Braselton, GA - The American Junior Golf Association is proud to announce Beth Daniel as the 2024 United States PING Junior Solheim Cup Captain.
Daniel joins a long list of LPGA legends of who have captained the Junior United States Team including Renee Powell, Amy Alcott, Nancy Lopez, the late Kathy Whitworth, and Mary Bea Porter-King.
I saw John's name pop up on my phone and I thought to myself why is John Solheim calling me. I was so surprised, I thought those days were behind me. I am so honored that the Solheim Family wanted me to Captain the junior team.
Daniel has many credits to her name, but the most noteworthy includes captaining the 2009 US Solheim Cup team to a 16 to 12 victory at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Members of Daniel's US 2009 team included AJGA alumnae Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, and Brittany Lang.
We're thrilled to have Beth Daniel as the captain of the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup US team. Beth brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished golfing career to this important role. Her dedication to the sport, coupled with her tremendous success as an eight-time Solheim Cup player and the winning captain in 2009 makes her the ideal leader for this exceptional team of young athletes. We are excited to see her lead the US team on home soil against the European team at Army Navy Golf Club - Arlington this fall.
Prior to her captaincy, Daniel competed on eight US Solheim Cup teams consecutively from 1990 to 2005. She is tied second all-time for most Solheim Cup appearances for the United States behind Cristie Kerr and Juli Inkster who each played nine times. She earned 13.5 points for Team USA in her eight appearances, with Team USA winning six of those matchups. Daniel is also fifth all-time for most overall matches played by a member of the US Team. In her eight appearances, Daniel competed in 26 Solheim Cup matches.
In 2007, she transitioned over to the Vice Captain role under Captain Betsy King. Team USA beat Team Europe 16-12 on European soil in her Vice Captain role.
Prior to her Solheim Cup Career, Daniel was a 33-time champion on the LPGA Tour. She won her sole Major in 1990 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship played at Bethesda Country Club. Her first victory came in 1979 at the Patty Berg Classic, which later turned into Rookie of the Year honors. Daniel won her first of three Player of the Year titles in 1980, after winning three times that season.
We are proud to welcome Beth Daniel as the 2024 US PING Junior Solheim Cup team captain. Her legendary career and passion for junior golf make her the perfect leader to inspire and guide the US Team towards success at Army Navy Country Club this fall.
Daniel was also an accomplished junior and amateur golfer. The South Carolina native won the U.S. Women's Amateur twice as an amateur (1975, 1977). The Furman University graduate earned the school a National Title in 1976. Because of her play her senior year, she was awarded the Broderick Award (now referred to as the ANNIKA Award) as the nation's top female collegiate golfer. She also represented the United States in the Curtis Cup twice in 1976 and 1978. She went 4-0 in her first appearance in 1976.
Daniel was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1999 and a year later the World Golf Hall of Fame. Since retiring from professional golf, Daniel has stayed involved in the game. In 2018, she was the Co-Honorary Chairman of the U.S. Women's Open at Country Club of Charleston where she annually hosts the 'Beth Daniel Junior Azalea' tournament. Each year in South Carolina the Best Junior Female Golfer is awarded the 'Beth Daniel Award' which is given to the top SCJGA points earner in a year.
I think any time you are asked to be a Captain it's an honor and a big responsibility. You have to put the time and effort into it to be successful. I have a passion for junior golf so I couldn't pass on this opportunity.
Daniel will look to lead Team USA to their first win since 2019. Team USA currently leads the all-time PING Junior Solheim Cup series 7-4-1. The current US Team Standings can be found here .
Riley Corona, AJGA South Central Regional Manager, will serve as the Vice Captain alongside Daniel. Corona grew up golfing in Arizona and went on to play collegiately at The College of William & Mary. She credits this experience as the reason she choose to pursue a career in junior golf, as she hopes to help the next generation expand their educational opportunities through golf.
About PING
The tournament owner and title partner, PING, designs, manufactures, and markets a complete line of golf equipment including metal woods, irons, wedges, putters, and golf bags. The family-owned company was founded in 1959 by the late Karsten Solheim. Solheim is the only person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a golf club manufacturer. Today, the Phoenix-based company is under the direction of Solheim’s grandson, John K. Solheim, who leads a team of more than 900 dedicated employees committed to helping improve the games of golfers around the world.
About The PING Junior Solheim Cup
The PING Junior Solheim Cup 2024 is to be played at the Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, Virginia, September 8 -10, immediately ahead of The Solheim Cup, which is staged at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia, September 13-15.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup is a team match play competition between Europe and the United States, each team featuring the best 12 female golfers born 2006 and later (18 years and younger).
The competition consists of 24 matches – six foursome matches, six fourball matches and 12 singles matches.
The aim of the competition is to give juniors the opportunity to further their golfing careers by playing match play at a high level and for the competitors to meet, learn and be inspired by the professional players playing in The Solheim Cup.
The 2024 event marks the 13th time the PING Junior Solheim Cup team will be contested, with the U.S. Team currently leading the series 7-4-1. In 2023, Europe defended the trophy winning 15-9 at La Zagaleta in Spain.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup was established by PING CEO and Chairman, John Solheim, back in 2002 and since has developed a deserved reputation for showcasing the talents of the world’s best female junior players, with players like Rose Zhang, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant, Lexi Thompson and Korda sisters, Nelly and Jessica, all playing in the match before graduating to The Solheim Cup.