Germany’s Paula Schulz-Hanßen and Denmark’s Amalie Leth-Nissen were full of pride as they talked through their PING Junior Solheim Cup victory.
Both Europeans played in their second consecutive PING Junior Solheim Cup this year and guided their teammates with experience and passion.
“What we were able to bring from Gleneagles into this week was to play for yourself. If you’re not good as an individual, I can’t play for my team,” said Leth-Nissen, who was speaking at Inverness Club.
Schulz-Hanßen added: “The whole week is so overwhelming that it was great to have this experience two years ago. Just like Amalie said, find your routine and do it the way you always do. Just accept all the new experiences to help you grow as a personality.”
The German-Danish duo played together in both Wednesday matches, having lost the morning fourballs theybounced back with a 6&5 win in the afternoon foursomes.
In the singles matches, the 18-year-old German then secured the first point of the final day while the 16-year-old Danish fought until the end to bring home the last half point for Europe to win 13-11.
The European Team knew they had won the 2021 edition of the event before Leth-Nissen holed her last putt on the 18th green.
Czechia’s Denisa Vodičková was the one to clinch the last point needed for victory as Team Europe turned around the score.
“We were all thinking about telling [Denisa] we needed her point but then decided not to, because that would be a lot of pressure on her. I think she felt we could have a chance to win because we were all so happy,” said Schulz-Hanßen as she was watching her teammate secure the win.
“When she won the match, we were all running up to her, and then she realized we actually won. I get goosebumps now, it’s so exciting, and I’m very happy.”
While Leth-Nissen was still battling in her match when she heard the cheers of her teammates.
She added: “I was at the 16th green when I heard a lot of screaming. I heard ‘Vamos’, so I was pretty sure it was the Europeans. Then I saw them running down the 17th fairway and I was pretty sure that we won. It was amazing to see the girls so happy, and also a big relief for me.”
Both rising stars agree that Captain Annika Sörenstam and Vice-Captain Nora Angehrn influenced them in the best way possible to make them believe and fight until the last moment.
“To have Annika as our Captain was a dream come true. I think we all have learned so much from her and I don’t think we could have a better Captain than Annika,” said Leth-Nissen, who also admitted that everyone on the team felt star-struck when they met Annika for the first time.
“She’s just so down to earth and really good at making everybody feel welcome and very comfortable. She told us from the beginning just to have fun and do our best, to walk like proud champions so it doesn’t matter if you win your match or not. Just move on from mistakes and be happy.”
Schulz-Hanßen commented on Vice-Captain Nora Angehrn: “She really trusted us so every time I saw her, she looked at me and said ‘Paula, just commit to your shot, I believe in you, and you can do it,’ so that was amazing.”
When the Europeans were losing 4-8 after the first day, they got all fired up for the final day and managed to showcase the biggest comeback in the event’s history.
“We came to the hotel and had a team meeting. The captains started by saying we did a great job even though we only got four points. Then Annika told us that this is not about winning, it’s about learning. It’s about growing as a person,” said Leth-Nissen.
“Then she said, ‘tomorrow we’re just going to give it all we can and have a great attitude, smile to each other, be great teammates, and walk like champions.”
With Team Europe needing at least 8.5 points to turn around the score to their advantage both players knew it could come down to their matches to decide the winners of this year’s edition.
Schulz-Hanßen said: “Nora came to me after the 15th hole when I was all square and she said, ‘the others are doing a great job so I’m going to spend a few holes with you and we’re going to get you a point’.
“I then holed a nine-metre putt, and she was just cheering and hyping me up so crazy. Then I had another birdie, and I won my match. Annika was next to the green too and I was so proud to be able to do that in front of Nora and Annika. It was a great moment.”
