Cayman’s Justin Hastings led a team of rising international golf stars to victory in the prestigious Arnold Palmer Cup this weekend — a perfect warm-up for his history-making appearance at the US Open later this week.
Hastings, the first Caymanian to compete in the event, was the stand-out performer, with an unblemished 4-0 record in the team tournament that pits the best international college golfers against the best of the US.
The 21-year-old has excelled for San Diego State in collegiate golf and took that form into the tournament at the Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina. Team International triumphed 35-25 over Team USA in the three-day event, which follows a Ryder Cup-style format.
Congrats to Justin Hastings for going 4-0 and leading the Internationals to a 35-25 win over USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup!
Release: https://t.co/kOuCtovzHG pic.twitter.com/Mgx2vTlcej
— San Diego State Men’s Golf (@AztecMGolf) June 8, 2025
Hastings told the Compass Sunday it has been an “unbelievable experience” and the ideal preparation for the US Open in Pennsylvania this week.
“Being around some of the best amateur golfers in the world for a week, being able to call them teammates, and now good friends, I think is really what that tournament is about,” he said.
His performance in a high-profile, high-pressure environment has also given him an added confidence boost going into one of the biggest tournaments in the sport.
“I feel prepared for the US Open. Going 4 and 0 and hitting some clutch shots when it really mattered is something I will lean on this week,” he added.
“I am looking forward to testing myself against the best of the best once again.”
In a separate interview, reported through the San Diego State sports website, he said putting points on the board for his team, helping the Internationals to win in the US for the first time since 2020, had been satisfying.
“This is my first time playing this event, and this is probably the most fun I’ve had playing golf. I can’t think of any time I’ve had more fun than this, so to be a part of the winning team and do it on American soil feels good,” he said.
US Open ambitions
Hastings made his major debut at the US Masters in Augusta, Georgia, in April, narrowly missing the cut in a dramatic tournament that was won by Rory McIlroy, who completed a career grand slam in the process.
With that appearance, Hastings followed in the footsteps of his friend and national teammate Aaron Jarvis to become the second Caymanian to compete at the Masters. At the famous Oakmont Country Club course in Pennsylvania this weekend, he will make his own piece of history as the first Caymanian to compete at the US Open.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, serial winner Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will lead an all-star field for the tournament starting Thursday.
The possibility of Hastings and some of the competitors at the Arnold Palmer Cup being spoken of in the same breath in the near future is genuine.
Since its inception, over 245 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on professional tours and 46 have competed in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup or Solheim Cup.
Hastings aims to go pro later this year. His victory in the Latin America Amateur Championship in Argentina in January won him entry to the US Masters, US Open and the Open Championship in the UK — three of golf’s four major championships. But his entry depends on him maintaining his amateur status.
