The PING Junior Solheim Cup qualification process for Gleneagles 2019 has been finalised as Europe’s young aspiring golf stars start to take aim on winning a place at one of the biggest events in women’s sport globally.
Taking place as part of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, 9 – 15th September, a dozen of Europe’s brightest young stars aged 12 to 18 years old will look to claim back the trophy won by the American team in 2017 at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iowa,.
Europe last won when the match took place at Båstad Golf Club, Sweden in 2007 and there is no end of motivation to win back the trophy as juniors across Europe have a firm eye on earning a coveted place at Gleneagles in 2019.
One such group of Scottish juniors, named #project19, was born from a WhatsApp group started by way of the girl’s motivating each other to climb the amateur golf rankings and qualify to represent Team Europe at Gleneagles. Their efforts have already been rewarded with a trip to the 2017 edition in Des Moines where the girls played a role in the handover ceremony and now they are fully focused on winning a place in the team at Gleneagles.
#Project19 juniors at The 2017 Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup week will begin with the PING Junior Solheim Cup with the participants made to feel an important part of the main event. This under 18 event will be showcased as never before as Scotland seeks to ensure that this is the most family orientated and inclusive Solheim Cup ever staged. The Scottish Government has stated the ambition to ensure the 2019 edition of the Solheim Cup in Perthshire will serve to both grow golf and leave a lasting legacy of increased participation in women’s sport.
The themes of equality, innovation and experience will be thread through all aspects of the event as The 2019 Solheim Cup aims to engage both the traditional golf audience and the wider sports fan, raising the profile of women’s golf both in Scotland and internationally. The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have been long-time supporters of the women’s game having partnered with the Ricoh Women’s British Open and recently significantly enhanced the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, which took place as a co-sanctioned LET and LPGA event for the first time earlier this year.
The 2019 Solheim Cup will not only highlight the stunning assets of Scotland, the Home of Golf, but also build on the legacy of the successful 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. It will underline that Scotland is the perfect stage for major golf events as it seeks to help inspire a new generation of children to take up the game invented in their home country.
The full criteria for the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup is outlined below with the leading six players from the PJSC ranking (based on results from the 2019 PJSC q-events) following the Girls British Open Championship 2019 automatically selected along with six Captain’s Picks based on performances at amateur events along with the EGA Ladies European Amateur Ranking.
European Qualification:
- 12 participants.
- Participants must be 12-18 years old (born 2001 or later) and must not have reached their 18th birthday prior to January 2019.
- Participants must be amateurs and not be members of a competitive collegiate golf program.
- Participants must be a European citizen.
- The leading six players from the PJSC ranking (based on results from the 2019 PJSC q-events) following the Girls British Open Championship 2019 will be automatically picked. In the event of a tie for the qualification positions, the selection would have been decided based on individual standings on the EGA Ladies European Amateur Ranking.
- Six Captain’s Picks.
- All amateur events and the EGA Ladies European Amateur Ranking will be taken into consideration when deciding the Captain’s Picks.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup qualifying events and point distribution will be announced by the end of the 2018 season.
2017 European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team
Testaments from past participants:
Charley Hull, England (played PJSC 2011):
“When I was selected to represent Europe in the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2011 in Ireland it was my greatest golfing honour at the time and it felt like my first step into big time golf. I remember feeling proud to represent Europe and wear its colours and even more proud to hit the first tee shot of the competition.
Later on, when I played my first Solheim Cup, I remember asking the other team members about what to expect about being nervous in front of such large crowds. Although they said nerves would play a big part, I was really surprised when I stood on the first tee and rather than feeling nervous I got a real buzz from the fantastic atmosphere created by thousands of chanting fans. I remember thinking to myself I hope I have many more Solheim Cups to come.”
Lexi Thompson, USA (played PJSC 2009):
“My PING Junior Solheim Cup experience was one of a kind and having one of my role models (Nancy Lopez) as my captain was a huge honor. But overall the experience of being part of a team and growing a friendship with the other players was a week I’ll never forget. The PING Junior Solheim Cup was an event that has helped me perform at a high level like the actual Solheim Cup today. And it is an event that is not only an honor to represent your country in but a week you’ll remember for the rest of your life“
Julia Engström, Sweden (played PJSC 2017):
“I played in the 2017 PING Junior Solheim Cup and I also have got the opportunity to play in Scotland because I will be 18 years in 2019. It will be one of my goals for sure. It is a great experience playing in the tournament and to play on the same venue. It gives us a chance to interact with the Solheim Cup players in a very unique setting. We can be close to them, watch them practice, talk with them and learn from them. The PING Junior Solheim Cup also gives us a chance to meet many new friends both from Europe and the United States.”
About the PING Junior Solheim Cup
The PING Junior Solheim Cup 2019 is to be played at Gleneagles, Scotland, September 10th – 11th, immediately ahead of The Solheim Cup, which is staged at the same historical Scottish golf club on September 13th – 15th.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup is a team match play competition between Europe and the United States, each team featuring the best 12 female golfers 18 years of age and younger.
The competition consist of 24 matches – six foursome matches, six fourball matches and 12 single matches.
The aim of the competition is to give juniors the opportunity to further their golfing careers by playing matchplay at a high level and also for the competitors to meet, learn and be inspired by the professional players playing in The Solheim Cup.
The 2019 event marks the tenth time the PING Junior Solheim Cup team will be contested with the US Team currently leading the series 6-2-1.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup was established by PING CEO and Chairman, John Solheim, back in 2002 and since has developed a deserved reputation for showcasing the talents of the world’s best female junior players with players like Anna Nordqvist, Carlota Ciganda, Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda and Paula Creamer all playing in the match before graduating to The Solheim Cup.
About The Solheim Cup:
The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with passion for one’s country and continent. This biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition features the best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the best U.S. players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. The Solheim Cup is named in honour of Karsten Solheim, the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in conjunction with the LET and the LPGA, developed the concept and became the title sponsor for the Solheim Cup, professional golf’s international match-play competition for women. Today, the global partners of The Solheim Cup are PING, Scotland, The Home of Golf, and Rolex. Held every two years, the event has grown into the most prestigious international women’s professional golf team event. The Solheim Cup is the most highly coveted trophy in women’s professional golf team competition; some of the most memorable moments in the sport have happened during past Solheim Cups and berths on the European and U.S. teams are highly sought-after by players from both organisations. The 2017 Solheim Cup took place on August 14-20 at Des Moines Country Club in Iowa, United States. The U.S. Team retained the coveted Waterford Crystal prize by 16 ½ to 11 ½ points. For more information log on to www.solheimcup.com.
About EventScotland:
EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.
EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.
About the Ladies European Tour:
The Ladies European Tour (LET) celebrates women’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2017, the schedule features tournaments across five continents, including The Solheim Cup, with a diverse membership of 324 professional golfers representing 38 countries worldwide.
Since its formation in 1978, the Ladies European Tour has witnessed 250 different winners celebrate a total of 723 championship titles between them, and has celebrated its diversity as players from 28 different countries have won on the Tour.
The Ladies European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to more than 304 million homes in more than 116 countries every week, generating 425 global broadcast hours per tournament. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Omega, Etihad, Scotland – the Home of Golf and The R&A amongst its Official Partners.
The Ladies European Tour also manages the LET Access Series, which is its official developmental tour, formed to give players not part of any major Tour the opportunity to compete and progress onto the LET. The top five players on the 2017 LETAS Order of Merit will earn membership of the Ladies European Tour for 2018.
About Gleneagles:
Located one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, The Gleneagles Hotel is set in an 850-acre estate, with its own railway station just minutes away. Gleneagles is synonymous with golf, and home to three championship golf courses – The PGA Centenary Course – venue for the Ryder Cup 2014 – and the stunning King’s and Queen’s Courses. But there’s even more to keep guests entertained off the course: a choice of more than twenty activities can be found in the grounds, from clay target shooting, archery and trout fishing on three lochs within the resort’s estate, to horse-riding, Segway tours and gun dog training. Throughout the hotel you will find the finest comfort – from its 232 luxury bedrooms and suites, to the calming environment of the spacious destination spa by ESPA, home to one of only two ESPA Life wellness centres in the world. Gourmands will have plenty to discover, with four on-site restaurants, including Scotland’s only two Michelin-starred restaurant Andrew Fairlie.
