Andrew Coltart to lead Europe’s Palmer Cup team

ANDREW Coltart, the former Ryder Cup player who is now involved in mentoring promising Scottish amaters, has been appointed as coach of Europe’s team for the next two instalments of the Palmer Cup, a Ryder Cup-style college contest.

Following in the spikemarks of compatriot Dean Robertson, who held the post in 2009 and 2010, Coltart will be at the helm for both this year’s match, at Wilmington Country Club, and the 2014 encounter at Walton Heath.

“There is no greater honour as a player than to represent your Continent, and for a European no bigger test than to compete against America,” said Coltart.

“Europe and America have some incredible talent which will be on display at Wilmington Country Club in June and I look forward to joining up with Philip Rowe (his assistant) and the European players to do battle in a manner in which Mr [Arnold] Palmer would be very proud.”

Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson, who helped Europe win last year’s contest at Royal County Down, will be aiming to be on Coltart’s team, as will fellow 
Stirling University student Jack McDonald.

The winner of the R&A Bursars Championship gets an automatic spot while others in with a chance of making the team could include Chris Robb, who is at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and Scottish Amateur champion and University of San Diego student Grant Forrest. “Competition is tough,” added Coltart, who faced the Americans in both the Walker Cup and Ryder Cup in 1991 and 1999 respectively.

Englishman Rowe is the assistant coach at Stanford so knows the college scene well.