Team USA, Blayne Barber Win 2011 Palmer Cup - AuburnTigers.com - Auburn University Official Athletic Site

Team USA, Blayne Barber Win 2011 Palmer Cup Rising Auburn junior Blayne Barber rallied from mid-round deficit to draw Ignacio

Blayne Barber

June 11, 2011

GREENWICH, Conn. - Rising Auburn junior Blayne Barber again bounced back from a mid-round deficit at the 2011 Palmer Cup, finishing all square with Texas A&M's Ignacio "Nacho" Elvira, as Team USA defeated Team Europe, 13-11, at the Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn.

Barber trailed Elvira for the bulk of the round until back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 gave the Lake City, Fla., native his first lead of the day. Elvira managed to fight back to square over the remaining holes, splitting the point with Auburn's First Team All-SEC Selection.

"Blayne has been playing some very strong golf this off season," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "There is a reason he is the 13th-ranked amateur in the world. He's out there having fun doing what he loves to do, that's just play golf."

"This was an incredible opportunity for Blayne. The kind of experience you get from playing events like this is immeasurable."

The Americans trailed Europe, 8.5-7.5, following Friday singles play, but were able to storm back with match play wins from Florida's Bank Vongvanij, UCLA's Patrick Cantley, Washington's Chris Williams, Oregon's Daniel Miernicki and Stanford's Andrew Yun.

Barber is the first Auburn golfer to earn a place in the annual, Ryder Cup-style competition.

Barber concluded his first season on The Plains with a 70.91 scoring average, second all-time at Auburn behind Buddy Gardner's 70.90 in 1976 and the lowest for any Auburn golfer in 34 years. Barber's 13 rounds in the 60s this season tied him for the most in a single season with former Tiger Patton Kizzire during his 2007 SEC Championship run.

Barber also moved into third all-time at Auburn with 16 sub-par rounds this season.