Solheim Cup
From PING Junior Solheim Cup to the Solheim Cup
By Tim Jackman (@AJGAJackman), AJGA Communications
On Monday evening, the U.S. Solheim Cup team was finalized with the announcement of the final two captain’s picks. In all, 12 women from the United States will travel to St. Leon-Rot Golf Club in Germany to compete against the 12 best women from Europe in a match play format similar to the Ryder Cup.
Of the 12 United States players, nine are AJGA alumni. An even more important note is that six of the alumnae played at least once on the United States team for the PING Junior Solheim Cup. The PING Junior Solheim Cup is traditionally played in the same area as the Solheim Cup. This year it will be held at the same golf course for the first time in the event’s history.
Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang, Lexi Thompson, Alison Lee, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel all took part in the PING Junior Solheim Cup during their junior careers.
Lee is the only newcomer to the team, but she has plenty of experience in international match play. The U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup team was undefeated with her on it in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Another interesting notes is that in 2002 Pressel helped win a foursomes match against European foe Azahara Munoz. Munoz will be competing in the Solheim Cup this year for the European team.
Paula Creamer
Years played: 2002 and 2003 (Record: 4-2-0)
Lexi Thompson
Years played: 2009 (Record: 3-0-0)
Brittany Lang
Years played: 2002 (Record: 1-1-1)
Alison Lee
Years played: 2009, 2011, 2013 (Record: 3-5-1)
Brittany Lincicome
Years played: 2002, 2003 (Record: 2-4-0)
Morgan Pressel
Years played: 2002, 2005 (Record: 4-0-2)
A few stories from PING Junior Solheim Cup
By Roseanna Smith, AJGA Communications @AJGASmith
During the PING Junior Solheim Cup Opening Ceremonies, founder John Solheim advised both teams to “enjoy everything; you are playing
for the future.”
Kathy Whitworth, 88-time winner and captain of the first two
Solheim Cups, knows a little about that.
During her time at the podium, Whitworth told the story of
her invitation to captain the junior American team. She told Solheim she was flattered
and honored, but wouldn’t someone else be a better fit? Purportedly, he replied: ‘We wanted to have a
little history.’ ”
“I am history,” she
said to chuckles in the audience, but Whitworth represents a little of each
past, present and future during this special week.
Kids and grandparents in the audience craned their necks to catch
a glimpse of the official 2013 teams, who marched to music from a traditional
bagpiper. One little girl even stood on her chair to better see the matching
squads. During Monday’s Junior-Am presented by Transamerica, some of the
amateurs were barely into high school themselves – at least a few probably
spent the afternoon texting their friends the highlights of the round they
played with some of the best junior girls in the world.
Volunteers during the first two sets of matches come not just
from Denver – but from around the country. The trio from Hot Springs Village, Ark., (Molly
Crawshaw, Cathy Walsh and Debbie Johnson), will work all week to add the PING
Junior Solheim Cup and Solheim Cup to their list of 31 years of golf
volunteerism. They aren’t just casual fans – they cheer and take notice,
especially of juniors they’ve seen in the past – and they are good golfers who have
been excited about the week for most of this year as well.
This morning on the turn, Peyton Mogevero (12), Sydney
Szarka (12), Sydney Rothstein (9) and Brynn Rothstein (5) were responsible for
the nutritional needs of the American and European teams. They paired peanut
butter and jelly with an autograph session – insider alert: strawberry on wheat
was most popular.
Mogevero worked her post this morning and walked this
afternoon as a standard bearer for a telling reason. “I like talking to pro
golfers and I need some community service for National Honor Society.”
As #GoUSA and #GoEurope teams take heed: the next generation
is watching, especially this week. And even though this event is for juniors,
to the galleries, the players are already pros.
No matter the face paint, home country or state, people come to witness the spirit of this week’s story. Part of it are the matches on the golf course, but many memories are made in unexpected ways.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story … unfolding tomorrow.
AJGA Blog 