Razorbacks fill Palmer Cup field in France

FAYETTEVILLE — Maria Fassi, Dylan Kim and Alana Uriell will represent the University of Arkansas women’s golf team and their respective countries July 6-8 at the 2018 Palmer Cup at Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France.

Senior-to-be Maria Fassi was the top pick for the international team, while graduate Alana Uriell and rising senior Dylan Kim were committee selections for the United States. Razorback men’s golfer Alvaro Ortiz was an automatic pick on the men’s international team bringing the Arkansas total to four players — more representatives than any other college program.

Fassi played her way to six individual titles this season while leading the Razorbacks to seven team titles in 11 events. The Pachuca, Mexico, native became the first player in program history to win the Annika Award, given to the top player in college golf each year. Her other honors include Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American, Southeastern Conference Women’s Golfer of the Year and First-Team All-SEC.

Kim was one of the most consistent players for Arkansas in its record-setting season. A transfer from Plano, Texas, she finished the year second on the team with a 71.56 stroke average and earned First-Team All-SEC honors. Kim was also named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and to the WGCA All-Scholar Team.

Uriell graduated in May after four seasons with the Razorbacks. She and Kim joined Fassi on the WGCA All-America team and the All-SEC First Team. Uriell finished the season with a 72.96 stroke average and led the team counting 33 of 34 rounds.

The Palmer Cup takes place July 6-8, at the Evian Resort Golf Club, the host of the Ladies Professional Golf Association major, The Evian Championship. The top six golfers from the final ranking in the Spring from both the United States and International men and women — 12 total golfers — make up the 24 individuals selected to compete in the Arnold Palmer Cup.

The 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup will be the first using the expanded format of United States men’s and women’s collegiate golfers versus their counterparts from around the world.

Using Golfstat’s NCAA Player Ranking as a base, the Arnold Palmer Cup Ranking awards bonus points for wins and high finishes and a penalty for poor finishes. The ranking also contains a strength of schedule component.

The remaining six men’s and women’s spots for the United States consist of five committee selections, including at least one non-Division I golfer and a coach’s pick. The balance of the international team will include the men’s and women’s winners of The R&A Scholars Tournament, four committee selections and a coach’s pick.