We were under the gun coming down to the last (hole), and I hit a good shot. Lauren’s been keeping me in it all day, so it was my time to give a little back.” “We thought we’d have to make an eagle coming down to the last, and he’s been hitting that 7-wood great all day,” said Walsh. “I was walking up hoping that it was a 7-wood number for him.” Friday's two-round day began at 7:30 am EST. Photag posts were similar to the day before; Alex on 10 tee getting group photos and tee shots, Carson handling 1st-tee group photos and tee shots (only difference being that Friday was a two-tee start when Thursday was only one). Tyran Snyders, Christiaan Maas, and Christo Lamprecht are all South African natives. It was cool to hear different languages between them throughout the week. This guy's (Team International's Sampson Zheng) hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole, their 14th of the round, sparked his and Josele Ballester’s 5&3 win over Team USA’s Tommy Kuhl and Derek Hitchner. “What a time and place to do it,” Zheng said of his second-ever 1 in tournament play. “We were going 3Up into the hole and I knew that I needed to hit one close coming down the stretch. The strike was good, so I knew it was going to get there. Hit it 12 short and it just rolled right in. I saw it disappear, and Josele and I started playing rugby in celebration." (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA won seven of the 12 Foursomes matches to take the 13-11 lead. The round’s final match to come in brought all watching around to witness. Team International’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Chiara Tamburlini went 5Up through seven holes and 3Up making the turn, but Team USA’s Zoe Campos and Amanda Sambach used four birdies on the back nine, including one on the match’s final hole, to claim the 2Up victory and maintain Team USA’s lead they gained in Amari Avery/Antonia Malate’s 2&1 win over Team International’s Carla Bernat and Julia Lopez Ramirez. “We didn’t play our best in the first nine, but we were never out of it,” Sambach said. “We were talking all day about how we like to be from behind, so we kept it together and got some putts to drop.” “As soon as we won our first hole, I knew that we could come back from it,” Campos said. Round 3, Mixed Foursomes, began at 1:30 pm EST. (Photo by Alex Gelman) Two Arizona State Sun Devils (Preston Summerhays and Ashley Menne) paired with together being photographed by an Arizona State Sun Devil for the second time in as many days (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) These two, Carla Bernat and Josele Ballester, are from Castellón, Spain, so it had to be extra special for them to be paired together. (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) Austin Greaser with his North Carolina and Team USA assistant coach Matt Clark (Photo by Carson Racich) Since we didn't get to see them in action in 2022, it was even cooler seeing the umbrellas in use on Friday. (Photo by Alex Gelman) “Crystal and I had a good vibe out there,” Tommy Kuhl said of his and Illinois Fighting Illini classmate Crystal Wang's 3&2 victory of Herman Sekne and Lottie Woad. “We played well yesterday in our Fourball and carried the momentum into this afternoon. We made no bogeys, and in this format, that works pretty well. These greens are tough to read, and if you can make some putts, that’s an advantage in match play.” (Photo by Carson Racich) Avenging an opening-round loss was duo David Ford and Amanda Sambach, who birdied four of their first five holes en route to the 3&1 win over Team International’s Max Kennedy and Lauren Walsh. “We played really well and got some momentum in the beginning,” Sambach said. Ford added that, “other than the one bogey that was only because of me, we played pretty clean. I missed more shots than she did, but we picked each other up, and it worked out well.” Adding 10.5 points to their total, Team USA led 23.5-12.5 after three rounds. Saturday's final round Singles began at 7:30 am EST. Saturday happened to be Rachel Kuehn's 22nd birthday (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Team USA's Emilia Migliaccio concluded her record-fifth Palmer Cup by never trailing in her 2Up victory over Wake Forest teammate and previously-unbeaten Lauren Walsh. “It was really special that we got to play all 18 holes together in our last amateur tournament,” said Migliaccio. “To have Lauren and Rachel (Kuehn), two of my closest friends, here is something we’ll always remember.”  “I feel the legacy of Arnold Palmer here at the Palmer Cup. This week, you’re constantly reminded of the values that are important. Everyone wants to win and we’re all extremely competitive, but it’s about the bigger picture and the camaraderie between both teams. Each Palmer Cup has kind of felt that way, but to be able to do what I did, not play college golf for a year and come back was really, really special. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” (Photo by Alex Gelman) Tyran Snyders of Team International won every match he played during the 2023 Palmer Cup, including Saturday’s 3&2 victory over Maxwell Moldovan, who entered the morning 2-0-1 on the week. “It honestly means a lot,” Snyders said. “I had a pretty good year going, and towards the end (of the season), I had some tough rounds and tough days. I’ve seen a lot of good things this week, which is showing that what I’m working on is working. To go and do this at such a prestigious event and contribute every point I could to the team means a lot to me.” “I feel like this week was bigger than itself,” continued Snyders. “It’s about the memories you make, and as they say, this is probably one of the best weeks of your life, so make the most of it.” Entering Saturday’s final round down 11 points, Team International won 14 singles, twice as many their United States counterparts, but Zoe Campos secured the Cup for Team USA in tying her match against Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.  “I know we struggled out there a bit with the individual matches (today), but I’m glad to get it done,” Campos said. “Honoring Mr. Palmer is something I’ll never forget.” (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Each year, a man and woman are voted upon by their peers to receive exemptions into the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and Amundi Evian Championship. The 2023 recipients were David Ford and Rachel Kuehn. “I was thinking back to when I caddied in the Palmer Cup a few years ago, remembering so vividly that there was one player designated to get an exemption into that event,” said Ford. “To have my name called is really cool and comes full circle.” (Photo by Alex Gelman) “I’m really honored because I got voted in by the rest of the players,” Kuehn said. “I feel really lucky to be given the opportunity to represent the Arnold Palmer Cup and everyone here well that week.” On February 13, 2002, former Penn State University golfer and GCAA Arnold Palmer Cup intern Michael Carter died in an automobile accident at the young age of 19. While Carter tragically left this world too soon, his infectiously fun-loving spirit will forever live in this competition. The Michael Carter “Junior” Memorial Award is presented to the Arnold Palmer Cup participant from each team who best represents the qualities and ideals that made this young man unique. The 2023 recipients were Derek Hitchner and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira. (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Derek Hitchner with his Pepperdine and Team USA head coach Michael Beard (Photo by Alex Gelman) Hoos! Virginia Cavaliers Ben James and Amanda Sambach (Photo by Alex Gelman) Illinois Fighting Illini Crystal Wang and Tommy Kuhl (Photo by Carson Racich) Deacs! Wake Forest Demon Deacons and 2023 NCAA Champions Rachel Kuehn and Emilia Migliaccio (Photo by Alex Gelman) The power couple, David Ford and Amanda Sambach (Photo by Alex Gelman) They made it a spectacle; congratulations on a chemistry-filled week, Team International! (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Team USA did just enough to hold off a late Team International charge and win the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup 32-28 at Laurel Valley Golf Club.

It has been 24 hours and I’ve been trying to figure out how to properly put this down on paper. I’ve never had this much difficulty writing down my thoughts. It almost feels like the words are in pain too. With every demoralizing picture, post, story, and link I’ve seen, the same emotions and memories that flashed before me throughout last night did so all day today. For those of us who do call East Lansing home and/or have called East Lansing home and are currently far away, I want to personally thank the strength and bravery of all who are there and sharing their story. In the words of my mother, who has called East Lansing home for 40 years, “My heart breaks for the students on campus. What's been my lifelong happy place is now a place of trauma for them. It's so sad and needless.” And as she and over 700,000 other Spartans have said, Spartans Will. “When we speak about Spartans Will, it means that we will remain encouraged,” said one professor. “As a teacher, I hope I can be the calming voice to help them, and conversely, I hope they can inspire me too,” said another. I have dedicated my social media channels to sharing as much from others as I can. After this next text that I wrote in the moment last night, the remainder of this post will include images from members of our Spartan community that have struck me to the core. “Thank you to everyone who is leading by example and looking out for one another and confirming/deny everything coming out. When tragedies like this continue to happen in the only country in the world where this is a major societal issue, leaders emerge taller than ever. Anyone that knows me knows how much my roots run in my blood and everything I do. I was born and raised in East Lansing. All but about 24 months of my life has been spent in East Lansing. Many of my family members and friends, including my entire immediate family and me, are Spartans. Each building that gets named conjures up specific memories that are now flashing before me. Policymakers, administrators, rule-makers: It will continue to amaze me how communities combine to do more work than the people that enact how we are ‘supposed’ to live our lives. WHEN WILL THIS END?” Our School. Our Community. Our Spartans. 🙏💚🤍 P.S. - See this link for Requiem for the Spartans, bone-chillingly-written by The Atlantic's Tim Alberta, an MSU graduate himself. More images taken by others from this week: I was fortunate enough to watch the Vigil at the Rock on Wednesday evening live via the university's livestream. It meant the world to me to be able to be there with my family and friends in spirit. Each school and each community, include those close to us in Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, means more than words can express. Even knowing that the Spartans and Wolverines will be playing a basketball game in Ann Arbor this Saturday, the University of Michigan's Vigil for MSU means an infinite amount. Thank you 🙏💚🤍💙💛 Members of my extended family are both Broncos and Spartans, so this means so much 🙏💚🤍🤎💛

Since beginning work with the GCAA in October 2021, these last two Decembers have been whirlwind journeys traveling-wise. Both of those months presented unprecedented challenges for my colleagues and I, but this post will focus on my experiences this past December. The month began in Las Vegas for the 2022 GCAA National Convention. This wasn't my second time attending both the convention and city, this time with more responsibility than the last. Through very long hours during a stretch of an entire week and vital teamwork among all staff members, we accomplished new heights in new spaces. Big things are coming for the sport and our association, and I'm thankful to all who continue supporting us. After spending almost eight full days back in Oklahoma, I got to (safely) make it home to Michigan for some of the holidays! The weather outside was definitely frightening, but the views were exciting:) Very glad I was able to get out and capture them, many on Christmas Day itself. I then flew out to Phoenix on December 26, one of a seemingly few who made it unscathed and with all of their luggage at the same time and place, to be an essential member of the 2022 Patriot All-America/inaugural Thunderbolt invitationals. Due to airline and weather issues, I along with two of our traveling interns ended up being the lone representatives of the GCAA for the six-day trip. My main task was being an/the official photographer for the Thunderbolt, held at Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club in Surprise, AZ. "The Golf Course is a world-class (Jack) Nicklaus Design course, operated by the renowned Troon Golf Management Services and designed to be enjoyed by golf enthusiasts and newcomers alike." Hope you loved the content I captured as much as I and social media did! Before taking the rental car, myself, and my luggage to the airport to head back to Oklahoma on 01/01/2023, I made an afternoon seeing Phoenix's main professional stadiums, including State Farm Stadium (NFL's Cardinals), Chase Field (MLB's Diamondbacks), and Footprint Center (WNBA's Mercury and NBA's Suns). State Farm Stadium was the home of the CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, a classic 51-45 victory for TCU over previously-undefeated Michigan. I found a couple of keepsakes as I walked around the exterior of the stadium, one that will be hosting Super Bowl LVII in one month's time. Even though it was chilly (per Arizona standards) and wet for much of the week, I had a great time in my second-ever trip to the Patriot All-America!