The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is proud to announce Army Navy Country Club as the host venue for the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup.
Modeled after the Solheim Cup, the PING Junior Solheim Cup biennially features the 12 top-ranked female junior golfers (ages 12-18) from the United States against their counterparts from Europe. The team match play event includes foursomes, four-ball and singles matches played over two days and rotates between U.S. and European host sites coinciding with the Solheim Cup. Next year’s event will include both teams watching the Solheim Cup matches at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.
Army Navy Country Club – Arlington will host the 13th edition of this historic event. The course which opened in 1924 will celebrate its centennial in 2024. Famous past and current members of the club include former Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. The par 71 golf course is known for its views of downtown Washington D.C. including the Washington Monument.
“Army Navy Country Club, steeped in history and military heritage, is honored to host the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2024,” Patrick S. King, General Manager/Chief Operating Officer Army Navy Country Club said. “It seems fitting to open our doors to the top junior lady golfers in the world in conjunction with the celebration of the Club’s centennial.”
The 100-year celebration will culminate with the PING Junior Solheim Cup where Team Europe will look to win three cups in a row next year – having won the 2021 edition in Ohio and the 2023 event in Spain.
Since 2002, the PING Junior Solheim Cup has brought together the next generation of women’s golfers in a Team USA vs. Team Europe match play tournament.
“We’re very excited to bring the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup to the Army Navy Country Club – Arlington,” said John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “It’s a beautiful and historic club near our nation’s capital that will serve as the backdrop for a challenging and exciting tournament.
“I’m looking forward to cheering on the talented young ladies as they compete in this spirited tournament. There is nothing like playing for team and country in the Junior Solheim Cup, and I am inspired each year by the grace under pressure that these golfers demonstrate. It’s a memorable experience for them and for everyone in attendance.”
In addition to featuring some of the world’s best female junior golfers, the PING Junior Solheim Cup is known for its iconic host venues including Gleneagles – Kings Course in Scotland, The Inverness Hotel & Golf Club in Englewood, Colorado, La Zagaleta Golf Club in Spain, and Bastad Golf Club in Sweden.
The United States leads the all-time PING Junior Solheim Cup series 7-4-1 and had won six consecutive matches until Europe won for the first time on foreign soil in 2021. Team Europe, led by LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam, took the cup home at Sylvania Country Club in Ohio with a final score of 13-11.
The 2015 United States Team was the first team to win on foreign soil, 13-11, at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in St. Leon-Rot, Germany, setting the stage for the 2019 United States’ team’s 13-11 win at Gleneagles.
AJGA alumnae who have graduated from the PING Junior Solheim Cup to the Solheim Cup on Team USA include Rose Zhang, Andrea Lee, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Brittany Lang, Alison Lee, Yealimi Noh, Angel Yin, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson.
Rose Zhang and Andrea Lee made their Solheim Cup debuts as rookies this year. Lee competed on the Junior Solheim Cup team in 2013 and 2015, while Zhang competed on the US team in 2017 and 2019. Each earned Rolex Junior Player of the Year honors in their junior careers (Zhang – 2020,2019/ Lee – 2014).
