- U.S. Team triumph 13-11 at Bernardus Golf – click here for full results
- Team Europe give visitors a scare by taking 8½ points from 12 in singles matches
The U.S. Team held off a spirited fightback from Team Europe on the final day of the PING Junior Solheim Cup (PJSC) to win 13-11 at Bernardus Golf in The Netherlands, in a historic first for the competition.
The biennial contest for Europe’s best young female golfers was played on the same course as the Solheim Cup for the first time, and it delivered entertainment worthy of the main event as the U.S. Team, led by Morgan Pressel, withstood a European onslaught in the singles.
Leading 9½-2½ following a dominant first day of foursomes and fourballs action, the Americans found momentum going against them before they rallied to seal victory.
“I’m beyond proud that these girls got it done today,” said Pressel, who played in the 2003 and 2005 PJSCs before making four Solheim Cup appearances.
“We were absolutely clutch yesterday, especially winning 18 three times in the morning session. Europe played some incredible golf throughout, and I knew they would come out hard today.
“I have loved this whole experience and I’m extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to lead an insanely talented and very fun group of girls.”
Opposing captain Anne van Dam said her young players could not have done any more in a record European singles points haul.
“I didn’t need to say too much this morning,” said van Dam, who played in the 2013 PJSC and was part of the European victory at Gleneagles in 2019. “They could not have given any more.
“I’m super proud of them. They gave themselves a chance which no one thought possible at the start of the day. It started with Annabel (Peaford) winning a brilliant point against Asterisk (Talley) and all day there was so much blue on the board and it gave everyone such a boost,
“Everyone has loved the experience, and congratulations to Morgan and the U.S. Team.”
Annabel Peaford, who grabbed a half point with Lauren Crump in the fourballs yesterday, produced another superb finish to come from two down on 16 to beat Asterisk Talley 1-up in the first match.
Eliana Saga then beat Adriana García Terol 4&3 before more European points came for Crump, beating Amber Lee 3&2, and Anna Ludvova, downing Grace Carter 2&1.
Madeleine Conser extended the U.S. Team’s lead with a 5&4 win over Lana Guyot – birdieing five consecutive holes in the process – then 14-year-old Kelly Zhang beat Caroline Perez-Tasso 2-up.
More European points came from Lena Geier against Aubrey Hilgers, Sofia Maier-Borst against Amelie Zalsman, Axelle Guillemard against Honorine Ferry and Carlota Lopez Minguela against Iris Lee.
Anna Fang and Marta Muñoz shared a half, and Alice Kong completed a fine session for Europe by downing Lily Peng.
The players will now watch the build-up to the Solheim Cup before it gets under way on Friday morning.
