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United
States Regains PING Junior Solheim Cup |
American
squad dominates singles matches on the way to victory |
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By
claiming 10 of 12 points during singles matches, the United
States won back the PING Junior Solheim Cup 16-8 at The Bridgewater
Club in suburban Indianapolis. This continues the growing trend
of the Cup being won by the team on its home soil, as has been
the case in the previous two events.
After closing ceremonies, the U.S. Team, led by LPGA Tour veteran
and U.S Captain Colleen Walker, individually dove into the swimming
pool to celebrate their victory. Not to be outdone, the Europeans
soon joined the United States, ending the event in the most
golf-talented swim party in the history of junior golf.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup was conducted by the American Junior
Golf Association and hosted by The Bridgewater Club in Westfield,
Ind. The matches included the 12 top female junior golfers from
the United States against their European counterparts. Players
competed in four-ball and foursome matches Tuesday, and battled
in singles matches Wednesday. The Europeans held the Cup previously,
after winning the second biennial event in Sweden in 2003. The
United States won the inaugural event in 2002 at Oak Ridge Country
Club in Hopkins, Minn.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think we could go out
and win as many matches as we did,” Walker said. “I
knew we had the talent, but my goal was to get the 6.5 points
needed to win; I knew there were a few matches that could go
either way.”
Walker now joins Sherri Steinhauer (2002) in leading a U.S.
squad to victory at the PING Junior Solheim Cup.
“I have to say that standing outside the ropes was even
harder than standing in the fairway hitting the shots,”
1988 Vare Trophy winner Walker said.
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| The
United States team gathers around the championship trophy
after defeating the European team, 16-8. |
The United States and Europe split the first four matches 2-2.
Jennie Arseneault’s 6-and-5 victory during the first match
of the day, however, scored the United States its first point
and set the tone for what was to come.
Anchored again by the stellar play of Sydnee Michaels of Temecula,
Calif., Megan Grehan of Mamaroneck, N.Y., and Morgan Pressel
of Boca Raton, Fla. – who all went undefeated for the
event – the United States won the final eight matches
of the day.
Anna Nordqvist of Eskilstuna, Sweden, was the lone European
to go unbeaten for the week.
The deciding point of the Cup came when Catherina Wang of Orlando
closed out Marta Silva of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on
the par-4 18th, 1-up. Michaels’ victory soon followed,
continuing the U.S. landslide toward its victory.
“This whole week has been an incredible experience,”
Michaels said, who won her match, 5 and 4 over Caroline Masson
of Gladbeck, Germany, with four birdies and an eagle. “I
was just happy to play well for my team and my country.”
Grehan and Pressel’s matches were two more points that
were decided after the Cup had officially changed hands. Grehan
defeated Beatriz Recari of Pamplona, Spain, 3 and 2, while Pressel
closed out her junior career with a win against Azahara Munoz
of Malaga, Spain, 6 and 4.
“No matter what had already happened, it was important
to me to win my match,” Grehan said. “It was important
to my team and to my country to get that point.”
Pressel, who went 2-0-1 during the event, will turn professional
in the months to come, ending one of the most impressive junior
careers in AJGA history.
“This was so important to me to play in this event,”
Pressel said. “There is no better way to end my time in
junior golf. Going out on top with this team is the way I wanted
it.”
During the closing ceremonies, it was announced the 2007 PING
Junior Solheim Cup will take place at Bastad Golf and Country
Club in Nya Bana, Sweden. |
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