The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) named eight top junior girls to the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup United States team.
The first eight players were selected based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings as of Tuesday, July 21. The final four spots on the U.S. Team are reserved for Morgan Pressel’s captain’s picks on Tuesday, August 4.
Earning entry through the Rolex AJGA Rankings were:
- Asterisk Talley of Chowchilla, California
- Amelie Zalsman of St. Petersburg, Florida
- Eliana Saga of Stevenson Ranch, California
- Lily Peng of San Ramon, California
- Anna Fang of San Diego, California
- Honorine Ferry of Flower Mound, Texas
- Kelly Zhang of Hillsborough, California
- Grace Carter of Jupiter, Florida
Of the eight girls selected, Talley brings valuable experience from both the 2023 and 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup teams. In 2023, the U.S. Team fell to Europe, 15–9, in Spain. The following year, Talley helped the U.S. Team rebound with a dominant 18.5–5.5 victory over the Europeans in the 2024 competition. Fang is also a returning PING Junior Solheim Cup team member, having represented the United States in 2024.
Modeled after the Solheim Cup, the PING Junior Solheim Cup biennially features the 12 best 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. For the first time ever, the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup will be contested on the same course as The Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands. The junior event will take place September 7 through 8, immediately before The Solheim Cup, which runs September 9 through 13.
LPGA Tour major champion Morgan Pressel will serve as the captain of the United States Team at the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup. Pressel makes history as the first former U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup participant to be named captain, bringing a unique perspective to the role after competing in the event herself in 2002 and 2005. During her two appearances, she helped the U.S. Team earn victories in both competitions and compiled an undefeated 4-0-2 record.
Pressel’s connection to the Solheim Cup extends well beyond her junior career. A six-time member of the United States Solheim Cup Team, she represented her country from 2007 through 2019 and established herself as one of the fiercest competitors in international team golf. Her success on the LPGA Tour includes a victory at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship (now The Chevron Championship), where, at age 18, she became the youngest winner of a modern LPGA Tour major championship.
Before turning professional, Pressel was one of the most accomplished junior golfers in AJGA history. The 2005 Rolex Junior Player of the Year and five-time Rolex Junior All-American captured 13 AJGA titles and became the youngest player at the time to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open at just 12 years old. Her decorated career, combined with her extensive Solheim Cup experience, makes her an ideal leader for the next generation of American talent.
The United States Team will be co-captained by AJGA Player Services Manager Sidney Jockisch. Jockisch played collegiate golf at Northern Illinois University, where she developed a passion for competition and mentorship through the game. In her role with the AJGA, she works closely with junior golfers and their families, helping guide them throughout their junior golf journey. Most recently, Jockisch served as the West Team Assistant Captain at the 2026 Wyndham Cup at Old Sandwich Golf Club, bringing valuable leadership and team event experience to the United States squad.
Anne van Dam will captain the European team at the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup. She represented Europe in both the 2013 PING Junior Solheim Cup and the victorious 2019 Solheim Cup team, bringing valuable experience to the squad of 12 junior Europeans. The Dutch Olympian and five-time Ladies European Tour winner will lead the team on home soil as the event is held in the Netherlands for the first time.
The United States leads the all-time PING Junior Solheim Cup series with an 8-4-1 record. Team Europe claimed victory the last time the event was held outside the United States, winning in Spain in 2023.
AJGA alumnae who have graduated from the PING Junior Solheim Cup to the Solheim Cup on U.S. Team include Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang, Alison Lee, Angel Yin, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Yealimi Noh and Lexi Thompson.
Asterisk Talley | Chowchilla, California
Class of 2027
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 1
Talley, a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, enters the competition as the No. 1 player in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, a position she has held for 16 consecutive weeks. The Stanford University commit owns eight career AJGA victories, highlighted by back-to-back wins at The Fortinet Stanford Girls Invitational hosted by Rose Zhang in 2025 and 2026. Talley brings significant team event experience, having represented the United States at the 2023 and 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup and competed in two Wyndham Cups.
Amelie Zalsman | St. Petersburg, Florida
Class of 2027
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 3
Zalsman, a three-time Rolex Junior All-American, has established herself as one of the nation’s top junior golfers with victories at the 2025 Rolex Girls Junior Championship and the 2024 Rolex Tournament of Champions. Her strong play has continued throughout 2026, as she has recorded top-five finishes in every AJGA start this season. The Wake Forest University commit earned runner-up honors at the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.
Eliana Saga | Stevenson Ranch, California
Class of 2027
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 6
Saga enters the event fresh off a victory at the 2026 RLX Ralph Lauren Junior Classic and owns three career AJGA titles.
The University of Southern California commit is a three-time Rolex Junior All-American, she has represented the West Team in each of the last two Wyndham Cups, adding valuable match-play experience to the roster.
Lily Peng | San Ramon, California
Class of 2027
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 7
Peng, a three-time Rolex Junior All-American, continues to build on an impressive junior career. Her resume includes a victory at the 2025 Kathy Whitworth Invitational, along with runner-up finishes at both the 2025 RLX Ralph Lauren Junior Classic and 2025 PING Invitational. The University of California, Los Angeles commit most recently finished tied for ninth at the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship after also recording a T9 finish at the RLX Ralph Lauren Junior Classic.
Anna Fang | San Diego, California
Class of 2027
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 9
Fang, a two-time Rolex Junior All-American, has consistently performed at the AJGA’s highest level. Her recent highlights include a runner-up finish at the 2025 Rolex Tournament of Champions, and she owns two career AJGA victories. Fang represented U.S. Team at the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup and gained additional team competition experience as a member of the West Team at the 2026 Wyndham Cup.
Honorine Ferry | Flower Mound, Texas
Class of 2027
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 10
Ferry enters the event ranked inside the Rolex AJGA Rankings Top 10 and boasts one of the strongest resumes in the field. A 2025 Rolex Junior All-American, she captured victories at both the 2025 PING Invitational and 2025 Mizuno Junior Championship while recording multiple additional top-five finishes throughout the season. Ferry has also represented the West Team at the Wyndham Cup in both 2025 and 2026.
Kelly Zhang | Hillsborough, California
Class of 2030
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 14
Zhang is one of the youngest players in the upper tier of the Rolex AJGA Rankings and has already accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments. A 2025 Rolex Junior All-American, she owns three AJGA victories, most recently capturing the 2026 Kathy Whitworth Invitational. Zhang has also gained valuable team event experience through appearances for the West Team at the 2025 and 2026 Wyndham Cups.
Grace Carter | Jupiter, Florida
Class of 2029
Rolex AJGA Ranking: 15
Carter brings a winning pedigree to the roster with five career AJGA victories, including the 2025 1st Clubs for Kids Junior All-Star Invitational title. She was a member of the 2024 Junior All-Star Team and earned Rolex Junior All-American honors in 2025. Most recently, Carter represented the East Team at the 2026 Wyndham Cup, adding to her growing list of national team competition experience.
