The American team led by Beth Daniel dominated this year’s edition of the PING Junior Solheim Cup and celebrated the biggest victory in the tournament’s history. With a final score of 18.5 to 5.5, the American junior stars impressively beat the European team led by captain Gwladys Nocera at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia.
Record Victory at the Junior Solheim Cup 2024
Before the final day of competition, the Americans were already leading 8-4 after the fourball and foursomes matches on Monday. On the decisive Tuesday, Team USA then went on a remarkable run in the singles, winning ten out of twelve matches. Of particular note was the performance of Jude Lee, who secured her victory with a 5&4 against Perla Sol Sigurbrandsdottir from Iceland and thus contributed the decisive point to the overall victory. “It was just incredible to play with the best girls in the world,” said Lee after her match. “It’s an experience we’ll all never forget.”
Starting @TheSolheimCup on a high note with a Junior U.S. Team win 🏆🙌 pic.twitter.com/Qi5Yt2WriI
— Solheim Cup U.S. Team 🇺🇸 (@SolheimCupUSA) September 11, 2024
The American team put in an impressive overall performance, led by players such as Elizabeth Rudisill, who defeated world number nine Andrea Revuelta from Spain 3&2. Natalie Yen, Anna Fang and Madison Messimer also contributed to the outstanding result with clear victories. The only European to score a full point in the singles was Martina Navarro from Spain, who defeated Nikki Oh 2&1. Overall, the American team performed well in all game formats and dominated the European team in four-ball, foursomes and singles.
The record for the highest winning score at this tournament previously stood at 17 to 7 and was also set by Team USA in the inaugural event in 2002. This year, the American team surpassed this record and celebrated its first victory since 2019.
The US Team wins the 13th @PINGTour #JrSolheimCup at Army Navy Country Club – Arlington.
The ending score of 18.5 to 5.5 is the largest margin any team has won by in tournament history!@TheSolheimCup | @SolheimCupUSA — AJGA (@AJGAGolf) September 10, 2024
Beth Daniel Full of Pride
Beth Daniel, captain of the American team and LPGA Hall of Famer, was proud of her team: “My players were simply fantastic. They fought hard and every one of them wanted this win. I think the home advantage gave us extra motivation.” Nocera also paid tribute to her opponents: “Team USA played unbelievably. They had a very strong team and took revenge for last year’s defeat. We will be ready again in two years’ time.”
This is the Junior Solheim Cup
The Junior Solheim Cup, which was launched in 2002, pits the best young female golfers in the USA and Europe against each other in a match play format. Inspired by the professional Solheim Cup, the event is held every two years, alternating between the USA and Europe. In two years’ time, the Junior Solheim Cup will be held in the Netherlands for the first time. Europe will then do everything it can to bring back the trophy and build on this year’s experience with talents such as Andrea Revuelta, Alice Kong and Louise Uma Landgraf. The American team now leads the overall standings with a 9:4 record.