The name Arnold Palmer was on the leader board again this week and the world of golf felt good about it. Palmer and grandson Sam Saunders finished the Del Webb Father-Son Challenge at Champions Gate near Orlando at 18-under and tied for sixth place behind winners Larry and Josh Nelson at 24-under.
According to Phil Stambaugh’s news story posted on www.pgatour.com, “One of the feel-good stories of the week came from 78-year-old Arnold Palmer and grandson Sam Saunders, who enjoyed their best finish in their five-year history in the event. Behind the prodigious length and the maturing game of Saunders -- a Clemson sophomore -- Palmer and Saunders followed their opening-round 62 with a 63 to finish tied for sixth. Their previous best finish in the event was 12th-place finishes in 2003 and 2004.”
“It's been a while (since I played),” Palmer said. “Sam played really well, there's no doubt about that. Once in a while I was there for him to tap in a putt for a birdie or par."
The strong finish came on the heels of the announcement that Palmer will be honored January 14 in Orlando by the Golf Coaches Association of America as only the third non-coach to earn its Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into its Hall of Fame.
"I am certainly looking forward to receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golf Coaches Association of America," Palmer said. "I consider it a particular honor in as much as my golf at Wake Forest played a major role in leading me into a career in professional golf. I have kept in close contact touch with collegiate golf through the years and was very pleased to lend my name to the Palmer Cup when it was founded a decade ago."
Palmer joins Karsten Solheim and Byron Nelson as previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The GCAA's marquee event, The Palmer Cup presented by Monster, is named in Palmer's honor. The annual event between top college players from the U.S. and Europe was first held in 1997 and has become one of the most widely respected amateur events in the world. Additionally, the national championship medalist in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the NAIA, are honored with the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway Golf.