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Scotland’s Janice Moodie has accepted the role of Captain to the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team for 2013 in Colorado.
“It is such an honour to Captain the PING Junior Solheim Cup team for 2013,” said Moodie. “The golfing talent of these girls is of such high standard that I can’t wait for the matches to begin and for them to be inspired to one day play on the European Solheim team. But the main goal is to create lasting friendships that span the globe, like I have been so fortunate to do.”
The PING Junior Solheim Cup biennially features the 12 best female junior golfers (born 1995 and later) from Europe against the top 12 best female junior golfers from the United States, and will be held in August 2013 at The Inverness Hotel & Golf Club in Denver, Colorado.
The event will be played on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th August during Solheim Cup week, just 20 minutes from Colorado Golf Club, The Solheim Cup venue.
Once the PING Junior Solheim Cup has concluded the talented juniors will have the opportunity to meet the 2013 team members and watch The Solheim Cup which will serve as wonderful inspiration and help to prepare them for their future careers.
PING is the founder, owner and title sponsor of the PING Junior Solheim Cup and the event will be operated by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) with assistance from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
“Janice is a wonderful selection as Captain of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team,” said John A. Solheim, CEO and President of PING. “Janice has a wealth of experience at all levels, from San Jose State University, to the LET and the LPGA and to multiple Solheim Cup events. She will be able to bring those experiences to the Captaincy and be a wonderful example for the young women of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team.”
Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, said: “We at the Ladies European Tour are truly delighted that Janice as accepted the role of Captain for the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team. This will be an incredible experience both for Janice and the elite junior players, who will no doubt have a fantastic time and be inspired by one of Europe’s greatest Solheim Cup players.”
Moodie represented Europe three times as a Solheim Cup player in 2000, 2003 and 2009. She secured two official victories on the LPGA at the 2000 ShopRite LPGA Classic and the 2002 Asahi Ryokuken International Championship, as well as two non official victories in the Hyundai Team Matches with Lorie Kane.
The 2013 event will mark the seventh PING Junior Solheim Cup, with the U.S. Team leading the all-time series, 3-2-1. In 2011, Team USA forced a 12-12 tie and retained the cup at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort in Trim, County Meath, Ireland, becoming the first team to capture the Cup on foreign soil.
In its history, the PING Junior Solheim Cup has established a reputation for showcasing the world’s up-and-coming female junior golfers. Past European PING Junior Solheim Cup players that graduated to compete in The 2011 Solheim Cup in Ireland are Melissa Reid, Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Hedwall, and Azahara Muñoz. Meanwhile Paula Creamer, Vicky Hurst, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome and Morgan Pressel have all represented the USA in both tournaments.
Kathy Whitworth, Captain of the first two U.S. Solheim Cup Teams and an LPGA Hall of Famer, will lead the United States PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in 2013.
About The Solheim Cup:
The Solheim Cup, the most prestigious team event in women’s professional golf and sponsored by PING golf equipment, is named in honour of the company’s founder, Karsten Solheim, and his family. It is a biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best American-born players from the LPGA and the best European-born players from the Ladies European Tour. The U.S. leads the Solheim Cup series, 8-4-0, and has never lost on home soil. The 2013 Solheim Cup will be played at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo., Aug. 13-18, 2013. For more information about the PING Junior Solheim Cup and The Solheim Cup visit www.solheimcupeurope.com and ladieseuropeantour.com
