2019 PING JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP EUROPEAN HANDBOOK 10TH – 11TH SEPTEMBER 2019 GLENEAGLES, SCOTLAND WWW.SOLHEIMCUP2019.COM [email protected] PINGJUNIORSOLHEIMCUPTEAMEUROPE INTRODUCTION TO THE EVENT The 2019 Solheim Cup and PING Junior Solheim Cup will take place at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland the week of 9th September. The aim of the competition is to give junior golfers from both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to gain international match play experience as well as the chance to meet, learn and be inspired by the professional players playing in The Solheim Cup. It will be the third time both The Solheim Cup and the PING Junior Solheim Cup are incorporated within The Solheim Cup week at the same venue which significantly enhances the profile of the junior event. This follows the success of the last two matches at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Germany, in 2015 and Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iowa, USA, in 2017 where the matches were combined to great effect. In 2019, the junior tournament will move in closer proximity to the senior version and will be played on the Tuesday 10th September and Wednesday 11th September. This date adjustment ensures the PING Junior Solheim Cup will get the exposure and profile it deserves as it is positioned as an important part of a week where the hosts, VisitScotland, aim to make this the most family-orientated Solheim Cup to date. The aim of The 2019 Solheim Cup is to 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. Mickey Walker OBE, the first Captain of the European Solheim Cup team from 1990 to 1996, will Captain the European team as the top 12 European junior amateurs take on their U.S. counterparts over the two days. In a format similar to the senior match, they will play six fourball and six foursomes matches the first day, and twelve singles matches the second day. The full criteria for qualification for The first PING Junior Solheim Cup the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup was staged in 2002, at Oak Ridge is outlined within this handbook Country Club in Hopkins, Minnesota, with the leading six players from the and it proved to be an instantaneous PJSC ranking (based on results from success with the home American team the 2019 PJSC qualifying events) defeating the visitors from Europe automatically selected along with six by 17-7. That result was to signal the Captain’s Picks based on performances start of a sequence which saw the at amateur events along with the home team win each of the next five European Women’s Amateur Ranking. matches and which was not broken until America retained the trophy by Karsten and Louise Solheim were the halving the match at Knightsbrook visionaries behind the introduction Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in Trim, Co. of The Solheim Cup in 1990. The idea Meath, Ireland, in 2011. Subsequently, of staging a prestigious transatlantic the Americans have won the last three competition for girls, similar to The matches, most recently in Des Moines Solheim Cup, was first proposed by two years ago, although the 13-11 John Solheim, PING’s current Chairman scoreline illustrates just how keenly- and CEO, who was determined to competitive the contest remains. provide talented young girl golfers with a platform on which they could The first PING Junior Solheim Cup forward their careers by competing at also set another trend, which has the highest level against their peers endured to this day in that it featured from the other side of the Atlantic. several players who have gone on to forge successful careers on both the “Since its beginning in 2002, we’ve Ladies European Tour and the LPGA been delighted with the role the PING Tour. Azahara Munoz, Paula Creamer, Junior Solheim Cup has played in Britanny Lincicome, Brittany Lang advancing girls’ golf around the world”, and Morgan Pressel all played in said John Solheim. “The interest and that inaugural match and they were excitement continues to build with followed in subsequent years by the every playing of the event as the top likes of Carlota Ciganda, Georgia Hall, juniors from Europe and the United Caroline Hedwall, Charley Hull, Caroline States come together for the honour Masson, Anna Nordqvist, Beatrice of representing their countries on an Recari, Mel Reid, Florentyna Parker, international stage unlike any other Emily Pederson, Vicky Hurst, Jessica they’ve ever faced. They come away Korda, Lexi Thompson, Alison Lee and with memories and friendships that Angel Yin in more recent matches. BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN last a lifetime. It also gives us a look into the future of women’s golf as All of those top-ranked players have IT ALL LEADS TO THIS MOMENT numerous girls have gone onto play gone on to represent their Continent major roles in The Solheim Cup itself, in The Solheim Cup and several have again proving the level of competition also gone on to win Major titles which TICKETS ON SALE NOW and skill that takes centre stage in is just one of the reasons why John every PING Junior Solheim Cup. We Solheim and the rest of the Solheim SOLHEIMCUP2019.COM look forward to the 2019 edition at family remain as firmly committed Gleneagles. The competition will be to the PING Junior Solheim Cup as fierce and sportsmanship will be on they were when they inaugurated the full display with fans travelling far and biennial contest 17 years ago. JULI INKSTER CATRIONA MATTHEW TEAM USA CAPTAIN wide to share their passion and love for TEAM EUROPE CAPTAIN the game of golf.” A5_Captains.indd 1 05/10/2018 08:09 I got the opportunity to play on the 2005 PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in Indiana, USA. It was definitely the highlight of my amateur career. PING and the Solheim family put on a world class event for us juniors, making us feel like pros. We“ got to stay and watch the “big” girls play the rest of the week inside the ropes and it was so cool to watch my idols, front row. That’s when my dream of one day playing in The Solheim Cup started. Never could I imagine that I now, 13 years later, have played on 5 Solheim Cups. There is no atmosphere like The Solheim Cup and I wish everyone would get to experience what it is like playing in one. My biggest When I got picked for the PING memories from my golfing Junior Solheim Cup, I could not career all comes from The have been more honoured and Solheim Cup and I hope to excited. It was a great experience inspire more players to work overall, and I also love playing hard to make a team in the match play. future, it is so worth it! When I played in The Solheim Anna Nordqvist, Sweden Cup in 2017,“ I felt my experiences The PING Junior Solheim Cup at the junior event had helped 2005 prepare me for what was ahead. My The Solheim Cup memories of playing in the Junior 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 Solheim Cup are amongst my most treasured and they helped inspire me to dream of making it into the senior team. Georgia Hall, England The PING Junior Solheim Cup 2013 The Solheim Cup 2017 We have identified a great spread of world-class amateur events across Europe for the girls to make their mark and claim those valuable points to climb the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2019 Ranking. I look forward to following“ the progress of Europe’s best juniors closely throughout the year. It is such an exciting opportunity for the juniors and I am expecting the competition to be very intense for those 12 I have great memories from coveted places. the PING Junior Solheim Cup. I enjoyed making great friendship Mickey Walker, England and I loved playing for a team. PING Junior Solheim Golf is such an individual sport Cup Captain 2019 and playing for a team is a The Solheim Cup Captain feeling that you don’t experience 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996 normally. It really motivated me playing for Europe, for the EUROPEAN ELIGIBILITY PROCESS “ • 12 participants. captain and your teammates. 12 Also, when you look at the names • Participants must be girls and 12-18 years old (born 2001 or that have played both the Junior later) and must not have reached their 18th birthday prior to PARTICIPANTS Solheim Cup and the Solheim January 1st, 2019. Cup it keeps you motivated. I AGE • Participants must be amateurs and must not be members of a 12 - 18 remember in 2005 and 2007 it competitive collegiate golf programme. was a lot of fun to watch The Solheim Cup and I wanted to be • Participants must be a European Citizen (as per IGF National Policy). one of those players. AMATEUR • The leading six players from the PING Junior Solheim Cup My favorite quote is: “If you can ranking following the Girls’ British Open Championship will be see it in your mind, you can hold automatically picked. In the event of a tie for the qualification EUROPEAN it in your hand.” positions, the selection will be decided based on individual CITIZEN standings on the European Women’s Amateur Ranking. TOP 6 PJSC RANKINGS Carlota Ciganda, Spain • Six Captain’s Picks.