University of Stirling golfer selected for Arnold Palmer Cup

University of Stirling golfer George Cannon has been selected for the international team set to take on the United States at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Cup.

George is the only men’s player in Team International to be based outside of the United States – underlining Stirling’s coveted position as a leader in student golf in the UK and Europe.

It comes just days after George secured a third-place finish at the 60th Lytham Trophy, at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire. Finishing one over par, he tied third with Ben Bolton, just five shots off winner Lauri Rosendahl (-4) and three off second-placed Karl Erik Tjarnberg (-2). He also finished second in the Order of Merit of this season’s highly competitive R&A Student Tour Series.

George's selection further enhances the University's exciting summer of sport, which includes athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Head of Golf Dean Robertson captaining Great Britain and Ireland at the Walker Cup. 

George, 23, has been on the high-performance golf programme at Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – for five years, having studied a BA (Hons) Business Studies and now working towards a MSc Business and Management.

Ecstatic

Dean Robertson, Head of Golf at the University of Stirling, said: “George is ecstatic and this achievement is recognition of all the hard work and progression he has shown over recent years at Stirling. It’s great news for George and I’m absolutely thrilled for him. He has enjoyed a fantastic season, and this is a brilliant opportunity for him to showcase his talents on the global stage.

“We’re wishing him all the best as he joins golfers from around the world to take on the United States in this prestigious competition.”

Arnold Palmer Cup

The Arnold Palmer Cup – founded in 1997 – is a Ryder Cup-format tournament for top university golfers from across the globe, pitting the United States against a team comprised of international players. Often a milestone for up-and-coming golfers, many who have competed in the event have gone on to play on the PGA, LPGA, and European Tour. The United States leads the all-time series with 15 wins, to International’s 13, and one draw.

Several golf scholars from Stirling have competed in the Cup, including Graeme Robertson, Hazel MacGarvie and Lorna McClymont, and last year, Ross Laird lifted the trophy with Team International after a brilliant performance in South Carolina.

Arnold Palmer Cup teams comprise 12 men and 12 women. There are only two Europe-based players in Team International – George and Caitlin Maurice, of the University of St Andrews.

Team International selections (university; home country): Nguyen Anh Minh (Oregon State; Vietnam), Daniel Bennett (Texas; South Africa), Vanessa Borovilos (Texas A&M; Canada), Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio (Texas A&M; Spain), Paula Francisco (Florida; Spain), Connor Graham (Texas Tech; Scotland), Veronika Kedronova (Kent State; Czech Republic), Lauren Kim (Texas; Canada), Marie Eline Madsen (NC State; Denmark), Rianne Malixi (Duke; Philippines), Maria Jose Marin (Arkansas; Colombia), Paula Martín Sampedro (Stanford; Spain), Malan Potgieter (Louisiana; South Africa), Luke Poulter (Florida; England), Patience Rhodes (Arizona State; England), Niall Sheils Donegan (North Carolina; Scotland), Árni Sveinsson (LSU; Iceland), Zack Swanwick (Florida; New Zealand), Harry Takis (San Diego State; Australia), Tim Wiedemeyer (Texas Tech; Germany), Caitlin Maurice (St Andrews; New Zealand) and George Cannon (Stirling; Scotland).

The 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup will be played Friday 3 July – Sunday 5 July at Tralee Golf Links in West Barrow, Ireland.

Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence

The University of Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. Through the powerful and inspirational combination of performance sport, recreational sport, research and education, we are delivering medals on the world stage, improving the health and wellbeing of the nation, and producing the next generation of leaders within sport.

At Stirling, athletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, a state-of-the-art indoor golf studio, unrivalled outdoor space, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suites. In addition to its coaching and facilities, Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme – one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK – offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 – with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. Core sports include golf, tennis, triathlon, football, swimming, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.

Read more about sports scholarships at the University of Stirling.