Milligan first OU woman golfer to compete in USA’s Arnold Palmer Cup

NORMAN -- Kaitlin Milligan accepted an invitation to represent the United States in the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup, it was announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America on recently. The junior will become the third Sooner to compete in the event, but the first on the women’s side. Kaitlin is the daughter of Dr. Michael and Kristi (Herdlitchka) Milligan of Norman. Kristi is a Holdenville High School graduate.

The prestigious tournament was to be played on July 3-5 at Lahinch Golf Club in but has been postponed until December and will feature the best amateur golfers in the world, pitting Team USA against an International squad in a Ryder Cup-style event.

“To be able to play in the Arnold Palmer Cup is the opportunity of a lifetime.” Milligan said. “To represent the United States in an event this big is a dream come true. I’m so honored to be selected as part of the team and am excited to compete at this level. I’m also excited to build relationships with teammates and other players in this setting that will last throughout our careers.”

Milligan is Sooner born and raised, growing up in Norman. She played prep golf at Norman North, winning the 2017 6A state title. At OU, Milligan has closed down on nearly every school record. As a freshman, she shot a 62 (-10) in the opening round of the Westbrook Invitational to set the OU and Big 12 record for the all-time low score. In her next season in Norman she produced a stroke average of 72.50, the fourth-lowest in OU history en route to an All-Big 12 selection and victory at the NCAA Norman Regional in the spring. Now, as a junior she has received an invitation to play in the 2020 Augusta National Women’s Amateur this upcoming spring.

“It’s such a great honor for Kaitlin to go represent the United States in an event like the Arnold Palmer Cup.” Sooners’ coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell said. “We’re so excited for her and the opportunity she’ll have this summer. She will represent Sooner Nation well in Ireland.”

For the Norman, Oklahoma, native the Palmer Cup will serve as a bridge to her senior season and Lahinch will provide a challenging test for Milligan. Lahinch Golf Club was founded in 1892 and is consistently ranked in the Top 50 golf courses in world golf. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris, the services of Dr. Alister MacKenzie were retained in 1926 to redesign the course, following which he declared “Lahinch will make the finest and most popular golf course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed.”

Brad Dalke (2018) and Quade Cummins (2019) have represented the Sooners in the men’s Palmer Cup, and men’s head coach Ryan Hybl led the 2018 Team USA squad as the coach after playing in the event in 2002, making MIlligan’s opportunity even more unique.

“I’m thankful for the selection committee for selecting me and giving me the opportunity to play on the team. I’m thankful for my coaches, family and teammates for pushing me every day and always believing in me.”

Milligan has finished in the top 20 at 15 of her last 18 career events as a Sooner.

Kaitlin has an incredible golf career at OU and here are some her records:

PERSONAL RECORDS AT OKLAHOMA

Lowest 18-hole score: 62, Westbrook Invitational (spring 2018)*

Lowest 54-hole score: 199, Westbrook Invitational (spring 2018)*

Top-10 finishes: 7, last: T1, NCAA Norman Regional (spring 2019)

Top-20 finishes: 14, last: T11, Schooner Fall Classic (fall 2019)

Best finish: T1, NCAA Norman Regional (spring 2019)

*denotes program record

JUNIOR (2019-20)

Competed in all seven events for Oklahoma, collecting a single-season stroke average of 71.40, a program record ... Started the season with six straight top-20 finishes ... Posted a seasonlow round of 64 at the Jim West Challenge to take hold of the two lowest rounds in Sooner history (62 & 64) ... Finished the shortened season ranked No. 58 by Golfstat ... Received invitations to the Augusta Women’s Amateur ... Named to Team USA’s Arnold Palmer Cup squad ... Earned first team Academic All-Big 12 honors ... WGCA Academic All-American ... Recipient of OU’s Athlete of the Year award.

SOPHOMORE (2018-19)

Saw action in 12 events, producing a stroke average of 72.50 - the fourth-lowest in program history...A 2018 All-Big 12 selection...Wrapped up her 2018-19 campaign ranked No. 43 in the national Golfstat rankings and No. 53 in the Golfweek collegiate rankings...Qualified for the 2019 NCAA Championships as an individual after winning the NCAA Norman Regional - her first collegiate victory...Strung together eight straight top-20 finishes from Sept. 30 through March 31, including five in the top 10...Took 66th in the NCAA Championship as an individual... Tied for fourth in the ASU Ping Invitational... Took seventh in the Westbrook Invitational... Tied for 10th at the Jim West Challenge...Finish in a tie for sixth at the Magnolia Invitational... Tied for fifth at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman.

FRESHMAN (2017-18)

Her 117 birdies were the second most in the 2017-18 by a Division I freshman and ranked in the top 20 among all DI golfers...Named Big 12 Golfer of the Month for February...Shot a 62 (-10) in the opening round of the Westbrook Invitational – the lowest round by a Division I golfer this season and the best round in both OU and Big 12 history...Took second place at the Westbrook Invitational after shooting a 54-hole total of 199 (-17), good for the lowest individual tournament score in school history… Competed in all post season events…Named a WGCA All-American scholar with a GPA over 3.5.

BEFORE COLLEGE

2017 Oklahoma Class 6A State Champion at Norman North High School...Member of the 2017 All-State Golf Team...Oklahoma 6A Regional champion in 2017 and 2014...Named the Oklahoman’s 2017 All-City Female Golfer of the Year...Daughter of Michael and Kristi Milligan...Has one younger sister, Maci...Plans to major in finance...While at Norman North, was a member of the National Honor Society.. Received the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence in 2014.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arnold Palmer Cup originally scheduled for July 3-5, at Lahinch Golf Club will be postponed, and the 2020 playing of this event rescheduled to take place at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida on December 21-23, 2020. The matches will return to Bay Hill Club, host of the inaugural playing of the Arnold Palmer Cup in 1997. Lahinch Golf Club will now host in 2024.

Mindful of the difficult and challenging time for everyone coping with the effects of this pandemic, it is hoped that rescheduling to December will allow the matches to be played in 2020. The guidance of leading public health authorities will dictate any further changes to the schedule, with this competition only taking place if it is safe and responsible to do so.

Renowned for having been the winter home of Arnold Palmer, Bay Hill Club & Lodge combines world-class golf in an exclusive club setting. The Par 72, 7,381 yard Championship Course sweeps across 270 acres along the shores of the Butler Chain of Lakes. Since 1979, Bay Hill has been home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of the most popular tournaments on the PGA Tour. Arnold Palmer Cup alumni Francesco Molinari (2019) and Matt Every (2014-15) have claimed victory at Mr. Palmer’s tournament.

Amy Palmer Saunders commented, “We look forward to welcoming the top men and women collegiate golfers to Bay Hill. My father would have wanted to find a way to honor their excellence in these unprecedented times and hosting the rescheduled Arnold Palmer Cup at Bay Hill will be a fitting way to do so. While we are disappointed not to visit Lahinch this summer, we are thrilled that Lahinch has agreed to host in 2024. The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, which carries on the legacy of my parent’s philanthropic initiatives, and conducts the Arnold Palmer Cup with the GCAA, WGCA and Foundation partners Rolex and Nike, is so appreciative of their support during these trying times, as well as The R&A and USGA. We are also especially grateful for our collaboration with Lahinch Golf Club, its members and the Lahinch community, and their collective support for the Arnold Palmer Cup. We anticipate a wonderful Palmer Cup in 2024.”

Lahinch Golf Club was founded in 1892 and is consistently ranked in the top 50 golf courses in the world. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris, the services of Dr. Alister MacKenzie were retained in 1926 to redesign the course. MacKenzie declared “Lahinch will make the finest and most popular golf course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed.”

Padraig McInerney, Tournament Director at Lahinch Golf Club stated that “the postponement of this year’s Arnold Palmer Cup is perfectly understandable amidst this current pandemic. While it is a great disappointment for Lahinch Golf Club, its members and the entire local community we remain fully committed to the event and the wonderful concept of honouring young, talented golfers and, in doing so, providing them with the opportunity to experience international competition over some of the world’s great courses. We offer our congratulations to those honoured with selection in 2020 and look forward to continuing our relationship with the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, college golf and to hosting the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup.”