America Wins USA-China Friendship Cup

America Wins USA-China Friendship Cup

7/29/2006

Vanderbilt rising sophomore Jacqui Concolino defeated China’s Zhou Xiaoxuan 6 and 5 and America routed China, claiming 9 1/2 of the round’s 12 points Saturday to win the inaugural USA China Friendship Cup at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif.

Team USA won the three-day competition by a wide margin, 25 1/2 – 10 1/2.

Seven of the eight American men won their singles matches with China, while USA’s Ben Fox halved his match. 

Arizona State’s Jennifer Osborn was the only other American woman besides Concolino to defeat China on Saturday, posting a 2-up victory over Huang Ping. Kristi Piepenbrink of Division II’s Indianapolis dropped a 6 and 5 decision while Kimbra Kosak of Division III’s Gustavus Adolphus suffered a 5 and 4 setback.

Team USA consisted on eight men and four women — all entering their sophomore season on the collegiate level.

Concolino was named to the Team USA squad in late June following a standout freshman season with the Commodores. The Orlando, Fla., native who ended the year ranked 12th nationally, received second team All-America honors from both Golfweek magazine and the National Golf Coaches Association. She won two tournaments in the spring season and recorded strong finishes in both the Southeastern Conference Championship (fourth) and the NCAA East Regional (tie for 10th).

Concolino helped lead the 2005-06 Vanderbilt women’s golf team that finished No. 14 in the nation according to Golfweek magazine.  Six letterwinners will return for the 2006-07 campaign. Vanderbilt’s first tournament of the coming fall season will be the Mason Rudolph Championship, Sept. 15-17, at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin.

USA China Friendship Cup
Final Round Results
Oak Valley Golf Club
Beaumont, Calif.

United States 25 1/2
China 10 1/2
Final Round Singles Results
Bronson Burgoon, USA def. Wu Ashun, China, 5 and 4
Sam Cyr, USA def. Ye Jianfeng, China, 3 and 1
Chris Moore, USA def. Hu Mu, China, 3 and 1
Chris Killmer, USA def. Fu Zhongyang, China, 5 and 4
Brett Willis, USA def. Han Ren, China, 4 and 2
Cameron Tringale, USA def. He Zeyu, China, 4 and 3
Brian Locke, USA def. Yang Wenzhang, China, 3 and 2
Ben Fox, USA halved Su Dong, China
Yang Taoli, China def. Kimbra Kosak, USA, 5 and 4
Li Wei, China def. Kristi Piepenbrink, USA, 6 and 5
Jacqui Concolino, USA def. Zhou Xiaoxuan, China, 6 and 5
Jennifer Osborn, USA def. Huang Ping, China, 2-up