The first day of play in PING Junior Solheim Cup at the wonderful and challenging Bokskogens Golf Club was a windy day where strong winds helped to make a difficult course even harder for the young players, but the Europeans pulled through to lead by one point with 6,5 points against the USA’s 5,5 at the close of the day.
The wind made for long play in the morning fourballs but despite this both teams played well, with the wind benefiting the Americans the most as they took the lead with 3,5 points against Europe’s 2,5 after the Fourballs.
For Europe, victorious teams were Emma Cabrera and Dewi-Claire Schreefel, who won with 4/3 over Amanda Blumenherst and Jennifer Pandolfi. Minea Blomqvist and Lousie Stahle also won a victory for Europe in their match against Christie Reed and Brittany Lincicome with 4/3. Marianne Skarpnord and Caroline Westrup from Europe halved their match against the USA’s Whitney Myers and Amie Cochran.
Fourball Europe 2,5 v USA 3,5.
The play continued after lunch with Foursomes and this was the time when the Europeans really showed their strength by winning the Foursomes with 4 matches against USA’s 2.
The European victories were taken by Emma Cabrera and Dewi-Claire Schreefel with 4/3 against Paula Creamer and Jane Park, Belén Mozo and Azahara Munoz won their match with 5/4 against Lauren Espinosa and Taylor Leon, Adriana Zwank and Maria Hernandez had victories against Whitney Myers and Amie Cochran by 7/6 and finally Minea Blomqvist and Louise Stahle won against Christie Reed and Brittany Lincicome with 4/3.
“It was a very difficult course,” said Val Skinner, who Captained the USA Team.
“The fairway was hard and the greens fast. And the windy conditions did not help the course to get any easier. But I think that both teams played well under the circumstances and I am happy for the effort put in by my team and I feel confident about tomorrow.”
“I know that the players feel very honoured to play in this wonderful event – the PING Junior Solheim Cup and I also know that the players appreciate the friendship this tournament will give them and the opportunity to learn more about a foreign country like Sweden and how golf is played in Europe,” said Skinner.
“It is all thanks to PING and all what PING has done for women’s golf,” she said.
European Junior Team Captain Helen Alfreddson added, “The course today was very difficult. It was tough out there. But my team really fight hard and I think it is a fair lead going in to tomorrow.”
“It certainly has changed a lot since last year when the USA won a glorious victory with 17-7. I hope that we are able to continue our good play in the singles so that PING Junior Solheim Cup will come to Europe this time.”
