Team USA held off a spirited final day of singles matches to claim its sixth consecutive victory in the PING Junior Solheim Cup and second on foreign soil. The Americans have won outright five of those years (2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2009) and retained the Cup in 2011 after a draw 12-12.
The U.S. took a 7.5-4.5 lead into singles after drawing foursomes 3-3 and nearly sweeping four ball matches, 4.5-1.5. Returning to the team in 2019 were Rose Zhang, Rachel Heck and Lucy Li; Heck led the squad in 2017 with a perfect 3-0 record.
In singles, Team Europe's Hannah Darling grabbed a half point against Li, and wins for Annabell Fuller, Amalie Leth-Nissen and Pia Babnik, who birdied four straight holes to win 2&1, narrowed the gap early in the day.
Zhang stemmed the tide in the second match, 1-up, and triumphs for Amanda Sambach, Briana Chacon and Brianna Navarrosa took the USA to the 12 points it needed to retain the trophy. Christine Wang secured the final Team USA points of the day in a 3&2 victory over Germany's Paula Shulz-Hanssen in match 10.
"It was quite the victory, very close, it went up and down all day," said American captain Mary Bea Porter-King. "They were ahead, then behind. I’m exhausted and I didn’t hit a shot. I’m very proud of my team, there wasn’t a whole lot I could do to help them, these young ladies are so talented, on both sides. I am so impressed to see the golf swings and how they play the game, which makes me feel good about the future of the game.”
Italy's Alessia Nobilio was the lone returner from the 2017 European team.
I’m incredibly proud of the European team," said Mickey Walker, the European captain. "They’re very, very talented and we’ve had a wonderful time here. It’s been just amazing, one of the best experiences of my life. I think we were good enough to win, but we just missed out by virtue of a poor session in the after yesterday. That’s what did for us. If you took the singles as a standalone competition, we won today. We knew we needed to get 8.5 points and we came up just short. It augers very well for the future, and a lot of our team will still be young enough to play in two years’ time.”