NORMAN, Okla. -- Brigham Young's Clay Ogden, Ryan Baca of Baylor, Duke's Ryan Blaum, Roberto Castro and Kevin Larsen of Georgia Tech, Georgia's Brian Harman and Chris Kirk, and Luke List of Vanderbilt have been selected to represent the United States in the 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be held June 29-30, on the 6,544 yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, Scotland. Georgia Head Coach Chris Haack has been named to lead Team USA, his second stint as Palmer Cup coach.
Ogden becomes only the second Cougar to be invited to play on the Palmer Cup team. The other was four-time All-American and former PGA tour player Andy Miller in the summer of 2000.
"I'm really excited," Ogden said. "This is a great honor to go over to Scotland and represent the U.S. and BYU golf. It should be a great opportunity for me."
"I'm really happy with the team that we've put together for this Palmer Cup," said Haack. "Not only do we have experienced players who are having great college seasons, but we have guys who have competed in Palmer Cups, Walker Cups and The Masters. Hopefully we will have as much success as we did last time I coached."
Blaum and Castro each posted 3-1 records in last year's Palmer Cup and teamed up for a four-ball victory in the event's opening round. Castro also served as team captain while Blaum was assistant captain. Haack - the only U.S. coach to have been selected twice to coach Team USA - previously served in 2002 when he lead the Americans to a 15.5-8.5 victory at Doonbeg Golf Club in Ireland.
Baca, Harman, Kirk, Larsen, List and Ogden will be competing in their first Palmer Cup.
Team USA leads the Palmer Cup series 5-3-1