Team WPGA claims Palmer Cup
By Mike Dudurich • September 18, 2024
It was like so many other days when the Palmer Cup was contested at Latrobe Country Club.
Bright blue skies, a few clouds that were hardly noticeable and a refreshing breeze that made it even more comfortable.
It was almost as if someone was watching over the day from a much better place and wanted things to be perfect.
The 29th playing of the event was yet another reminder of how deep and lasting Arnold Palmer’s influence was on this place and the game of golf.
Greensburg’s Kevin Fajt, who nearly won the WPGA’s Open Championship at Indiana Country Club earlier this summer, halved the day, winning with Darin Kowalski in the morning four-ball dropping a 4 & 3 singles match to Allegheny Country Club’s John Aber in the afternoon.
“I really wanted to go 2-0, but John was tough, as he always is,” Fajt said. “He was very steady, but I just wasn’t very good in the afternoon. But that really wasn’t the most important thing about today. It was about remembering Mr. Palmer and I certainly did that a lot today. It certainly was very meaningful for me.”
Dan Braun, the former professional at Indiana Country Club and now the very successful coach of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s men’s golf team, has played in the event four times and it’s always been the same.
“Once I started not playing as much, I realized that I might never get back here again and that was very sad. But when I got the phone call telling me that I had qualified for the team, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. This is such an honor for me.”
A big reason for him being honored was that his father and Palmer had a connection and young Dan learned a great deal from his dad about the greatness of Palmer, both as a man and as one of the best to ever play the game.
“Absolutely, every time you play, you want to win,” he said. “But in this event, that’s not the most important thing. Getting to compete here against the outstanding amateurs is awesome and even better, you can feel Mr. Palmer’s presence here. You really can.”
Devin Gee has experienced many memorable moments in his role as golf professional at Oakmont Country Club. He was the host pro when the U.S. Open was held there in 2016 and will be again when the Open is held there next year.
He can also grasp the significance of things, especially when he gets the opportunity to play Latrobe CC.
“This is a very meaningful event for me. I’ve had a ton of memorable moments here, especially playing with (Bob, longtime head pro Bob Ford),” Gee said. “Then this year I have two of my assistants – Alex Aulerich and Jack Ramsett – playing in front and behind he it’s even more special.
“It’s certainly not the same for the younger guys,” Gee said. “But with them being in Western Pennsylvania, they are probably more aware about Mr. Palmer than most people their age. It’s just really so cool.”
The West Penn Golf Association was able to withstand a furious push to the finish line by the Tri-State pros, who won the final three matches to make it close, but by then the West Penn amateurs had built a 5-2 lead in the morning four-balls.
The result was a 9.5-7.5 victory for the ams, their second straight win in the competition.
A live leaderboard for the Palmer Cup Matches can be found here. (GGID: 2024PALMERCUP)
For media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and 34,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.